Acts 1:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The former treatise— This former treatise, undoubtedly, means the gospel, which was written by St. Luke, and dedicated by him to Theophilus. See the note on Luke 1:3.All in this verse, cannot mean every one of the miracles and sermons which Jesus wrought and preached. See John 20:30-31; John 21:25. By all, therefore, we must understand only all that was necessary to be recorded, to establish the divine mission of Christ, and to convince mankind. All that Jesus began to do and teach, is a Hebraism, frequently used by the sacred writers, and particularly St. Luke; and signifies only "all that he did and taught." The phrase, however, may refer here to the account which he had given of Christ's ministry, from the beginningand first rise of it, (as he speaks, ch. Acts 1:2-3.) to the ascension (with which he concludes his gospe