Friday Bible Study Reflection – Acts 1:11-26
The Ascension of Jesus:
After Jesus disappears from sight, two angels appear and remind the disciples that He has returned to heaven. Now seated at God’s right hand, Jesus is restored to the position of glory He shared with the Father before His incarnation.
The angels declare:
"Jesus... will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven" - Acts 1:11
This points to the Second Coming—Christ’s return to establish His kingdom at the end of the age. The disciples’ eyewitness testimony is preserved for us, so we too can build our faith on the solid foundation of God’s Word and pass it on to the next generation.
Upon returning to Jerusalem, the disciples, along with other believers, spend time together in prayer, following Jesus’ instruction to wait for the Father’s promise of the Holy Spirit.
Soon after, Peter emerges as the leader of the 11 disciples and the larger group of 120 believers. Peter addresses the group, reminding them of recent events as fulfillment of Scripture, and outlines the requirement for the new Apostle: someone who had been with Jesus from His baptism through the Ascension. After praying, the group casts lots, and Matthias is chosen as the new disciple.
Our Response:
Peter and Judas serve as reminders of how differently lives can unfold after sin. Both sinned—Peter denied Jesus, and Judas betrayed Him—but their responses to God’s forgiveness determined their paths.
Fellowship with God and usefulness in His service does not depend on never making mistakes, but on continually being renewed through His forgiveness.
Take time to ask God to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life, past or present, for which you have not received His forgiveness. Let His grace restore you and empower you to walk faithfully in His service.