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"“He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days.” (Acts 1:3)Post-Resurrection Encounters with Jesus• Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)• Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matt 28:1-10)• Two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)• Cephas (1 Cor 15:5)• The disciples (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29)• Seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23)• More than 500 brothers at one time (1 Cor 15:6)• James (1 Cor 15:7)• The eleven on a mountain in Galilee (Matt 28:16-20)• The eleven in Jerusalem (Mark 16:14-18)• The ascension (Acts 1:3-11)• Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)• Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-9; 1 Cor 15:8)• John (Rev 1:9-20)"" Beginning with Acts 1:1-2, we will run across the word “apostle”""quite frequently in Acts. What was an apostle? Acts 1:21-22 may prove helpful."" Of all the ways Luke could summarize Jesus’ teaching over the""course of nearly six weeks, he uses a simple phrase—“the kingdom of God.” After Jesus’ ascension, this idea continues to be spread (Acts 8:12; 14:21-22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 30-31). Why? In contrast to""the earthly examples readily available to an inhabitant of the first century, what were Jesus and his messengers talking about? And perhaps most importantly, how was this kingdom different?""And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from""Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)""Jesus had reassured his disciples, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15-17)""• “He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)""• “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father… he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness.” (John 15:26-27)""• “When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)""• “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13)"" “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6)""What does this question tell us about the apostles?"" On the other hand, Jesus tells them, “You will be my witnesses in""Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8). What does it mean for someone to serve as a witness?""Our English word baptism is from the Greek word baptizo, which literally means “to dip, sink, immerse, or plunge.” As we read Acts we will find many examples of men and womenbeing immersed in water “for the forgiveness of” their sins. How was what Jesus was promising in Acts 1:4-5 different? In what way would this be a “baptism” and what would it do to the apostles?"