# Acts 01 đ: Jesus Ascends to Heaven
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Outline]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### Jesus Ascends to Heaven
**Principle**: God does not leave us alone. He is always with us through the living presence of the Holy Spirit.
[[#Verse 01.]] I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teachÂ
[[#Verse 02.]] until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.Â
### The Holy Spirit Promised
**Principle**: The Promise is Coming.
[[#Verse 04.]] While he was with them, he declared, âDo not leave Jerusalem, but wait therefor what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.
[[#Verse 05.]] For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.â
[[#Verse 06.]] So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him,âLord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?âÂ
[[#Verse 07.]] He told them, âYou are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.Â
[[Theodicy- No One Knows the Day or Hour as Position Not Limitation]]
[[#Verse 08.]] 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 farthest parts of the earth.âÂ
### The Ascension
**Principle**: The King returns to sit on His Throne. He is King forever.
[[#Verse 09.]] After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near themÂ
[[#Verse 11.]] and said, âMen of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.â
#### A Replacement for Judas is Chosen
**Principle**: We should be united in expectation that God will keep His promises.
[[#Verse 12.]] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath dayâs journey away).Â
[[#Verse 13.]] When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.Â
### Matthias Chosen
**Principle**: No more âcasting lotsâ after the Holy Spirit descends. Now, He leads us.
[[#Verse 15.]] In those daysPeter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about 120 people) and said,Â
[[#Verse 16.]] âBrothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judasâwho became the guide for those who arrested JesusâÂ
[[#Verse 17.]]Â for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.â
[[#Verse 18.]] (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that field _Hakeldama_, that is, âField of Blood.â)Â
[[#Verse 20.]] âFor it is written in the book of Psalms, â**_Let his house become deserted,_** **_and_** **_let there be no one to live in it_**,â [[Psalm 69#Verse 25.]] and â**_Let another take his position of responsibility_**.â [[Psalm 109#Verse 08.]]
[[#Verse 21.]] Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us,Â
[[#Verse 22.]] beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from usâone of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.âÂ
[[#Verse 23.]] So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] Then they prayed, âLord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen
[[#Verse 25.]] to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.âÂ
[[#Verse 26.]] Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
- [[Theodicy- No One Knows the Day or Hour as Position Not Limitation]]
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Acts is the second volume written by Luke, addressed to the same Theophilus as his Gospel (1:1; Luke 1:3).
2. Jesus appeared to His followers over a period of forty days (1:3), and Pentecost came ten days after the ascension.
3. The Mount of Olives (1:12), where Jesus ascended, is the same place Zechariah 14:4 says the Lord will stand on the day of His coming.
4. A Sabbath day's journey (1:12) was a distance of about two-thirds of a mile, the limit Jewish tradition allowed for travel on the Sabbath.
5. Jesus' brothers, who did not believe in Him during His ministry (John 7:5), are now praying with the disciples (1:14).
6. About 120 believers were gathered (1:15). In Jewish tradition, 120 men was sometimes regarded as the number needed to form a local council.
7. Casting lots (1:26) was an Old Testament way of seeking God's decision (Proverbs 16:33). This is the last time it is used in Scripture, before the Spirit was poured out.
8. Matthias had to be someone who had been with Jesus from John's baptism until the ascension (1:21-22), an eyewitness of the resurrection.
9. Luke's account of Judas's death (1:18-19) adds details to Matthew 27:3-8. The field was called Hakeldama, meaning "Field of Blood" in Aramaic.
10. Acts 1:8 works like an outline of the whole book: Jerusalem (chapters 1 to 7), Judea and Samaria (chapters 8 to 12), and the ends of the earth (chapters 13 to 28).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the risen and ascended Lord who will return in the same way He went into heaven (1:9-11). Before He left, He promised the Holy Spirit's power so His people could be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (1:8; Luke 24:49).
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (1:4-5). Why is waiting on God sometimes part of obeying Him?
2. Jesus gave a plan for the gospel to spread from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (1:8). Where is your Jerusalem, and where might your Samaria be?
3. The believers devoted themselves to prayer together while they waited (1:14). What role does united prayer play in your church life?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 3: Jesus presented Himself alive with many convincing proofs over forty days.
- đ verse 8: The disciples will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes and will be Jesus' witnesses to the ends of the earth.
- đ verse 11: Jesus will come back in the same way He was taken up into heaven.
- đ verse 14: The believers were devoted with one mind to prayer.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Luke 24#Verse 49.|Luke 24:49]] - Stay in the city until you are clothed with power.
- đ [[Luke 24#Verse 50.|Luke 24:50-51]] - Jesus is taken up into heaven.
- đ [[Matthew 28#Verse 19.|Matthew 28:19-20]] - Make disciples of all nations.
- đ [[Zechariah 14#Verse 04.|Zechariah 14:4]] - The Lord will stand on the Mount of Olives.
- đ [[1 Thessalonians 04#Verse 16.|1 Thessalonians 4:16]] - The Lord Himself will come down from heaven.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Acts 01 - SOAP|The Mission of the Church]]
## đ Outline
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đ Internal Notes
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### Outline
**Big Idea**:
**Point 1**:
**Point 2**:
**Point 3**:
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