What is the Ascension?

1. What is the Ascension?

Ascension is the departure of Risen Jesus into the heaven after his final appearance to his disciples. It is described only in Acts 1:2-11, although there may be a different and shorter version in Luke (24:50-51), and allusions to it elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g. John 6:62; 20:17:Eph. 4:8-10). In the setting of Acts, the ascension is preparatory to the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost (2:1-4). The forty days interval (1:2) is probably symbolic, as this number is frequently used to denote indefinite periods of time. The setting for the ascension has traditionally been regarded as the Mount of Olive. For possible OT precedents, Note the translation of Enoch (Gen.5: 24) and the assumption of Elijah (2Kgs.2: 1-14); in the intertestamental period, similar stories appeared regarding other ancient figures.

2. What happened at Pentecost?

Pentecost is a Jewish Feast of Weeks, deriving from its occurrence 50 days after Passover (Acts 20:16; 1Cor.16:8). Because the early Christians received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on this day, the term is now more commonly used to refer to that event recorded in Acts 2:1-13.

According to the Acts, The apostles remained in Jerusalem after the Resurrection appearance. On the day of Pentecost, they were gathered in one house when the Holy Spirit came upon them, sounding like a mighty wind and appearing like tongues of fire upon each of them. Then the apostles began miraculously to speak in foreign languages, attracting the attention of foreign Jews who were amazed to hear their native languages spoken by Galileans. This set the stage for Peter’s sermon, which resulted in the conversion and baptism of about 3000 people (Acts 2:1-47).  

Various passages in Old Testament and Jewish writings have been suggested as providing the background against which the Pentecost events might be best understood: Philo Dec 33, God created a sound on Sinai and changed it into fire; Exod 19:18, the Lord descended in fire; and Gen 11:1-9, the confusion of the languages at Babel. More important from Luke’s perspective are the prophecies by Joel, John the Baptist, and Jesus regarding the pouring out or baptism of the spirit.  

   

3.When is whit sun?

The seventh Sunday (Fiftieth day) after Easter is whit sun or Whitsunday. It is the name of a feast of Pentecost in the Church of England. The word apparently occurs first in the Ancrewn Riwle in thirteenth century. It is a festival of the Church in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.      

4. What did Gamaliel say in the Sanhedrin?

Gamaliel was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. When the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel was present there. He was a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared claiming to be someone important and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of census. He also drew people after him; but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you; have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not at the origin of this movement preached by the apostles, it will perish by itself. Gamaliel advices against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from punishment of scourging in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.      

5.What is a Martyr?

A martyr is a believer who borne witness to Christ by shedding his blood for him.

A.   The term witness and martyr are translated from the Greek martus.Martyr is a literal transcription from the Greek in order to give expression to a new meaning. In the second century and at the time of persecution the term martyr is commonly used to designate Christ’s confessors who suffered martyrdom rather than deny their Lord. A martyr has borne testimony even by his death, which gives him his title and rank as a martyr (cf. Mart. Polyc. 14:2; 16:2; 17:3).

B.   In the New Testament: According to some schools this new meaning is already apparent in the NT. We read in Acts (22:20) that the blood of Stephen the martus of the Lord has been shed. Versions translate either witness or martyr. A Christian Antipas who was killed (Rev 2:13) is called witness or martyr. Later the blood of the martyrs of Jesus is spoken of. All persecuted Christians who remained faithful unto death are not called martyr, although they bore testimony of Christ. It may be concluded that in NT times the term martus began to receive the new connection of martyr, but that new meaning was not yet in general use. During an age of persecution the faithful witness becomes the martyr of Christ.

6. Who is a Saint?

A saint is one separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ. It is the translation of meaning Holy or set apart for God’s use

1.     In the Old Testament: As a covenant people, Israel is a holy nation, being consecrated as the particular possession of God, who is uniquely holy and source of Holiness. This relationship to God is summed up in the code of holiness; you shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev.19: 2). The more general term holy one(s) is applied to those who are specially dedicated to God and consecrated to His service. More commonly the term is used of Israel as God’s people.

2.     In the New Testament: The faithful of pre-Christian times are called Saint in Matthew 27:52. Christians are saints I by virtue of being in Christ Jesus (Phil.1: 1), Christ as son of man being preeminently the Holy one of God. Paul addresses to those who are called to be saints, (Rom.1: 7). Saint naturally becomes a common term for the member of the church, and Pauline letters are addressed to the various local communities under this title.

10.  What is the meaning of the word “Church”?  

There are many diverse terms in the New Testament for the word church with its own etymological and theological history.  In contemporary English usage, church is a word dominates the ecclesiological vocabulary. It comes through German and Latin from Greek kuriakou, which means that which belongs to the Lord.  In New Testament Greek, ekklhsiaalmost always translated in English by church) is by no means so dominating or central a term. Ecclesia was used primarily to designate a particular communal reality, not to describe its qualitative aspects. In comparison with other terms, ecclesia was relatively neutral and colorless, conveying by itself little theological meaning. We tern first to the basic meaning of ecclesia as used in the New Testament, and thereafter to the cognate ways of expressing the idea of the church.

A.   Basic meaning of ecclesia,

1.     In the OT

2.     In the NT

  - An assembly

  - A community of believers

  - A community gathered by God through Christ

  - The eschatological people of God.

B.   Cognate ways of expressing:

                          - Believers and faithful

                          -The people of Go

                          -The new exodus

                          -One body in Christ

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

§      New Catholic Encyclopedia, …ed, vol-5.  S.V. “Fish”, By ….  P.943.

§      New Catholic Encyclopedia, …ed, vol-XIII. S.V. “Stoning”, By … p.725.

§      “Acts     ” The Catholic Study Bible, Ed By Donald Senior, New York.

§      Harper’s Bible Dictionary, S.V. “Ascension” By Jouette M. Bassler, Bengalor, PTI, 1990.

§      The interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible,  vol-1. S.V. “Church”, By George Arthur Buttrick, Abingdon Press, 1962. 

§      The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible….ed vol-4. S.V. “Saint”, By… p. 164.

§      Today’s Dictionary of the Bible, S.V. “Saint”, By T.A. Bryant, New York, Guideposts. 1982.