IV.
Notice that Jesus tells the disciples, “… to wait for the promise of the Father…. you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

How do they reply?

V.
Acts 1:1-11 (NRSVue)

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach 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.”

VI.
Hearing they are to wait (apparently for “… not many days …”), they seem to connect this with the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel.

Are they on the right track?

They are told, “It is not for you to know the times or periods…” And they are told “ … you will receive power …”

And then Jesus leaves them on their own again.

And for the moment he has left them without the restoration of the Kingdom or this promised power.

Is it any surprise they are left “gazing up toward heaven,” and maybe with some unanswered questions?

Do you think they are waiting with a sense of joyful expectation or with questions and restlessness?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}