A Study of the Word discussion

Acts 1
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.


To accomplish our mission as Christians we have to understand some things.
Firstly we have to understand the nature of our role. According to verse 8, our role is to become witnesses of Christ. What we have to do is show to others what Jesus Christ has done.
Another vital thing we have to do, is let God plan everything. We must not put Him in our agenda, but we must put ourselves in His agenda. We must not say: Today I have to go to school/work, then have lunch with my family, then have an hour with God, then do that... No... We have to do whatever He plans for us to do. He has everything in his hands. At verses 6-7: Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

We can see clearly that it's not our job to know the time He has set. We just have to do what He asks us to do.

Another thing that I think is really important to help us complete our mission and we can find it in these verses, is to really believe in Jesus' resurrection.
Verse 3: 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
He gave many convincing proofs that he was alive! He wanted his disciples to be sure that he is alive! That's the reason they went to the nations to make Him known! That's the reason they didn't care about suffering in His name! The believed He was risen from the dead! Do we really believe it? Do we think every morning that He is alive and wants us to make Him known to everyone who isn't a Christian?

yes that's the question I ask myself everyday too! We have to feel the power of his resurrection everyday!