*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.
1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 1:2 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: 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.