Acts 1:1-12

The Promise of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Ascending to Heaven

 

Grab a coffee and let's study Acts 1:1-12.

 

Written by Luke, the first chapter is addressed to Theophilus. There is not much known about who he is but his name literally means "loved by God" or "friend of God" leading people to believe it was a generic title that applies to all Christians. However, there is evidence he was a man of high rank because Luke addresses him as "most excellent Theophilus" in Luke's gospel.

 In verses 1-5 (NCV), he summarizes what he wrote in his first account:

The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day he was taken up into heaven. Before this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told the apostles he had chosen what they should do. ³ After his death, he showed himself to them and proved in many ways that he was alive. The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. ⁴ Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. ⁵ John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

 

I wonder what they thought when they read that last line? Anticipation? Fear? Were their minds turning? What would being baptized by the Holy Spirit feel, sound, look like?

In verse 6 they ask Jesus when He will restore the kingdom back to Israel.  This question to Jesus reveals their concern as they anticipated that Christ would establish His kingdom immediately. Jesus tells them that only their Father in heaven knows the dates and times but that they will get the Holy Spirit. Verse 8, "But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, in Samaria and in every part of the world."
 

After He said that, Jesus was lifted up and received into a cloud.

 

The apostles starred in wonder as Jesus was ascended into heaven and continued to gaze at the sky after He disappeared.
 

It doesn't say this in the Bible, but what I would imagine we would have seen, were men with their jaws hitting the ground, speechless, and eyes open without blinking. Lost in amazement. Maybe they had to pinch themselves because it felt like some sort of crazy dream.  Or maybe because they had already witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection, they were like, "OF COURSE this is happening. Why wouldn't this be happening? Life is already crazy, lets bring on more crazy!"
 

But as they were gazing in disbelief at the sky, verse 10 (MSG)  tells us there were 2 men dressed in white that appeared asking "why are you standing here looking at the empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left."

Who were these men in white? It seems pretty certain that these were angelic beings sent in human form to bring comfort and a message of the coming of Christ to the disciples.  Angels are often described in the Bible as wearing white garments and we know they appear in other gospel accounts often as "people."