Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"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."
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."
18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20"For," said Peter, "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 place of leadership.' 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Interesting points of Discussion:
- Background of the Book of Acts: The book of Acts follows the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that composed the eyewitness accounts of the "Gospel" (good message or good news) as delivered by Jesus' own words; Luke, author of one of the four "Gospel" books, has long assumed to have been the author of Acts
- The book of Acts is a bridge to the New Testament writings as it joins what 'Jesus began to do and to teach' [See v.1] as told in the "Gospel" books with what he continued to do and teach through the apostles' preaching and the establishment of the church
- Q: What kind of 'Acts' is this book in the Bible referring to ?
- A: Acts of the Holy Spirit performed through the apostles of Jesus Christ
- Q: What was your experience of the Holy Spirit when it came upon you ?
- A: Felt a sense of overwhelming peace, boldness to share the love of God, the world around me seemed different as if I was judging through a new set of eyes, felt a desire to be holy and to know the goodness of God, absence of fear when sharing as a witness
- The disciples faced a transition from watching Jesus' work on Earth and having Jesus do everything for them to having to do these same works without Jesus present (physically) and instead replaced by the Holy Spirit
- How did the apostles deal with his departure ?
- [See v.10] 'two men dressed in white'- angels come to tell the apostles to start living (i.e. 'Why do you stand here looking into the sky?' [see v.11]) instead of keeping on wondering why Jesus left and thinking, "He's really gone?"; Jesus died for us so that we might live!
- [See v.11] 'will come back in the same way'- the angels tell the apostles of the second coming of Christ which is just as certain and glorious as his ascension into heaven at that hour
- [See v.8] 'you will receive power'- before Jesus ascends into Heaven he tells them that they will be given power from the Holy Spirit to do the same amazing signs, wonders and miracles that Jesus himself performed in his time on Earth
- 'you will be my witnesses'- Jesus foreshawdows the works that the apostles will do through the Holy Spirit in founding churches, spreading the gospel, establishing congregations and evangelizing
- [See v.5] The baptism with the Holy Spirit that Jesus promises to them is quite different from the baptism with water that John had performed earlier
- Baptism with water is physical whereas the Holy Spirit cannot be seen and is spiritual; going into the water represents death to self and coming back out of the water represents the resurrection of Christ in you
- Other than the physical/spiritual contrast, baptism with water is very much symbolic of the baptism with the Holy Spirit
- [See v.13] All the names of the apostles are listed, stressing their roles as a body of divinely appointed witnesses to Jesus' life, teachings and his resurrection
- There seems to be a symbolic element to why the disciples chose to replace Judas and maintain the 12-apostle arrangement- recall the twelve tribes of Israel in the old Testament; this number twelve could represent the Christian church (founded by the 12 apostles) which in turn represents a reconstituted Israel
- [See v.18] Judas' death is portrayed differently here than in Matthew 27:5 where he was said to have hung himself; here he purchases a property with the betrayal money and kills himself in a fall
- Judas' suicidal fate reminds us how serious God's punishment can be
- As we learn about how the Holy Spirit works it's important to look at how the apostles prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit
- Besides constant prayer [see v.14], they organized themselves as a group
