Acts 1:20

Acts 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
• New International Version (NIV)“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)"For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'
• New Living Translation (NLT)Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’

Context of Acts 1:20

18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

Acts 1:20 word by word

γέγραπται γὰρ ἐν βίβλῳ ψαλμῶν· γενηθήτω ἡ ἔπαυλις αὐτοῦ ἔρημος καὶ μὴ ἔστω ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν αὐτοῦ λαβέτω ἕτερος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the bookβίβλοςbiblos · bookG976
• of Psalmsψαλμόςpsalmos · psalmG5568
• Letγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• habitationἔπαυλιςepaulis · residenceG1886
• desolateἔρημοςerēmos · desertedG2048
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• letεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noμήmē · notG3361
• man dwellκατοικέωkatoikeō · to dwellG2730
• bishoprickἐπισκοπήepiskopē · oversightG1984
• letλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087

Cross-references for Acts 1:20

• Acts 13:33God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’
• Luke 20:42Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
• Luke 24:44Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
• Psalms 69:25Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.
• Psalms 109:9Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
• Zechariah 5:3Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.”
• Acts 1:25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
• Psalms 109:8Let his days be few, And let another take his office.

Commentaries on Acts 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For it is written in the book of Psalms - The places usually referred to are Psalm 69:25; : Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents. And Psalm 109:8; : Let his days be few, and let another take his office, פקדתו pekudato, his overseership, his charge of visitation or superintendence, translated by the Septuagint, , Vulgate, episcopatum; and We, following both, bishopric, but not with sufficient propriety, for surely the office…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For it is written … - See Psalm 69:25. This is the prediction doubtless to which Peter refers in Acts 1:16. The intermediate passage in Acts 1:18-19, is probably a parenthesis; the words of Luke, not of Peter. So Calvin, Kuinoel, Olshausen, DeWette, and Hackett understand it. It is not probable that Peter would introduce a narrative like this, with which they were all familiar, in an address to the disciples. The Hebrew in the Psalm is, “Let their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-26Verses 15-26 The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world, was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men," which we do not; and better than they know their own. It is fit that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21May another take his position: It was extremely important to find someone to replace Judas so there would still be twelve apostles. The church was the new Israel so it needed twelve leaders chosen and appointed by God (see Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2615-26. in those days--of expectant prayer, and probably towards the close of them, when the nature of their future work began more clearly to dawn upon them, and the Holy Ghost, already "breathed" on the Eleven (Joh 20:22), was stirring in Peter, who was to be the leading spirit of the infant community (Mt 16:19). the number ... about an hundred and twenty--Many, therefore, of the "five hundred brethren" who saw their risen Lord "at once" (1Co 15:6), must…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 1:20

• Judas (Jude)
• Matthias
• Peter
• Prophecy
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Accord
• Apostle
• Blood
• Gaze
• Ministry
• Passion
• Pertain
• Peter
• Promise
• Receive

Commentaries on Acts 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings