COMMENTARY

Epistle: Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14
At his ascension, Jesus promised to send the Spirit to the disciples. The risen Lord meets with his eleven disciples a short distance from Jerusalem where before ascending to his Father, he promises them the Spirit who will give them power to witness throughout the world. Then they returned to an upper room in Jerusalem to pray. With the disciples are Jesus' brothers and mother. This is her last appearance in the New Testament - she is seen among the first Christians praying and waiting for the Spirit. This pericope deals with both the ascension and next Sunday's Pentecost. If there was no ascension service last Thursday, the preacher may wish to deal with the ascension portion of this lection. The First Lesson is similar to today's Acts 1:1-11. Other…