“Acts 1: The Ascension”

Sunday, January 01, 2017

The final assignment Jesus gave His eleven apostles was the command we have called “The Great Commission.” He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

The book of Acts is the inspired record of the early church fulfilling that mission.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, He spent forty days with the apostles, “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). These have been referred to as the “forty days that changed the world.”

It was during this period of time that the disciples were transformed from fearful sheep into powerful shepherds. No longer were they reluctant followers, but fearless servants. They had seen the resurrected Lord and received their final, personal instructions from the Master.

And then, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand with a promise from the angels that He would return some day.

During the next ten days, the apostles and other disciples spent time together, encouraging and helping one another to prepare for the work that was ahead.  They prayed, they studied and they built each other up.

Then they took one more important step. In order that they might fulfill Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 109:8), they chose a replacement for their fallen companion, Judas Iscariot. Two men were proposed, Joseph and Matthias. Matthias was selected in God’s providence and the apostolic group was complete once more and ready to reach their lost world for Christ.

--Roger Hillis

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