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Acts 1:6-14
With thanks to page sponsor 2014:
The Rev. Greg Osterberg, D.Min.
Mountain Rise United Church of Christ

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Revealed to James," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter III, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). (Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation)
  • III.XXIII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • III.6, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XXIV, On the Flesh of Christ, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter LI, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXX, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • I.III.7, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • On the Unity of the Church, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "After Christ had promised the full power of the Holy Spirit, with whom he would govern his church (even though he would be absent in body), he took up his body from us into heavenly tabernacles to remain there until the latter day of judgment, as the angels witness."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "God can find hiding-places for his people."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The upper rooms, so frequently mentioned in Scripture, were chambers in the highest part of the house, set apart by the Jews for private prayer. These, on account of their being so retired and convenient, the apostles now used for all the offices of religion."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "went up into an upper room--perhaps the same "large upper room" where with their Lord they had celebrated the last Passover and the first Supper."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Ye shall receive power - Not temporal power, such as they dreamed of, but spiritual and moral power."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Acts 1:6-14 (Easter 7A),Sarah Hinlicky Brown, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
    • "Despite Christ's departure, there is no need, however, to speak of an "absentee Christology" in Acts. Though absent as a character from the narrative of Acts after chapter 1 (though see Acts 7:56), the influence of Jesus throughout the rest of the narrative is profound."
  • Commentary, Acts 1:6-14 (Easter 7A), Mikeal C. Parsons, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "Despite Christ's departure, there is no need, however, to speak of an "absentee Christology" in Acts. Though absent as a character from the narrative of Acts after chapter 1 (though see Acts 7:56), the influence of Jesus throughout the rest of the narrative is profound."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2014.
  • "A Long Look at Heaven," John C. Holbert, 2014.
    • "Ascension Sunday is about the dangers of looking high when Jesus asks us to look low at the people he has come to redeem."
  • "Perspective," Steve Godfrey, Church in the World, 2014.
    • "How is the Spirit moving in your life to live out the gospel story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration?"
  • Commentary, Acts 1:6-14 (Easter 7A), Matt Skinner, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "By virtue of his elevation to this status, Jesus reigns over all creation. Creation is his. He has a role in everything. Therefore he is present throughout all creation through the Holy Spirit. Contrary to some popular assumptions, this event does not put Jesus out of play until the end of all things. He and the kingdom he inaugurated are not on an extended break."
    
    
  • "The Elusiveness of Unity," Danielle Shroyer, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "If Jesus is making a way for us, are we following it?"
  • Commentary, Acts 1:6-14, C. Clifton Black, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "To engage in the mission of God, therefore, is to live this life of prayer: praying without ceasing, as St Paul puts it, that is to say, sustaining a style of life that is focused upon God. This is indeed to engage in the mission of the Holy Spirit by being rather than by doing."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "'Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' (Acts 1:6)," William Loader, Being the Church Then and Now: Issues from the Acts of the Apostles.
    • "You and I are the place of the promise of the kingdom now. Yet ultimately the kingdom is God's reign, God's effort, God's gift. We are not asked to usurp God, but to share his purpose and by his Spirit become his action in the world."
  • "'Why do you stand looking up into heaven?' (Acts 1:11)," William Loader, Being the Church Then and Now: Issues from the Acts of the Apostles.
    • "Let us cross over to Jerusalem with the joy of grace and the assurance that the vision of the kingdom sets us to an agenda also of structure and sound planning for ministry."
  • "Devoted to Prayer," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Acts 1:6-8 and the Theo-Political Claims of Christian Witness," David L. Tiede, Word & World, 1981.
  • "The Ascension," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The assurance of His return and the measure of His presence and power in these intervening days is to be found, to a great extent, in His ascension."
  • "Getting Ahead of God (Acts 1:1-26)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "But God may wish to use methods and means which will not only be more effective but which will give all the glory to Him. We cannot, therefore, take pride in our plans, our program, our obedience. This, as I understand it, is what the sovereignty of God means in practical terms."
  • "Mission among Muslims: Inevitable Witnesses," Herbert Zorn, Word & World Texts in Context, 1996.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Ansorge, Kaiya, "Ascension: A Different Kind of Gravity," Theology Today, 2004. (Poetry)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • DeNicola, Deborah, "Ascension Thursday," Cross Currents, 1998/99. (Poetry)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J., "The Ascension of Christ and Pentecost," Theological Studies, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gaventa, Beverly R., " God Keeps Promises," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hinson, E. Glenn, "Persistence in Prayer in Luke-Acts," Review & Expositor, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Jansen, John F., "The Ascension, The Church, and Theology," Theology Today, 1959.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Keck, Leander E., "Listening To and Listening For: From Text to Sermon (Acts 1:8)," Interpretation, 1973.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lee, Mark, "An Evangelical Dialogue on Luke, Salvation, and Spirit Baptism," Pneuma, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Marty, Peter W., "Up, Up and Away," The Christian Century, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • McLean, John A., "Did Jesus Correct the Disciples' View of the Kingdom?" Bibliotheca Sacra, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Melbourne, Bertram L., "Acts 1:8 Re-Examined: Is Acts 8 Its Fulfillment?" Journal of Religious Thought, 2001/2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Moore, Thomas, "'To the End of the Earth': The Geographical and Ethnic Universalism of Acts 1:8 in Light of Isaianic Influence on Luke," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Niccum, Curt, "A Note on Acts 1:14," Novum Testamentum, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rogers, John B.," Following the Four Gospels into Eastertide," Journal for Preachers, 2013.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Schwartz, Daniel R., "The End of the GE (Acts 1:8): Beginning or End of the Christian Vision?" Journal of Biblical Literature, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Carol, "Biblical Perspectives on Power," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tiede, David L., "Acts 1:6-8 and the Theo-Political Claims of Christian Witness," Word & World, 1981.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ukpong, Justin S., "Contemporary Theological Models of Mission: Analysis and Critique," AFER, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Weissenbuehler, Wayne, "Acts 1:1-11, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Willard, Dallas, "How to Be A Disciple," The Christian Century, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Zorn, Herbert, "Mission among Muslims: A Sermon Series," Word & World, 1996. (See "Inevitable Witness" beginning on page 245.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Up in the Air," Paul Bellan-Boyer, I Heard of a City Called Heaven.
  • "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down," the Rev. Dr. James B. Lemler, Day 1, 2008.
  • "Footprints on the Earth," the Rev. Barbara K. Lundblad, Day 1, 2005.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Easter 7A, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," June 1, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
  • "The Ascension," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Jesus Tells the Disciples What To Do," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Jesus Ascends," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • Acts 1 Word Search, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Acts 1:14, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
• Hymns and Music:
  • "O Christ, When You Ascended," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2007, LANCASHIRE.
  • I Believe (The Apostles' Creed) AUSTRIAN HYMN (8.7.8.7 D) (Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken)
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions, Acts 1:8, 9, 11. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Ascension
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Ascension
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts

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