Jesus Ascends to Heaven

I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach

until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

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.

While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.

He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set 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 Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them

All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

(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.

This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that field Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”)

Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us,

beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”

Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen

Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.

The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language?

both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!”

All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Peter’s Address on the Day of Pentecost

But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say.

In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.

‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.