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Acts 1:9–11
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (v. 11).
Jesus’ parting remarks to the Apostles wherein He promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth are words of great theological significance. Ambrose of Milan, the great preacher in the early church who was instrumental in the conversion of Augustine of Hippo, explains that the promise of the Spirit constitutes proof of His deity. That the Holy Spirit comes to indwell many people around the world at the same time indicates His infinity, an attribute that only God possesses (see Jer. 23:24).
Our Savior’s final remarks to the Apostles before His ascension also provide an outline of the Apostolic mission in the book of Acts. The story of Acts is the story of Christ’s proclaiming the gospel—through His Apostles and by His Spirit—“in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). At each point when the gospel first reaches one of those named regions, the Holy Spirit comes upon the people to signify that people of those areas are fully incorporated into the church of Jesus Christ when they believe in Him (Acts 2:1–41; 8:1–25; 10:34–48; 19:1–6).
Today’s passage provides us with the historical account of the ascension of Jesus. After Jesus reminded the Apostles of the coming of the Spirit and the extent of their mission, He was lifted up to heaven bodily and a cloud took Him out of sight. Two angels stood there as the Apostles saw Jesus go up into the sky, and the angels told the Apostles that Jesus would return in like manner (1:9–11). Our Savior will return bodily from heaven, and since that has not yet happened, we must reject any teaching that claims that Jesus has already returned to consummate His kingdom.
As we think on the ascension of Jesus, let us understand that it was a moment of decisive importance in our salvation. Looking to the biblical teaching on our Lord’s ascension, Westminster Shorter Catechism 28 explains that His ascension is one aspect of our Lord’s exaltation as King of kings and Lord of lords (see Phil. 2:5–11). Heidelberg Catechism 49 notes that Christ’s ascension benefits us because He now advocates for us before the Father, because the presence of our own flesh in heaven in Christ’s own body is a sure pledge that He will take us to heaven as well, and because His ascension was necessary for Jesus to send us the Holy Spirit (see John 14:2, 16; 1 John 2:1).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The ascension of Christ is a great blessing for the church, for it led to His session—His enthronement at the right hand of God with full authority to bring all things into submission (see Ps. 2; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1). Our Savior is now subduing His people to Himself, ruling and defending us, and restraining and conquering all His and our enemies (WSC 26). We can therefore be confident that all His purposes for His people will be accomplished.
For further study
- Psalm 20
- Proverbs 30:4
- Ephesians 4:7–10
- Hebrews 8:1–2
The bible in a year
- Genesis 6–7
- Matthew 3–4