The Ascension
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus blesses His disciples and is taken up into heaven. Angels promise He will return the same way.
Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:50-53
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The Story
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, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
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.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
Then they gathered around him and asked him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'
He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when 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.'
Then the disciples worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
Jesus Goes to Heaven
Kids Version
For forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He kept appearing to His disciples. He taught them more about God's kingdom. He ate meals with them. He proved He was really, truly alive!
One day, Jesus led His disciples to a hill near Jerusalem.
'Don't leave Jerusalem yet,' Jesus told them. 'Wait for the gift My Father promised—the Holy Spirit! In a few days, you'll be baptized with the Holy Spirit. You'll receive POWER! And you'll tell people about Me—first in Jerusalem, then everywhere in the world!'
The disciples had a question: 'Lord, is this when You'll set up Your kingdom?'
Jesus said, 'It's not for you to know the timing. The Father decides that. But you WILL receive power when the Holy Spirit comes!'
Then something AMAZING happened.
Jesus lifted His hands and blessed them. And then—He started going UP! Higher and higher! A cloud surrounded Him, and He went right up into HEAVEN!
The disciples stared up at the sky with their mouths open.
Suddenly, two men in white clothes (angels!) appeared beside them.
'Why are you standing here looking at the sky?' the angels asked. 'This same Jesus will come BACK the same way you saw Him go!'
Jesus went to heaven, but He's coming back! One day, He'll return in the clouds, and everyone will see Him!
The disciples were SO happy! They went back to Jerusalem praising God, waiting for the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is in heaven now, preparing a place for everyone who believes in Him. And one day—He's coming back!
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — Acts 1:1-11 (KJV)
1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. being: or, eating together
5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. power: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you
9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Memory Verse
“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,”
— Acts 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Ascension” in the Bible?
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus blesses His disciples and is taken up into heaven. Angels promise He will return the same way. This story is found in Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:50-53.
Where is “The Ascension” found in the Bible?
“The Ascension” is found in Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:50-53, in the book of Acts.
What can children learn from “The Ascension”?
This story teaches children about Jesus' return to heaven, Promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will come back, Worship. Forty days after rising from the dead, Jesus went back up to heaven. But He promised to send the Holy Spirit—and to come back one day!