But if I drive out evil spirits by [the power of] the Holy Spirit, then [that is evidence that] the kingdom of God has come into your midst [i.e., by my presence and ministry].
Acts 1:2 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) up until the day He returned to heaven. [Just before that time] He had given [certain] instructions to His [specially] selected apostles through [the direction of] the Holy Spirit. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen. American Standard Version (1901) until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Common English Bible right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. Catholic Public Domain Version instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, even until the day on which he was taken up. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. |
But if I drive out evil spirits by [the power of] the Holy Spirit, then [that is evidence that] the kingdom of God has come into your midst [i.e., by my presence and ministry].
After Jesus was immersed [by John], He came up out of the water and heaven was opened up before Him and He saw the Holy Spirit from God descending, as a dove, and landing upon Him.
Then the apostles got together with Jesus and told Him everything they had done and taught [on their mission].
And it happened, as He was blessing them, that He left them and was taken up to heaven.
And it happened when the time came for Jesus to be taken up [to heaven] that He firmly determined to go to Jerusalem.
For we have all received from His full richness one favor after another.
Now it was before the Passover Festival [was to begin] and Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Those [living] in the world, whom He had loved, and who were His own [disciples], He continued to love [dearly] to the very end [i.e., of His life on earth].
“I am not talking about all of you; for I know the ones I have chosen [i.e., which of the twelve apostles would be faithful]. But let the Scripture [Psa. 41:9] be fulfilled [that says], ‘The person who eats with me has [viciously] turned against me.’
Jesus, who knew that the Father had given Him complete authority, [also] knew that He had come from God and was [about] to return to God.
I came from the Father into this world and now I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.”
But now I am coming to you, and I am speaking these things [while still] in the world, so that they [i.e., the apostles] may have my joy within them in all its fullness.
Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not ascended to the Father yet [Note: Apparently Jesus was discouraging Mary from embracing Him in worship as was done in Matt. 28:9, and thereby causing a delay of when the rest of the disciples would learn of His resurrection], but go to my brothers and tell them [I said] ‘I am [about] to ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God.’”
Jesus said to them again, “May there be peace in your hearts. Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
For the One whom God has sent [i.e., Jesus] speaks the words of God, for He [i.e., God] does not give the Holy Spirit in a limited quantity [i.e., to Jesus. See next verse].
Then what if you were to see the Son of man going up [i.e., to heaven] where He was before?
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose [all] twelve of you, and one of you is a devil?” [Note: The word “devil” means “adversary” or “opponent”].
and said, “You men from Galilee, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus who was received up from your presence into the sky will return in the same way you saw Him go there.”
Upon arriving at the house where they were staying, they went upstairs. [Those present were]: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealous [one] and Judas, the son of James. [Note: Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, had already committed suicide].
from His immersion by John [the Immerser] until He was received up from us [in a cloud]. Of these people [we must choose] someone to become a witness with us [i.e., to tell people] of Jesus' resurrection [from the dead].”
And when Jesus had said these things, just as the apostles were watching [Him], He was taken up by a cloud [and disappeared] out of their sight.
This message was about Jesus from Nazareth and how God specially chose Him [and signified it] by giving Him the Holy Spirit and power. He traveled all over doing good [for people] and healing everyone who was [being] oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle, (not from [the authority of] men, or through the [agency] of a man, but by [a direct commission from] Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead).
[You are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets [See I Cor. 12:28], with Christ Jesus Himself being the principal stone by which the entire building is aligned.
And without question the revealed secret of godly living is great. [It is this]: He [i.e., Christ, or God], who appeared in a fleshly body [was] vindicated [of false charges] by the Holy Spirit; [He was] seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world [and finally] was taken up into glory [i.e., heaven].
For Christ did not enter the Holy of Holies made by hand, which is [only] a counterpart of the true one, but into heaven itself, where He now appears in God’s presence for us. [See verse 12].
He has [now] gone to heaven, and is [seated] at the right side of God, where the angels and [other] authorities and powers have been subjected to Him.
to remember the words spoken to you in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.
[This is the record of] the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave [Him] to show to His servants. [It contains] the things which were soon to happen, and Christ sent His angel [i.e., messenger] to inform His servant, [the apostle] John, [about them].
“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. The person who has victory [in the Christian life] will not be harmed at all by the second death [i.e., the lake of fire. See 21:8].
“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will [also] give him a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one understands, except the one who receives it.
The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.”
“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give [the opportunity] to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” [Note: “Paradise” is equivalent to heaven. See II Cor. 12:4].
And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [were inscribed on them].
The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.
But since you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.
The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.”