Acts 1:6-11

ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVET Acts 1:6-11.

Acts 1:6

They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 1:7

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority.

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:9

And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10

And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11

who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.

Acts 1:6 Luke had already told Theophilus that Jesus appeared by the space of forty days. Now he describes that last memorable day. Luke had further told him that Jesus spoke things to the eleven concerning the kingdom of God, so the question of the apostles would not be at all strange, when they asked, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Not at all strange, did we say? No? Not as to content, but as to the utter lack of understanding of the kingdom of God, it is indeed strange. We remember that the apostles had walked with and listened to Jesus until they had now come to His last day on earth and still they had not freed their minds of the thought of the restoration of the physical kingdom of David to Israel.

Acts 1:7-8 Jesus does not chide them for their misconception, possibly being satisfied that the apostles understood that a kingdom was about to be set up, however distorted might be their view of it. He simply reminds them that their question about the time of the coming kingdom was not for them to know and was of secondary importance. The all important truth for them at this time was what He had promised them while they were in the upper roomthat they were to wait for power through the Holy Spirit; and that through this power, which was to come upon them, they were going to be made witnesses for Him both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:9-11 The inspired writer pictures graphically the ascension of Jesus. A further word can be added to this description by reading his former treatise on this very point.. and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

We know of no artist who has successfully painted the scene described in Acts 1:9-11. Possibly this is true because the event therein described is beyond the brush of an artist.

11.

On what day do the events of Acts 1:6-11 occur?

12.

What is not strange and what is strange about the question of the apostles?

13.

Why was the time of the setting up of the kingdom of Israel of secondary importance to the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

14.

What is the further word added by Luke in his gospel that is not found in Acts regarding the ascension of Jesus?

We want to notice that the two men or angels did not appear in the heavens into which the apostles were gazingbut while their eyes were cast heavenward the two men stood beside them in white apparel. With the words, Ye men of Galilee, the two men probably turned the heads of the apostles from their worshipful gaze into the sky to staring awestruck upon these two heavenly strangers. The two men left with the eleven the same truth that Jesus had spoken to them at the time He had promised them the Holy Spirit(John 14:1-3). But now they could see; now they could understand; now they could know the true meaning of these strange words. In addition to a reiteration of the promise of the second coming made by Jesus, they said He would come in like manner as ye beheld him going.

Now for a backward glance over these verses to formulate an outline as the basis for memorizing the events of Acts 1:6-11.

a.

The apostles gather with Jesus on the mount of Olivet on the day of His ascension. Acts 1:6 a.

b.

Their conversation together consisted of their misguided question about the kingdom and Jesus-' reply that the time was in the authority of the Fatherbut that their need was to realize the coming power and its results in making them witnesses. Acts 1:6 b - Acts 1:8.

c.

The actual ascension of Jesus attended as it was with the amazement of the apostles; the cloud; the two men and their message of His return. Acts 1:9-11.

Would not you, too, be held by the spell of the moment to the spot on that little hill? To watch before you the bodily form of one you had known so well suddenly begin to rise from the earth; then to see His progress into the sky until He passed out of sight into a cloud? It is true Jesus had told them, before He began this miraculous ascent, that He intended for them to promptly leave for the citybut who wouldn-'t have forgotten these words for a moment as he stood in the presence of such an event?

15.

Where did the two men in white apparel appear and why did they chide the apostles?

16.

What did the two angels add to the words of Jesus in John 14:1-3?

17.

From memory give in your own words the three thoughts of Acts 1:6-11.