Acts 1:22 - beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Generated Verse: Acts 1:22

What does "Acts 1:22" mean?


This verse, Acts 1:22, is about selecting a replacement for Judas Iscariot among the remaining apostles. Let's break down what it means:

"Beginning from the baptism of John...": This sets a clear timeline and qualification for the candidate. The person must have been a follower of Jesus from the very start of his public ministry, which began with John the Baptist's ministry of baptizing people in preparation for the Messiah. This means the person witnessed Jesus's baptism and everything that followed.

"...to the day that he was received up from us...": This specifies the end of the qualifying period. "Received up from us" is a reference to Jesus's ascension into heaven. So, the candidate needed to have been with Jesus continuously from his baptism by John until his ascension.

"...of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”: This clarifies the purpose of replacing Judas. The new apostle's primary role was to be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They needed someone who had personally witnessed the resurrected Christ and could testify to its reality. The apostles considered the resurrection to be the cornerstone of their faith and message, and they needed someone who could confidently and credibly share that message with the world.

In essence, this verse outlines the criteria for selecting a new apostle:

1. Longevity with Jesus: They had to be a consistent follower from the beginning of Jesus's public ministry (John's baptism) until his ascension.
2. Witness to Jesus's Ministry: They would have been present for Jesus's teachings, miracles, and interactions with others.
3. Witness to the Resurrection: Most importantly, they had to have personally seen the resurrected Jesus.
4. Testimony to the Resurrection: Their primary function was to be a witness to the resurrection, vouching for its truthfulness to others.

The verse highlights the importance of firsthand experience and reliable testimony in the early church's mission to spread the Gospel. They needed someone who could credibly say, "I saw him, I was with him, and I know he is alive."

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