The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O aTheophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began bto do and teach, 2 until the day when che was taken up, after he dhad given commandsethrough the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 fHe presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying1 with them ghe ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 forhJohn baptized with water, hbut you will be baptized iwith2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, jwill you at this timekrestore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, l“It is not for you to know mtimes or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receivenpower owhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and pyou will be qmy witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and rSamaria, and sto the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, the was lifted up, and ua cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, vtwowmen stood by them in xwhite robes, 11 and said, y“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, zwill acome in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Two things in this passage... One, the disciple's question for Jesus, is now when you establish your kingdom in Israel? How will I ever get it, when they do not get it after everything they've seen and been through with Jesus. ... And two, similarly, te interaction with the angels at the end of the passage... Why do stand staring at the sky?... But I feel that their answer isn't very helpful, that Jesus will return in the same way youve seen him go... I like the angel's question, like stop waiting around here staring, the kingdom's coming, go be a part of it... But then the answer doesn't drive that message home really.
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