How did Jesus ascend to heaven, invisibly or visibly? What important business did the apostles conduct after His ascension? Why were the twelve separate from others? Let’s look at Acts 1.
After His resurrection, what did Jesus do for forty days? Why did he order the apostles to wait? Why was the baptism of the Holy Spirit later pictured as flames on their heads and not a total immersion?
Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:1-5 CEB)
How would Jesus answer those who claim to know the time of events that only the Father controls?
While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?” Jesus said to them, “You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. (Acts 1:6-7 CEV)
What was the main purpose of the power of the Holy Spirit given to the apostles? Were they to be 12 officially designated witnesses?
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)
How did Jesus ascend, invisibly or visibly? How will He return, invisibly or visibly? Do people excuse false prophecies about when Jesus will return, by claiming He already came invisibly? Is the rapture, from the Latin for “caught up” to meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), a separate event or at His return?
After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11 HCSB)
Were the 11 remaining apostles and some of Jesus’ physical family praying together? Does it say whether their prayer was led by a speaker, or private devotional prayer, or both?
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they came into the city, these men went to the upstairs room where they had been staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. With one mind, all of them kept devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14 ISV)
How many were assembled together? What happened to Judas?
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. (Acts 1:15-19 KJV)
Was restoring the number twelve seen as important? Were two main purposes of an apostle to be an overseer or bishop and as a witness?
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his residence be made desolate, And let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘Let another man take his office [bishoprick, episcopate, office of oversight].’ Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” (Acts 1:20-22 LSB)
Did God reveal who was to be the replacement for Judas Iscariot?
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:23-26 NASB)
How did Jesus ascend to heaven, invisibly or visibly? What important business did the apostles conduct after His ascension? Why were the twelve separate from others? You decide!
