Other Appearances

³⁶ While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them, “Peace be to you.” ³⁷ But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a spirit. ³⁸ And He said, “Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at [the marks in] My hands and My feet, [and see] that it is I Myself. Touch Me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”^{(A) 40} After saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet. ⁴¹ While they still did not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and He took it and ate it in front of them.^(B)

⁴⁴ Then He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything which has been written about Me in the ^[a]Law of Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to [help them] understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said, “And so it is written, that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,^{(C) 47} and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”^(D)

The Ascension

⁵⁰ Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them.^{(E) 51} While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy [fully understanding that He lives and that He is the Son of God]; ⁵³ and they were continually in the temple blessing and praising God.