Acts 1:1–11

Introduction

¹In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about what Jesus began to do and teach. This included everything from the beginning ⸤of his life⸥ ²until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen. 

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

³After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about God’s kingdom. 

⁴Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises: ⁵John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

⁶So when the apostles came together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

⁷Jesus told them, “You don’t need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

⁹After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him. 

¹⁰They were staring into the sky as he departed. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood near them. ¹¹They asked, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Jesus, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”