Acts 1:11-15

Acts 1:11 (KJB)

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

First the angels had asked them why are they standing there gazing into Heaven? Maybe when the Lord Jesus Christ was going up, they had tried to peek into Heaven to see what it was like. The work of Christ on earth was now officially finished as He went back to Heaven. However, He would always be with them as He promised. (Mat 28:20 KJV) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Then the second half of this verse gives us the blessed hope. (Titus 2:13 KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; The Lord Jesus Christ will return from Heaven to gather His Elect on the last day and He will return in the same manner that He left. He will descend from the clouds and will gather all those whom He has saved over all the years of earth’s history. There will be no secret rapture, some even believe that the second coming is only for the believers at the moment of their death but the reality is that when He returns, every eye shall see Him and that will be a worldwide event. (1 Th 4:16-17 KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Acts 1:12 (KJB)

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

After the disciples received the message from the angels, they returned to the city of Jerusalem. This trip would have been about a mile from Olivet back to Jerusalem. It shows how close the Mount of Olives was to Jerusalem. I am sure they returned with much joy because they received the message that Jesus would return in like manner.

Acts 1:13 (KJB)

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Now the eleven apostles were to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit, which was the promise of the Father. Some believe they had returned to the house of John’s mother. (Acts 12:12 KJV) And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. I doubt that this would have been the same Upper Room where they celebrated the last supper. This would have had to be a place that was not well known for the time being. Even though the Lord Jesus was crucified fifty days prior, there was no doubt those who were looking for His disciples and knew they were somewhere in the vicinity. They will receive another surprise for in ten days the Apostles would then be empowered to preach the Gospel by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:14 (KJB)

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Some interesting facts emerge in this verse about the disciples. First, they were in one accord in contrast to the way they were each vying for the top spot in Heaven and the jealousy they exhibited before the cross. Now their hearts had shown a different attitude as they were immersed in prayer and supplications, the attitudes of pride have gone. Now the women were also joining in the prayer with the men. This shows that women were elevated to equal status in the Kingdom of God as they had just as much right to pray with the men. In Judaism, women were looked at with scorn and not even allowed to walk with her husband, six steps behind. They were not allowed to receive an inheritance. In fact, in the Temple, there was the court of women which separated them from the men. In Christianity, the women have just as much a role as the men with certain restrictions concerning public ministry. No longer are they considered second class. Then special mention is given to Mary, the mother of Jesus as she joined them in prayer and not as a leader. This is the last mention of her in the book of Acts as it is believed that she had died shortly after this final mention. She has been elevated to co-Redemptrix by the Roman Catholic Institution but that has all been the work of evil men because nowhere in Scripture is she ever listed as a leader of the church nor is she ever written about in Scripture as a co-ruler in Heaven. Then the brethren of the Lord was assembled with them. (John 7:5 KJV) For neither did his brethren believe in him. There must have been a definite change in them also because they now believed and were with the disciples. Before the cross they were against Jesus but now, they were with Him. It shows you that everyone who comes to the cross is changed when they leave.

Acts 1:15 (KJB)

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

The number of the disciples who were in one accord in prayer were 120 and after they prayed, Peter stood up in their midst and began to address everyone who was present from the Scriptures. John came from wealthy stock and lived where many of the leaders of Israel lived and that is why he was probably able to fit 120 people in the home. Most homes were very small but like today, those of the wealthy are much larger and could accommodate gatherings.