Programme of the Mission: the Ascension.
Acts 1:6. The opening words suggest a religious meeting; the occurrences of Acts 1:9-11 are in the open air; cf. the tryst made in Mark 16:7 = Matthew 28:16. Here the disciples are not thinking of the promise of the Spirit, but of supremacy to be restored to Israel. Jesus-' answer does not notice this limited view, and forbids speculation as to the date (Mark 13:32); Acts 1:8 states the writer's view, worked out in the whole book, as to the development of the cause, only a part of which these men were to realise. The statement of Acts 1:4 is repeated. Witnesses, i.e. of the Resurrection (see Acts 1:22; Acts 2:32, etc.). The Saviour is removed on a cloud, the ascent of which the disciples are following with their eyes, when two celestial beings, as their dress denotes (Mark 9:3), appear beside them and recall them to the earth, or rather state the expectation which is henceforth to fill their minds. Jesus is to come again from heaven, as they have seen Him go up to it, i.e. on clouds, as the Messiah was expected to come (Daniel 7:13; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:17, etc.).