Verum BibleEarly church•c. AD 30
Jesus ascends to heaven
The risen Jesus commissions his apostles as witnesses and is lifted up from their sight as they await the promised Holy Spirit.
ascensionmissionwitness
Historical context
Acts begins in Jerusalem after the festival events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The disciples are still interpreting the meaning of the kingdom while facing the practical question of how a movement centered on an absent but risen Lord will continue.
Biblical significance
The ascension marks Jesus’ exaltation and gives the church its geographic mission from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. It joins the risen Christ’s authority with the promise that the Spirit will empower ongoing witness.