1 1-5 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach 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. 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. 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. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
6 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?”
7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. 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.”
9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! 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.”
Good morning to You again, Holy Spirit. You are the promise given by Father God to all believers as Jesus finished His task and ascended back to God - believers are to baptized in the Holy Spirit - being empowered by the Holy Spirit and able to witness Jesus courageously and powerfully in the midst of unbelievers. You are the most wonderful promise given by Father God to us through what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
Dear Holy Spirit, I want to experience more about Your presence and empowering in my life. Speak to me through God's words, correct me and lead me into the truth of God's words that I know, I believe, I experience, and I preach to others. Use me as Your instrument that people also experience your works that they follow and trust Jesus as their Savior.
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