མཛད་པ།1:1-3

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)

 

The Acts of the Apostles is the history told by the physician Dr Luke of how faith in the Saviour Yeshu Ma Shi Ga spread first in Israel and then to other parts of the world. Luke wrote both like a journalist, and in very scholarly language; he was careful in recording facts and detail.

His story is told to a believer called Theophilus. And to this man he had already written the gospel story in another book called The Gospel of Luke, in much the same way as Mark had told the same good news to the people living in Rome.

The first three verses are a reminder of how Yeshu made appearances in his risen body to the close disciples and to others, and taught them over a period of time before being carried up into heaven.

མཛད་པ། 1:4-5

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 

During a visit with his close disciples, at a meal-time perhaps, Yeshu reminded them how he had taught them several times about the Holy Spirit’s future coming as his promised gift to them. The prophets had also spoken about His coming, as John the Baptist knew so well (See Mark’s Gospel chapter 1 verse 8).

‘Just wait!’ he said.

(མཛད་པ། 1:6-11)

 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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 in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “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.”

 

It was Yeshu’s final appearance to his disciples. First giving reason for not answering their question, he then reminded them again (see Mark 13:10, 11) of the Holy Spirit’s coming so as to give his simple country followers the power to witness.

Then he left them.  And the manner in which he went to heaven was also a reminder (see Mark 13:26, 27) of the way he said he would return one day. But first the gospel must be preached to all on earth. And then he would return as King, not just to save oppressed Israel, but to gather believers from every nation.