The Ascension of Jesus
Acts 1:1-11
Acts.1.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- μεν: PART
- πρωτον: ADV
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εποιησαμην: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,sg
- περι: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- Θεοφιλε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ηρξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ποιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- διδασκειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Luke 1:1-4 (verbal): Acts 1:1 explicitly refers to a 'former account' addressed to Theophilus; Luke 1:1-4 is that prologue, using parallel language about composing an orderly account and addressing Theophilus.
- Acts 1:2-3 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: verses 2–3 complete the thought of what Jesus 'began to do and teach,' recounting post-resurrection appearances and instruction over forty days.
- Luke 24:44-49 (thematic): Jesus' teaching about the fulfillment of Scripture and his commissioning of the disciples in Luke 24 connects thematically to Acts' summary of what Jesus began to 'do and teach' and the apostolic mission that follows.
- Luke 24:50-53 (allusion): Luke's ascension account parallels Acts' opening movement from Jesus' ministry to the church's witness, serving as an immediate narrative bridge between the Gospel and Acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- In my former account, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
- In my first account, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Acts.1.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- αχρι: PREP
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εντειλαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αποστολοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- δια: PREP
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εξελεξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ανελημφθη·: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 1:4 (structural): Immediate context/continuation: Jesus orders the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s promise (the Holy Spirit), closely connected to the commands given 'through the Holy Spirit.'
- Luke 24:49 (thematic): Promise of the Father and being 'clothed with power from on high'—links the instruction to await the Spirit and the coming empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
- Luke 24:51 (verbal): Narrative of the ascension — 'he was carried up into heaven' parallels Acts' report that he 'was taken up' after giving final instructions.
- John 20:22 (allusion): Jesus breathes on the disciples and says 'Receive the Holy Spirit,' an event that thematically corresponds to Jesus acting 'through the Holy Spirit' toward the apostles.
- Luke 6:13 (thematic): Appointment/choice of the Twelve: earlier account of Jesus selecting the apostles ('whom he also named apostles') parallels Acts' reference to 'the apostles whom he had chosen.'
Alternative generated candidates
- until the day when he was taken up; after giving commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
- until the day when he was taken up, after he had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts.1.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- παρεστησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- ζωντα: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- παθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- πολλοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τεκμηριοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- δι᾽ημερων: PREP+NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- οπτανομενος: PART,pres,mid,nom,sg,m
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- και: CONJ
- λεγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- περι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- βασιλειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:36-49 (structural): Luke's resurrection appearance narrative parallels Acts 1:3 closely (same author): Jesus appears to the disciples, shows his wounds, eats with them, and speaks about the kingdom and fulfills Scripture—providing the immediately preceding context for Acts' summary of post‑resurrection appearances.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (verbal): Paul lists multiple post‑resurrection appearances (to Cephas, the Twelve, and over five hundred), echoing Acts' emphasis on many 'infallible proofs' and numerous witnesses to Jesus' risen body.
- John 20:19-29 (thematic): John records Jesus' first appearances to the disciples, showing his hands and side and addressing unbelief—similar in theme to Acts' stress on physical, convincing appearances to his followers.
- Acts 10:39-41 (quotation): Peter's speech in Acts recounts Jesus' death and resurrection and explicitly speaks of seeing him alive 'after he rose'—a direct intra‑Luke‑Acts parallel that echoes the same claim about post‑resurrection sightings.
- Matthew 28:16-20 (thematic): The risen Jesus meets the disciples and commissions them with authority over the nations—connecting Acts' note that Jesus spoke about the kingdom and prepared the disciples for mission.
Alternative generated candidates
- To them he also presented himself alive after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking to them about the kingdom of God.
- To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many convincing proofs; for forty days he appeared to them and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts.1.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- συναλιζομενος: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- παρηγγειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- απο: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- μη: PART
- χωριζεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- αλλα: CONJ
- περιμενειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- επαγγελιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- μου·: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Luke 24:49 (verbal): Same command to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Father's promise (to be 'clothed with power'); closely parallel wording and setting (same evangelist/continuation).
- Acts 1:8 (structural): Immediate sequel in Acts identifying the 'promise of the Father' as the coming of the Holy Spirit and linking the waiting with receiving power for witness.
- John 14:16–17 (thematic): Jesus promises the Father will give another Helper/Spirit who will be with believers—provides the theological basis for the 'promise of the Father.'
- Joel 2:28–29 (allusion): Prophetic promise of God pouring out his Spirit on all flesh; later quoted in Acts 2 as the fulfillment of the Father's promise at Pentecost.
Alternative generated candidates
- While meeting with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father—‘which you heard from me,’
- While meeting with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father—'which you have heard from me,' he said.
Acts.1.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεν: PART
- εβαπτισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υδατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- βαπτισθησεσθε: VERB,fut,pass,ind,2,pl
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- μετα: PREP
- πολλας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- ταυτας: PRON,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
Parallels
- Matthew 3:11 (quotation): John the Baptist's proclamation: 'He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,' which Jesus echoes by contrasting John's water baptism with the coming baptism in the Spirit.
- Mark 1:8 (quotation): Parallel report of John's words: he baptizes with water but one is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, matching the verbal contrast in Acts 1:5.
- Luke 3:16 (quotation): Luke's version of John the Baptist's declaration about baptism with the Holy Spirit; Acts 1:5 (also by Luke) intentionally recalls this contrast between water and Spirit.
- Acts 2:1-4 (thematic): The Pentecost event where the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, presented as the fulfillment of the promised baptism in the Spirit from Acts 1:5.
- Acts 11:16 (quotation): Peter cites Jesus' words ('John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit') when explaining Gentile conversion, directly echoing the promise of Acts 1:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
- For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
Acts.1.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- συνελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ηρωτων: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Κυριε: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- χρονω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- αποκαθιστανεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ισραηλ: NOUN,voc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 3:19-21 (allusion): Peter speaks of repentance and the coming 'times of restoration' when God will send the appointed Christ—language and expectation closely linked to the disciples' question about restoring Israel's kingdom.
- Luke 24:21 (thematic): On the Emmaus road the disciples say they had hoped Jesus would 'redeem Israel,' reflecting the same messianic/kingdom expectation expressed in Acts 1:6.
- Luke 17:20-21 (thematic): Jesus addresses questions about when the kingdom will come, teaching about the nature and timing of God's kingdom—a thematic precedent for the question posed in Acts 1:6.
- John 6:14-15 (thematic): After the feeding of the five thousand the crowd wants to make Jesus king, showing popular expectations of an immediate, political restoration of Israel that underlie the disciples' question in Acts 1:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
- So when they had come together they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?'
Acts.1.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·Ουχ: PRON,acc,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- γνωναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- χρονους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καιρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εθετο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ιδια: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 13:32 (verbal): Jesus states that no one knows the day or hour except the Father—close verbal parallel about human inability to know appointed times.
- Matthew 24:36 (verbal): Parallel teaching that ‘about that day and hour no one knows’—same theme of divine exclusivity of knowledge concerning eschatological timing.
- Acts 17:26 (verbal): Within Luke‑Acts the language of God ‘appointing’ or ‘determining’ times/periods (ὥρισεν) echoes Acts 1:7’s idea that the Father has set times by his authority.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 (thematic): Paul’s language about ‘times and seasons’ and believers not needing to be unaware of exact moments connects thematically to Acts 1:7’s concern with knowledge of times.
- James 4:13-15 (thematic): James warns against presuming to know or plan the future without acknowledging the Lord’s will—resonates thematically with Acts 1:7’s restriction on human knowledge of divinely appointed times.
Alternative generated candidates
- He replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
- He replied, 'It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Acts.1.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- λημψεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
- δυναμιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επελθοντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,m,sg
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εφ᾽υμας: PREP+PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εσεσθε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- μαρτυρες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τε: CONJ
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Ιουδαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Σαμαρεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εως: CONJ
- εσχατου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 24:49 (verbal): Same Lukan promise to 'be clothed with power from on high' and instruction to remain in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit (close verbal parallel to Acts 1:4–8).
- John 15:26-27 (thematic): Link between the Holy Spirit's coming and the disciples' role as witnesses—Spirit testifies about Jesus and enables the followers to testify as well.
- Matthew 28:18-20 (thematic): The Great Commission's command to make disciples among all nations ('to the ends of the earth') parallels Acts' geographical expansion of witness from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
- Joel 2:28-32 (allusion): Joel's prophecy of God pouring out his Spirit on all flesh provides the Old Testament background for the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts and is explicitly cited at Pentecost (Acts 2).
- Isaiah 49:6 (allusion): Prophetic theme of Israel's servant as a light to the nations and reaching 'to the ends of the earth,' which undergirds the mission-breadth expressed in Acts 1:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'
Acts.1.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ειπων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- βλεποντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- επηρθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- νεφελη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υπελαβεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- οφθαλμων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:51 (verbal): Luke's parallel account of Jesus' departure: Jesus is lifted up/was carried up into heaven while the disciples watch—same author and tightly correspondent wording and scene.
- 2 Kings 2:11 (thematic): Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind into heaven—an Old Testament precedent for a prophetic ascent taken by a divine phenomenon (cloud/whirlwind).
- John 20:17 (verbal): Jesus tells Mary Magdalene he is 'ascending to my Father and your Father,' anticipating the bodily ascent recorded in Acts and linking Jesus' departure to his return to the Father.
- Ephesians 4:8-10 (allusion): Paul speaks of Christ's descent and subsequent ascent 'to the heights,' echoing the theological significance of the ascension—Christ's return to heaven and exaltation.
- Psalm 68:18 (quotation): OT psalm used elsewhere in the NT as the scriptural foundation for the ascension motif ('You ascended on high'), providing theological background for Acts' depiction of Jesus' being taken up.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
- And after he had said these things, as they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts.1.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ως: ADV
- ατενιζοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πορευομενου: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,m,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: PART
- ανδρες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- παρειστηκεισαν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- εν: PREP
- εσθησεσι: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- λευκαις: ADJ,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Luke 24:50-51 (structural): Same author/narrative: Jesus leads the disciples out, is lifted up into heaven while they look on — parallel account of the ascension and the disciples' upward gaze.
- Luke 24:4-5 (verbal): At the empty tomb two men in dazzling/white apparel appear to the women — same image of 'men in white' standing beside witnesses.
- John 20:12 (verbal): Mary sees two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had lain — another instance of 'two in white' as heavenly witnesses in resurrection/ascension context.
- 2 Kings 2:11 (allusion): Elijah's whirlwind ascent witnessed by Elisha provides an Old Testament prototype for a prophet/figure being taken up while companions look on, echoing the motif of a visible ascent to heaven.
Alternative generated candidates
- While they were gazing intently into heaven as he went, two men in white garments stood beside them,
- While they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white garments,
Acts.1.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπαν·Ανδρες: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl+NOUN,voc,pl,m
- Γαλιλαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- εστηκατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- βλεποντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αναλημφθεις: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- αφ᾽υμων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- ελευσεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- τροπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εθεασασθε: VERB,aor,mid,ind,2,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- πορευομενον: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:51 (structural): Lukan account of Jesus' ascension — same author’s earlier scene where Jesus is taken up and departs to heaven, providing the immediate narrative parallel to Acts’ account.
- Mark 16:19 (verbal): States that Jesus was 'taken up into heaven' and 'sat at the right hand of God,' echoing Acts’ language about the ascension and exaltation.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (thematic): Describes the Lord’s future descent from heaven and the gathering of believers, reflecting the promise of Jesus’ return 'in the same way' he ascended.
- Matthew 26:64 (allusion): Jesus’ prediction that the Son of Man will come on the clouds — links the ascension/return motif and the visible coming ‘as you saw him go into heaven.’
- Daniel 7:13-14 (allusion): Apocalyptic background of the 'coming with the clouds' of the Son of Man, which New Testament texts (and Acts 1:11’s promise of return) draw upon as theological precedent.
Alternative generated candidates
- and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
- who said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into 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.'
In my first account, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began both to do and to teach.
Until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
To them he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the things concerning the kingdom of God. And while assembled with them he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So when they had come together they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?'
He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' And when he had said these things, while they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
who said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'