“… until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.” (Acts 1:2)
Forty days had passed since Jesus rose from the dead. During those days, He had regularly met with His disciples to speak with them about the Kingdom of God.
During one of these meetings, Jesus told His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father about which He had told them before. “For,” He said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5)
The disciples, who were still thinking of an earthly kingdom, asked: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Jesus answered: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed 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 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)
After He had said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
What might have gone through the disciples’ minds at that remarkable moment?
You can read more about this in Luke 24:36–53