Christ Ascends
By Timothy Glover
The book of Acts presents some acts of some apostles. Most of the book is devoted to the work of Paul. The purpose of the book is to trace the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Many liberal scholars would view the book as unreliable and many theologians would dismiss the importance of Acts in developing one’s theology.
However, Luke, its author, relates the establishment of the church in its infancy, how it was organized, how it worshiped and nine specific examples of how people became Christians in apostolic times. We would expect to find in Acts examples of N.T. teaching. If the examples are con-sistent with the great commission of Jesus to the apostles (Mat. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:44-49)and the letters written by other inspired men, they serve as a safe pattern to follow. We can only allow any deviation from the specifics if they are cultural differences. Otherwise, we can follow the pattern with the assurance that God is pleased. The risk of assuming that each denominational preference is accepted may be the most damaging assumption in religion. From God’s dealings with his people in the past, he expects us to follow his will whether we like it or not. So, the book of Acts is important in that it records what people did in the first century to please God. If their actions were approved then, we can be safe in following them today. Jerusalem is the setting of the first seven chapters. Chapter one is a summary of Luke 24 with some overlap of information.
After Jesus’ resurrection, he walked the earth for forty days and appeared to his disciples on several occasions. On one occasion, he commissions them from the Mount of Olives to go into all the world and preach the gospel and make disciples, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you....” Luke records that it would begin in Jerusalem where the disciples must remain to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus had already told them about the coming of another “comforter”, the Holy Spirit (John 14:18,25-26; 15:26; 16:4-15).
ASCENSION
When Jesus completed his instructions, he ascended into the clouds and two men in white robes told them that as he had gone into heaven, he would one day return. Jesus had said that he must go in order for the Spirit to come. What we have in Acts is the work of the Holy Spirit as the gospels had shown the work of Christ. He promised that he would go away to prepare a place for them but he would not leave them orphaned (John 14:18-ff). Even in the “great commission” he adds, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Since the Holy Spirit would come in his name (Jn. 14:25, 15:26, 16:14), his work remains. Also, in another sense, Jesus, while absent in body, would remain with them in spirit (See Acts 7:56). He is now reigning in heavenly realms as an intercessor for his followers.
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