*Acts 1:1-11
The risen Jesus commissions his apostles, assures them of the Holy Spirit’s coming, and ascends into heaven.
- Introduction to the Book of Acts:
- Luke addresses Theophilus, likely a patron or benefactor, and recounts his previous gospel narrative, which detailed the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
- Jesus’ Final Instructions:
- Jesus appears to his disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection, providing them with convincing proofs of his continued existence.
- He speaks to them about the kingdom of God, indicating the continuity between his earthly ministry and the ongoing work of God’s kingdom.
- Promise of the Holy Spirit:
- Jesus instructs his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Father’s promise, referring to the Holy Spirit.
- He explains that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days, indicating the empowering presence of God for their mission.
- The Ascension of Jesus:
- While Jesus is speaking, he is taken up before their eyes, ascending into heaven.
- As the disciples watch, two men dressed in white appear and assure them that Jesus will return in the same way they saw him go.
- Response of the Disciples:
- The disciples return to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives with great joy, continually praising God.
Acts 1:1-11 teaches us that Jesus calls us to be His witnesses and trust in His power. Before ascending to heaven, He told His followers to wait for the Holy Spirit, who would give them the strength to share His message with the world. We can apply this by remembering that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to live out our faith—God gives us the help we need. Instead of feeling unsure or afraid, we should trust that He is with us and boldly share His love with others, knowing that Jesus will one day return just as He promised.
Acts 1:1-11 (WEB)
1:1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”