Acts 1
The Story of the Ascension of Jesus
The risen Jesus is taken up into heaven, promising the Spirit and commissioning His witnesses.
Setting and Context
The ascension closes the earthly ministry of Jesus and opens the age of the Spirit-empowered church. Luke-Acts presents it as exaltation, promise, and mission rather than mere departure.
The Story
Jesus shows Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, speaking of the kingdom of God for forty days. He commands the apostles not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father.
They ask about restoring the kingdom to Israel. Jesus redirects them to the Father's times and to their calling: they shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon them, and be witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.
While they behold, He is taken up, and a cloud receives Him. Two men in white apparel say He shall so come in like manner as they have seen Him go into heaven. The disciples return to Jerusalem with joy and expectation.
Meaning and Importance
After forty days of appearing to His disciples, Jesus is taken up and a cloud receives Him out of their sight. Angels tell the watching disciples He will come again, and they return to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Spirit.
The ascension proclaims Jesus exalted as Lord. Absence is not abandonment: the Spirit will come, and witness will go to the ends of the earth. Hope looks upward for His return and outward in mission.
Biblical Art Connected to This Story
Key KJV Verses
Acts 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:”
Read Acts 1Acts 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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Read Acts 1Acts 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.”
Read Acts 1Acts 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.”
Read Acts 1What This Story Teaches
- The risen Christ is exalted in heaven.
- The church waits for the Spirit and then witnesses.
- Jesus will return as He ascended.
Questions about Ascension
Where is the ascension in the Bible?
The ascension is recorded in Luke 24 and Acts 1, with related teaching elsewhere in the New Testament.
What did Jesus promise before ascending?
He promised the Holy Spirit and power for witness to the ends of the earth.
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