Acts 1:9-14 Explained: You probably have no clue where Jesus went or what "Heaven" really is!
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jan 8
- 8 min read
Study Guide: The Coronation & The Control Room (Acts 1:9–14)
Imagine you are a character in a 2D world—a person drawn in pencil on a flat piece of paper. You can move left, right, forward, and backward, but you have no concept of "up." To you, "up" is just a mystery.
Now, imagine the Artist who drew you. When the Artist lifts their hand off the paper, they haven't disappeared into a far-off country. They’ve simply moved into the third dimension. Even though you can't see them anymore, they are actually closer to you than they were before. From their position "above" the paper, they can see the whole neighborhood you live in at once. They can touch the beginning of the page and the end of the page at the same time.
When Jesus ascended into Heaven in Acts 1, He didn't take a rocket ship to a planet in a distant galaxy. He moved into the "Artist’s Dimension." He moved into the Control Room of the Universe, where He is now closer to every one of us than He ever was when He was limited to a physical body in Galilee.
Before you dig into the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene: The Map of God’s Presence
To understand where Jesus went, we have to understand the "Map of Reality." Most of us think Heaven is "up there" in the clouds and Earth is "down here." But the Bible describes them as two different spaces: Earth is human space, and Heaven is God’s space.
Throughout the Bible, God has been working to overlap these two circles:
The Garden of Eden: Originally, the two circles were one. God walked with humans in the cool of the day. There was no "curtain" between His space and ours.
The Cloud and the Tabernacle: After humans broke that relationship, God began to create "thin places." He led Israel with a pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21). He told them to build a Tabernacle (a tent), where His presence lived in a room behind a thick curtain.
The Temple: Later, this became a stone building in Jerusalem. The "Most Holy Place" was the specific spot on Earth where God’s space and human space overlapped. But it was limited and dangerous to enter (Hebrews 9:7).
The Great Tear: When Jesus died, the thick curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This was God saying, "The barrier is gone. My space is about to flood into yours in a whole new way."
Summary: The King Takes the Throne
The following points dive into the "Coronation" of Jesus and what it means for us today.
1. A Change of Dimension (Acts 1:9)
The Bible says a "cloud" hid Jesus from their sight. This wasn't a rain cloud; it was the Glory-Cloud—the same presence that filled the Temple. Jesus wasn't "exiting" the world; He was entering the Control Room. Because Heaven is the dimension from which the Earth is governed, Jesus moved to the place where He could rule over every square inch of the planet simultaneously. He is like the CEO who moves from the factory floor to the boardroom—He isn't "gone," He is now in the position to lead the whole company.
2. The Spectator Correction (Acts 1:10–11)
The disciples stood there with their mouths open, staring at the sky. Two messengers (angels) had to snap them out of it: "Why are you standing here looking at the sky?" This is a massive lesson for us. The messengers promised Jesus would return, but they were warning the disciples not to become "sky-watchers." If you spend all your time guessing when the world will end, you aren't doing the job the King just gave you. We are called to be Heralds (messengers) of the King, not spectators of the clouds.
3. The New "Thin Place" (Acts 1:12–14)
The disciples went back to an upstairs room in Jerusalem. There were 120 of them—men, women, and even Jesus’ brothers (who didn't used to believe in Him). This group became the new "Temple." The overlap of Heaven and Earth was no longer in a stone building; it was moving into people. As they prayed together in "one accord," they were preparing to become the "portals" through which God’s Kingdom would enter Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and eventually, the ends of the Earth. *Now that we're thinking about "Earth" as the realm of people and not a planet, it gives even more meaning to Jesus' command to be His witnesses to "the ends of the Earth." Kind of makes this passage make more sense,
"14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:14 NLT
🛑 How to APPROACH This passage in ACTS Incorrectly: Common Pitfalls
People often get off track when reading Acts by pulling specific events out of their historical context. Here are some ways we tend to miss the point:
The "Absent Landlord" View: Some people think Jesus is "away" on vacation or just "waiting" in some far-off place, and we are left alone to run the world. This makes us feel powerless and abandoned. But the Ascension means He is the Current King, ruling through His Spirit right now.
The "Gawker" Error: This happens when Christians become obsessed with "End Times" charts and secret codes. They spend so much time looking for signs in the sky that they ignore the needs of their neighbors on Earth.
The "Leader Only" Mistake: Some think only "professional" clergy or apostles get to be close to God. But Acts 1:14 shows everyone—including the women and the family members—praying together. The "Waiting Room" is open to every believer.
✅ How to APPROACH THis passage in ACTS Correctly (Tips and Principles):
To get the most out of this passage in Acts and stay on the right path, try these steps:
Look for the Overlap: Instead of asking "When is Jesus coming back?", ask "How can I show people that the King is already on His throne?" Look for ways to bring Heaven’s order into Earth’s chaos.
Understand the "Already/Not Yet": We live in a time where Jesus is King (Already), but not everyone has acknowledged Him yet (Not Yet). Our job is to announce His arrival and be a witness to what we have seen and experienced as followers of the King.
Prioritize Unity: In Acts 1:14, we see a miracle before the Holy Spirit even arrives: a massive group of people who used to disagree—skeptics, zealots, tax collectors, and former doubters—were suddenly in "one accord." They realized the mission was too big to let small disagreements tear them apart.
At our ministry, we follow this same model. We know that when people start their faith journey, it can feel overwhelming. You’re navigating different translations, various denominations, and a lot of conflicting opinions. To help you stay focused on the mission, we categorize teachings into three areas:
Essential for Salvation: These are the "Majors." They are the core truths about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Salvation. These are the things we unite around to keep the main thing the main thing.
Important for Growth: These are lessons on serving, managing emotions, and prayer. They are vital for maturing, but we recognize that everyone is at a different stage of their journey.
Personal Preferences: These are non-essential matters—like specific views on the end times or miraculous gifts—where there is room for diverse perspectives.
Like Jesus, we aim for a balance of Grace and Truth. We "major on the majors" and give each other the freedom to grow. We call this the "Team Jesus" approach. We prioritize love and unity in the non-essentials so that the world can see the King through us, rather than seeing us fight over things that don't affect salvation.
Read Our Full Statement of Faith: CLICK HERE
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage.
If Heaven is a dimension that overlaps your life right now, how does that change the way you talk to God while you are driving or doing dishes? Does He feel closer or farther away?
The messengers told the disciples to stop staring at the sky. What is a "religious distraction" in your life that keeps you from actually helping people or sharing the Good News?
Looking at our "Team Jesus" categories, why do you think it is so important for the mission that we don't treat "Personal Preferences" as "Essentials for Salvation"?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
The "CEO" Talk: If you knew for a fact that Jesus was in the "Control Room" of your most stressful situation this week, how would your level of peace change?
The "Portal" Identity: Jesus is making you a "thin place" where His kindness can leak into the world. Who is one person in your life who desperately needs to see a "bit of Heaven" this week?
Sum it Up
The Ascension was Jesus’ Coronation Day. He didn't leave us behind; He moved into the dimension of power (Heaven) so He could rule the whole Earth. We aren't waiting for a "lifeboat" to take us away from Earth. Instead, we are the King’s Heralds, called to be "thin places" where God’s space and human space meet. When we prioritize unity around the essentials and live with a "Team Jesus" heart, we show the world that the King has truly arrived.
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