Acts
Chapter 1: 1-11
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."
