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Acts 1.1-11

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

In the first book, Theophilus,
I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

until the day when he was taken up to heaven,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them
by many convincing proofs,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.

While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem,
but to wait there for the promise of the Father.
"This," he said, "is what you have 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, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods
that the Father has set 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,
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

When he had said this, as they were watching,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven,
suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

They said, "Men of Galilee,
why do you stand looking up toward 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."


Ephesians 1.15-23

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason

I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
as you come to know him,

so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

God put this power to work in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the age to come.

And he has put all things under his feet
and has made him the head over all things for the church,

which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills all in all.


Gospel Luke 24.44-53

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Jesus said to the disciples,
"These are my words that I spoke to you
while I was still with you—
that everything written about me in the law of Moses,
the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,

and he said to them,
"Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer
and to rise from the dead on the third day,

and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed
in his name to all nations,
beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things.

And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised;
so stay here in the city
until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

While he was blessing them,
he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;

and they were continually in the temple blessing God.