The shock must first be dealt with (Acts 1:12-26), that someone who had even been entrusted with money was a traitor. The first Christians withdrew, reconciled themselves with history and had to find a new way of working together.
The name Judas Iscariot could indicate that he was associated with the particularly radical movement of the Sicarii (Dagger Men). This was a subgroup of the Zealots. They Continue reading The synod
Jesus goes to the heavenly Father (Acts 1:9-11) and thus clears the way for the direct work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). The heavenly Father determines the time of his return (Acts 1:7).
With his ascension, Jesus has completed his first mission on earth. He has gone in the flesh to a real, otherworldly place. He promised to prepare dwellings there for his followers (John 14:2). Jesus has not vanished into a spirit world, but is seated at the right hand of the heavenly Father (Acts 7:56).
The two angels make it clear to the disciples that they should not dwell on the past, but live with the vision of the coming reign of God (Acts 1:11). Continue reading Living with the vision of the coming kingdom
The disciples want to know whether Jesus will now make Israel into a great and mighty kingdom (Acts 1:6).
Jesus replies that there is a time for everything. He does not deny an earthly kingdom, but first comes a time of waiting, then of witnessing in all the world and then the visible return of Jesus to this earth.
His reign begins in the place where people have decided against him (Jerusalem), then continues into the surrounding area (Judea), to the despised Samaritans and to the end of the world. Continue reading You will be my martyrs