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Easter Season · Ascension of the Lord · Year A

Acts 1:1-11

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

May 14, 2026

The Ascension of Christ, Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo
The Ascension of Christ, Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo, c. 1510–1520Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, Rome
A Ferrarese painting of the ascension with the apostles in a ring below, several of them shading their eyes, and a landscape that keeps going past them.Acts 1 has two men asking why they are standing there looking up, and the painting shows them doing it.Benvenuto Tisi da GarofaloA Ferrarese painter so taken with Raphael that he travelled to Rome repeatedly to watch him work, and was nicknamed the Ferrarese Raphael.Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, RomeThe Barberini family palace, built by three architects who disliked each other, now holding Italy's national collection of older painting.Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, Rome
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 24:44-53Lk 24:44-53
EpistleEph. 1:15-23Eph 1:15-23
Old TestamentActs 1:1-11
PsalterPs. 47Ps 47 orPs. 93Ps 93

Overview & Insights

“This Jesus... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Acts and the Third Gospel clearly come from the same hand. Not only their common dedication, but their common interests and their unity of language and style leave this beyond doubt. Moreover, the way in which they are introduced—the Gospel with its relatively detailed preface, Acts with its shorter introduction echoing the other’s language—points us to the fact that these are not simply two books by the same author, but two volumes of one book. This arrangement of a work into a number of “books” having a common preface, with the later books having their own brief introduction, was a not-uncommon feature of ancient writing (cf., e.g., Josephus, Against Apion 2.1–7; see BC , vol. 2, p. 491).

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Commentary

Commentary on Acts 1:1-11 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary on the promise of the Spirit and the ascension that open the book of Acts.

Acts 1 - The Ascension and Waiting for the Spirit Enduring Word · David Guzik

Guzik's notes on Jesus' final instructions, the ascension, and the promise to return.

Acts 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries on the prologue, the ascension, and the two men in white robes.

Acts 1 Commentary Precept Austin

In-depth verse-by-verse study notes on Acts 1 from many evangelical scholars.

Background & Word Study

Acts (book introduction) Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary background on the Acts of the Apostles (background use).

Overview: Acts 1-12 BibleProject

Animated overview of Acts 1-12, opening with the ascension and Pentecost.

Holy Spirit (theme video) BibleProject

Theme study on the Spirit whose coming Jesus promises the disciples will receive.

Acts 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek-English interlinear for word study on the ascension and the promised power.

The Church Fathers

Acts 1 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comment on the ascension and the angels' promise of Christ's return.

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