Ascension Thursday
Acts 20:16-18 & 28-38

A reading - from the Acts of the Holy Apostles

Brothers and sisters: In my first account, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up to heaven, having first instructed the aposteles he had chosen through the Ho | ly | Spirit.

In the time after his suffering he showed them in many convincing ways that he was alive, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking to them about the reign | of | God.

On one occasion when he met with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem: “Wait, rather, for the fulfillment of my father’s promise, of which you have heard | me | speak.

John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Ho | ly | Spirit.”

While they were with him they asked, “Lord, are you going to restore the rule to Is | rael | now?”

His answer was: “The exact time is not yours to know. The Father has reserved that to | him | self.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, yes, even to the ends of | the | earth.”

No sooner had he said this than he was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took him from | their | sight.

They were still gazing up into the heavens when two men dressed in white stood be | side | them.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking up at | the | skies?

This Jesus who has been taken from you will return, just as you saw him to up into | the | heavens.”

After that they returned to Jerusalem from - the - mount - of - Olivet - near - Jerusalem.