Scripture Readings

Ascension Day
In All Years
Or Ascension Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter

Use these readings at the Thursday Ascension Day service. If your church does not have an Ascension Day Service, use these readings on the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

First Reading

     In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
     So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
     He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
     After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
     They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
—Acts 1:1-11, NIV

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Psalm

Clap your hands, all you nations;
     shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the LORD Most High,
     the great King over all the earth!
He subdued nations under us,
     peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance for us,
     the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
          Selah
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
     the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
     sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
     sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
     God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
     as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
     he is greatly exalted.
—Psalm 47, NIV

—OR—

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
     the LORD is robed in majesty
     and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
     it cannot be moved.
Your throne was established long ago;
     you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
     the seas have lifted up their voice;
     the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
     mightier than the breakers of the sea—
     the LORD on high is mighty.
Your statutes stand firm;
     holiness adorns your house
     for endless days, O LORD.
—Psalm 93, NIV

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Epistle

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
—Ephesians 1:15-23, NIV

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Gospel

     He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
     Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
     When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
—Luke 24:44-53, NIV

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