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In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

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until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

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After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

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While staying ^F1 with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me;

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for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with ^F2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

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So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

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He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

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When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

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While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

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They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

FOOTNOTES:
F1: Or [eating]
F2: Or [by]

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Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach

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until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven.

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After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.

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As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me.

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John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."

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When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"

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He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business.

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What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

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These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud.

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They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared - in white robes!

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They said, "You Galileans! - why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left."