Our SAVIOUR's Ascension into Heaven. THEN the eleven Apostles went away into Galilee unto a mountain, where JESUS had appointed them, and he was seen of above five hundred of his disciples at once: and he showed himself on earth during forty days to his Apostles, and conversed with them of things relating to the Kingdom of Heaven. And it came to pass, that his Apostles being assembled together, JESUS led them out as far as Bethany,* and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,† but to wait in that Holy City for the coming of the HOLY GHOST, with which he said they would be baptized in a few days. And he commanded his Apostles, after they should have received the HOLY GHOST, to go out into all nations, and baptize, in the name of the FATHER, Map of Canaan, 7 D. + Map of Canaan, 2 D. the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, such persons as would repent of their sins, and believe the Gospel. And when he had spoken these things, JESUS lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, that while he blessed them, they beheld, and he was parted from them, and was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight; and he was received into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 2 And while the Apostles looked stedfastly towards Heaven, two Angels stood by them, and said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye thus gazing up into Heaven? this same JESUS, who is now taken away, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. And the disciples worshipped the LORD, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And on the day of Pentecost, a great feast of the Jews, when all the Apostles and disciples were assembled together in one place to keep it, the HOLY GHOST descended upon them as the LORD had promised; and from that time, those who were appointed to preach the Gospel had power to speak all kinds of languages, so as to be understood by people of every nation under Heaven, and they were filled with wisdom by the HOLY GHOST. |