The olive-covered ridge of the Mount of Olives at early morning, a single bright white cloud resting low over the crest, a few small figures on the slope far below.

The Book of

Acts 1

The risen Jesus gives His friends one promise and one job, then a cloud takes Him from their sight.

26 verses≈ 5 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Prologue

A finished papyrus scroll tied with cord on a writing table, beside a fresh sheet just begun, a reed pen and an ink pot in morning light.

In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Jesus

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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The Ascension

The apostles

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus

Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

To the ends of the earth

Jesus gives His witnesses a route: “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts follows that road step by step, and it ends in Rome, the heart of the empire.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

A handful of men on a rocky hilltop seen from behind, heads tipped back toward an empty bright sky, two men in white standing just beside them.

They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?

This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

Question

Quick question

The two men in white had a promise for the disciples staring into the sky.

How did they say Jesus will come back?

Matthias Replaces Judas

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,

Peter

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

A barren field of red earth and broken rock on the steep slope of a valley below Jerusalem’s southern wall, potsherds in the dirt, in evening shadow.

(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out. This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

“For 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 position.’

Acts 1:20

Reflect

Waiting together

Jesus told them to “wait for the gift the Father promised.” So they waited, and while they waited they prayed: “With one accord they all continued in prayer.” When you are waiting on God, what helps you keep praying instead of drifting? Who could you wait and pray alongside?

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us.

For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

A witness with us

Whiteboard

An apostle had to have seen it all with his own eyes: from the Jordan to the Mount of Olives, and above all the risen Lord. The church’s message rests on eyewitnesses.

Pray

You know every heart

The believers prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart.” They did not choose by looks or by rank. They asked the Lord to choose. Bring Him a decision you are facing, and ask Him to show you His way, and to make you a faithful witness wherever He sends you.

You’ve experienced

Acts 1

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A verse to carry with you

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

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