and gave ample proof that he was alive:
over a period of forty days he appeared to them
and taught them about the kingdom of God.
While he was in their company he told them
not to leave Jerusalem. "You must wait," he said,
"for the promise made by my Father,
about which you have heard me speak:
"John, as you know, baptized with water,
but you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit, and within the next few days."
So, when they were all together,
they asked him, "Lord, is this the time
when you are to establish once
again the sovereignty of Israel?"
He answered,
"It is not for you to know about dates or times,
which the Father has set within his own control.
But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes upon you;
and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem,
and all over Judaea and Samaria,
and away to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they watched,
he was lifted up, and a cloud removed him from
their sight. As he was going,
and as they were gazing intently into the sky,
all at once there stood beside them
two men in white who said,
"Men of Galilee,
why stand there looking up into the sky?
This Jesus, who has been taken away
from you up to heaven,
will come in the same way as you
have seen him go."
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