The Ascension

When those gathered with Jesus asked if he would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time, he replied that it was not for them to know the times or seasons which the Father had put in his own power (Acts 1:6-7). He informed the assembly that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost came upon them, and that they would serve as witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). The text does not say how the Holy Ghost would provide this power or specifically address Simon Peter's individual response to these instructions.

After Jesus had spoken these things, he was taken up while the group beheld him, and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1:9). The text does not say how high he ascended or the specific duration of the event. While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, two men stood by them in white apparel (Acts 1:10). These men questioned why the observers stood gazing up into heaven, stating that this same Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, would come in like manner as they had seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

The text does not say what happened to the two men in white after they spoke. Following this event, the group departed from the mount called Olivet, which the text describes as being a sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem (Acts 1:12). The narrative focuses on the visual departure of Jesus and the verbal promise of his future return in the same physical manner.