Jesus Goes Up to Heaven
"You will be My witnesses"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
For forty days after he rose, Jesus appeared to his apostles and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses... to the ends of the earth," and then he was taken up and a cloud hid him. Two men in white said he would come back the same way, and the believers went back to Jerusalem to pray and chose Matthias to take Judas's place.
Where it is in the Bible: Acts 1
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has risen from the dead.
- The apostles: Jesus's closest followers. There are eleven now.
- Two men in white: Messengers from God.
- Mary and the believers: Jesus's mother, his brothers, and other followers, about 120 people.
- Matthias: A follower of Jesus chosen to join the apostles.
Setting
- The Mount of Olives, a hill just outside Jerusalem. Then an upstairs room in the city.
When
- Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, about 2,000 years ago.
Before the Story
Jesus rose from the dead on Easter. He appeared to his disciples many times (Luke 24:36, John 20:19).
Luke wrote two books. His Gospel tells what Jesus did on earth. Acts tells what Jesus kept doing through his followers. Acts begins where the Gospel ends.
One apostle was gone. Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus, and he had died (Matthew 27:5).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Forty days | 1:1-5 | Jesus shows he is alive and tells them to wait |
| 2. "You will be My witnesses" | 1:6-8 | Jesus promises the Holy Spirit |
| 3. Taken up | 1:9-11 | Jesus goes up into heaven |
| 4. Waiting and praying | 1:12-14 | The believers pray together |
| 5. A new apostle | 1:15-26 | Matthias is chosen |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5Forty Days
After Jesus suffered and rose, he showed himself to the apostles "with many convincing proofs that He was alive" (1:3).
For forty days he appeared to them and taught them about the kingdom of God.
He told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised" (1:4).
"For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (1:5).
Scene 2 of 5"You Will Be My Witnesses"
They asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (1:6).
Jesus said it wasn't for them to know when.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (1:8).
A witness is someone who tells what they have seen.
Scene 3 of 5Taken Up
"After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight" (1:9).
They kept staring up into the sky.
Suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
"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" (1:11).
Scene 4 of 5Waiting and Praying
They walked back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.
They went to the upstairs room where they were staying.
"With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers" (1:14). With one accord means together, united.
Scene 5 of 5A New Apostle
About 120 believers were gathered. Peter stood up.
Judas, who had been one of the twelve, had betrayed Jesus and died. Someone needed to take his place.
It had to be someone who had been with Jesus from his baptism to the day he went up, a witness of his resurrection.
They named two men, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias.
They prayed, "Lord, You know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen" (1:24).
They cast lots, a way of drawing names, and Matthias was chosen.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Many convincing proofs that He was alive" (1:3) | Jesus's resurrection was real. |
| "Wait for the gift the Father promised" (1:4) | The Holy Spirit was coming. |
| "You will receive power" (1:8) | The Spirit would give them strength. |
| "To the ends of the earth" (1:8) | The good news is for the whole world. |
| "A cloud hid Him from their sight" (1:9) | Jesus went to be with the Father. |
| "This same Jesus... will come back" (1:11) | Jesus will return. |
| "They all continued in prayer" (1:14) | They waited by praying together. |
Back Then
A Sabbath day's journey was about two-thirds of a mile. The Mount of Olives was close to the city.
Casting lots was an old way of letting God decide, like drawing straws. After the Holy Spirit came, we never read of the apostles casting lots again.
Ascension Day is celebrated forty days after Easter, always on a Thursday.
Literal Reader Alert
Did Jesus fly up into space? The Bible says he was taken up and a cloud hid him. It means he went to be with the Father, to rule over all things. Heaven isn't a place in outer space.
If Jesus went away, is he gone? No. He promised, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). He is with us by his Spirit, in his word, and in the Lord's Supper.
When will he come back? Jesus said no one knows the time (1:7). We can trust that he will.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The apostles | Curious | They wanted to know when the kingdom would come (1:6) |
| The apostles | Amazed | They watched Jesus taken up (1:9-10) |
| The believers | United | They prayed together (1:14) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you do while you wait for Jesus? Tap one.
Look up
The angels said, "Why are you looking at the sky?" There's work to do.
Pray
The believers prayed together while they waited.
Be a witness
Tell someone what Jesus has done for you.
Miss him
Jesus is with you by his Spirit. He'll come back.
You Might Have Heard
"Jesus left, so now we're on our own."
What's true: Jesus isn't walking on earth the way he did before.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus went up to rule over everything. He promised the Holy Spirit, and he promised to come back. We're not alone. We're his witnesses, with his power.
Where Jesus is: At the right hand of the Father, ruling over all things, praying for us, and coming back.
Good News
Jesus didn't just disappear. He went up to reign, and he left a promise.
"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" (1:11).
Jesus rules now, sends his Spirit, and will come again.
After forty days, Jesus was taken up into heaven. He promised the Holy Spirit and sent his followers to be his witnesses. He will come back.
Big Idea
Forty days after Easter, Jesus was taken up into heaven. He promised the Holy Spirit, sent his followers to be his witnesses, and will come back.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that Christ's going up to heaven doesn't mean he is far away. "The right hand of God" is everywhere. Christ is present wherever he has promised to be.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Acts 1:1-11 on the Ascension of Our Lord in all three years. In Year A, it reads Acts 1:6-14 on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. In Year B, it reads Acts 1:15-17 and 21-26 that Sunday.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses
How did that feel?
You finished Jesus Goes Up to Heaven.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Seventh Sunday of Easter Year AFirst reading, Acts 1:6–14
- Seventh Sunday of Easter Year BFirst reading, Acts 1:15–17, 21–26
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Jesus Goes Up to Heaven, explained in plain words. After forty days, Jesus is taken up, and two men in white say he will come back. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/jesus-goes-up-to-heaven/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church