August 21, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Samuel and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
Acts 1 (NIV)
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.……Continue Reading
This is another time when the juxtaposition of Jesus caused me to pause and appreciate the depth of what that means in our lives. When the angels in verse 11 say, “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
This same Jesus, this man you have walked with, talked with, ate with and shared so much time with also just died, rose, taught for 40 more days and then ascended into Heaven before your very eyes. Imagine the realization of the magnitude of what they had just experienced. But that is our reality as well! Jesus is the all powerful, Son of God redeemer of our souls and still our friend, our quiet peace, and our comfort when we are afraid, lonely, or hurt. So what does that make us? His witnesses! We must share this amazing gift with the world just as the apostles did.
One day we will see Jesus coming down in the clouds. Only this time it will be as King of kings and Lord of lords. This would be the second coming. Although I believe in pre-trib. where believers are all taken up in the rapture. But those that are here during this time will see Him coming this way. Both believers and unbelievers. What`s our part right now? We did to be telling others about Christ. A comment on the two men that were brought forth to replace Judas. Some believe that the Apostes didn`t wait for God`s timing and that it would have been the Apostle Paul. While others think that they chose right and Paul became the Apostle to the Gentiles. This would then make Matthias the 12th Apostle. Both Mattias and Barsabas by tradition are believed to have died for Christ. This doesn`t even include a latter Apostle James the brother of Jesus. But what is important is that they all served Christ and died for Him. James the brother of Jesus didn`t become a believer until after the resurrection. Early in my walk with Jesus many years ago I was of the thought that Paul would have been the 12th Apostle but now I am not too sure. Paul himself calls himself the Apostle to the Gentiles. God bless.
What confirmation that Jesus is who He claimed to be in that He was raised from the dead and He hung out with people to show that He was. And those same people lived and died for the sake of that truth and were convinced of it. And the real icing on the cake is that He is taken up to heaven before them. And I just love the picture of 120 of those first believers gathered together figuring out what they do next to best carry on Jesus’ work. It makes sense that they look to replace Judas and maintain the number of apostles Jesus had chosen. The qualifications show the importance of the man chosen to know Jesus as closely as they did as far as being around and thereby sharing their convictions. And how important for everyone’s heart to be in the right place….thinking more about Jesus than themselves. That is always the mark that a leader should have…
Acts 1-8
When the plot is so intriguing you have to keep reading for 8 chapters! 😊
Acts1
”to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.“
Acts 1:3 NKJV
I love Luke and his appeal to our desire for tangible evidence, witnesses, numbers, facts. It strengthens one’s faith when the Spiritual is also visual.
Acts 1
Acts 1
Acts 1