Ascension

In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I wrote of all that Jesus did and taught from

the beginning until the day when he ascended to heaven. But first he had instructed

through the Holy Spirit the apostles he had chosen. After his passion, he presented

himself to them, giving many signs that he was alive; over a period of forty days he

appeared to them and taught them concerning the Kingdom of God. Once when he had

been eating with them, he told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the

fulfilment of the Father's promise about which I have spoken to you: John baptised

with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit within a few days." When

they had come together, they asked him, "Is it now that you will restore the Kingdom

of Israel?" And he answered, "It is not for you to know the time and the steps, which

the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea

and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth." After Jesus said this, he was taken up

before their eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. While they were still looking

up to heaven where he went, suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them

and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky? This Jesus

who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have

seen him go there."

May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself to you and

give you a spirit of wisdom, that you may know him. May he enlighten your inner

vision that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by God.

May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for his saints;

may you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favour of us who

believe. He revealed his almighty power in Christ when he raised him from the dead

and had him sit at his right hand in heaven, far above all rule, power, authority,

dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world

but in the world to come as well. Thus has God put all things under the feet of Christ

and set him above all things, as head of the Church, which is his body. He who fills all

in all unfolds his fullness in the Church.

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them, "Go out to the whole world and

proclaim the Good News to all creation. The one who believes and is baptised will be

saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. Signs like these will

accompany those who have believed: in my Name they will cast out demons and speak

new languages; they will pick up snakes and, if they drink anything poisonous, they

will be unharmed. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed”. So

then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his

place at the right hand of God. The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while

the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs, which

accompanied them.