Scripture Study for

Luke’s account of the period between the Resurrection and the  Ascension is marked by a strong sense of continuity with Jesus’ work  and words while on earth. Even during this interim period, Jesus  continues to proclaim the kingdom as he reminds his disciples of  the promise of the Spirit. The disciples’ question about the kingdom  is quickly set aside by Jesus as the business of the Father, not the  disciples. Their mission is instead to be his witnesses, empowered  by the Spirit. As Jesus’ witnesses, they have a twofold mission: to  proclaim that Jesus is the Christ and to continue his work of teaching  and healing, the twin focuses of the rest of the book of Acts.

The beginning and end of the reading from Ephesians emphasize  the unity of the church, which is grounded in the “unity of the  spirit” and the “unity of faith,” which is to say that the every  member of the church, no matter how they differ in gifts or ministry  or temperament, has been brought together by the one God and  they all share the same faith (belief and trust) in Christ. The central  section is related to the topic of Christ’s formation of the church.  Very likely, “the lower regions of the earth” refers here simply to  the earth (ancient cosmology considered the “atmosphere” part of  the earth). Christ could only ascend far above the heavens if he had  descended to earth. The dynamic of descent and ascent establishes  Christ’s identity as universal savior. 

Mark’s account of the Ascension contains uniquely the reference  to the ability of those who believe in Jesus to speak new languages  and even to be immune from deadly snake bites and poisons. It  is impossible to know if those who first articulated this tradition  understood this claim literally, but the powers given to the disciples  point toward the apostolic mission, which continues the work of  Jesus even beyond Israel. Just as Jesus encountered opposition to his  healing work and the proclamation of the kingdom, the disciples can  expect the same when doing anything “in my name.” The protection  from snakes and poisons is perhaps a hyperbolic expression of  the protective power of Christ that will accompany them as they  continue his work.