Acts 1:9-14 The Ascension And The Upper Room.

Jesus ascended into the Glory-Presence of God. This was that day spoken of by Daniel (7:13-14). He did this when He had spoken all that He intended to speak, and they became witnesses as they watched (v. 9). Jesus promised that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, would come to both remind them of everything He had spoke up to that moment, and to empower them to be the witnesses that He chose and called them to be. In the meantime, two angels descend to offer words of comfort and hope as they saw Jesus, with His resurrection body, depart (v. 10). The angels reiterate the promise of His return one day, but as history moved forward they were to await the coming of another (v. 11). It was also God’s desire that they turn their thoughts from heaven back to the earth. For this reason they returned to Jerusalem (v. 12).

Here we see Luke overlapping with the conclusion to his gospel account (24:50-52). This gathering in the upper room included the apostles, minus Judas Iscariot, and “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (v. 14b). “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (v. 14a). It is remarkable that we find them praying. Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would come, so presumably this was not what they were praying about. It is more likely, knowing this, that they were praying that they themselves would be prepared for this visitation and the task ahead of them which Jesus had called them to. We do know that they all had the same purpose in mind, they were all of one accord. It is also remarkable that it is the faithful women who were with the apostles here.