Taken Up Before Their Eyes: Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.

Luke continued his account. The Gospel told what Jesus began. Acts would tell what Jesus continued—through his Spirit, through his church. The story was not over; it was entering a new chapter.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Forty days. The risen Jesus appearing, disappearing, reappearing. Convincing proofs—eating fish, showing wounds, teaching Scripture. The resurrection was not rumor but repeated encounter. And his topic: the kingdom of God. The same message he had preached before the cross, now vindicated by the empty tomb.