Overview of the Bible in a Year — Day 322: The Ascension (2025)
Host Father Mike Schmitz (Ascension) reads and reflects on Acts 1, Romans 1, and Proverbs 26:24–26. This episode centers on Jesus’ ascension, the promise and coming power of the Holy Spirit, the early church’s missionary call, and Paul’s opening argument in Romans about the power of the gospel and human rejection of God. The episode also includes pastoral encouragement about continuing the Bible in a Year project, a fundraising note (ascensionpress.com/support), and a prayer asking for the Holy Spirit.
Key passages read
- Acts 1
- Jesus appears to the apostles for 40 days, commands them to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s promise (Holy Spirit).
- Jesus’ ascension; two men tell the apostles Jesus will return the same way.
- Apostles return to Jerusalem, pray together (about 120 people), and select Matthias by lot to replace Judas.
- Romans 1
- Paul’s salutation and thanksgiving to the Roman Christians; his desire to visit them.
- Famous line: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel” (v.16).
- The gospel as God’s power for salvation to everyone who has faith.
- Paul’s argument that Gentiles are without excuse: creation reveals God, yet many exchanged the Creator for creatures and fell into varied sins.
- Proverbs 26:24–26
- A short proverb condemning hypocritical/ deceitful hatred: flattering lips covering malice will be exposed.
Main themes and takeaways
- The Age of the Church and Mission
- Acts 1 frames the “age of the Church”: the transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the Church’s mission empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus’ reply to the apostles reframes the question “When will you restore the kingdom?” into a commissioning: you will receive power and be witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Power of the Holy Spirit
- Father Mike emphasizes the Greek word dynamis (power) in Acts 1:8 — likened to “dynamite” to show the explosive, world-changing energy the Spirit provides for witness and mission.
- From knowing the story to joining the mission
- After 322 days of reading scripture, the moment is presented as the shift from formation to active participation: believers are called to be witnesses (Greek martys → martyr) of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
- Paul’s case in Romans
- Romans 1 lays the groundwork: the gospel is God’s saving power available to all who have faith (Jew and Gentile).
- Gentiles are “without excuse” because creation itself reveals God; rejecting that truth leads to idolatry and moral decline.
- Paul catalogs consequences of turning away from God, both sexual and broader moral corruption — setting up later arguments about the need for Christ and grace.
- Warning against hypocrisy and deceit
- Proverbs 26:24–26 cautions that hidden hatred and guile will ultimately be exposed.
Notable quotes & phrases highlighted
- “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8) — Greek: dynamis.
- “You shall be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” — link to mission and the origin of the word martyr/martys.
- “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed…” (Acts 1) — redirect from timing to vocation.
- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.” (Romans 1:16)
- Proverbs: “He who hates dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart…though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
Practical applications / action items
- Personal: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s power and willingness to be a witness in your everyday context (local → global).
- Spiritual formation: Move from passive knowledge of Scripture to active participation in God’s mission — consider concrete ways you can witness (service, conversation, prayer, justice work).
- Community: Foster unity between different groups in the Church (e.g., Jewish and Gentile backgrounds), following Paul’s concerns in Romans.
- Resource actions:
- Download the Bible in a Year reading plan: ascensionpress.com/bible-in-a-year
- Support the ministry to keep the project free and translated: ascensionpress.com/support
- Continue the reading: Acts 2 (promise of the Spirit fulfilled) and Romans 2 (Paul’s follow-up about Jews and the law) are suggested next steps.
Context & pastoral notes
- Fr. Mike situates Luke’s Gospel and Acts as a two-part narrative (one continuous story) explaining how the kingdom promise moves from Jesus to the Church.
- Pastoral encouragement: don’t be discouraged if you haven’t read every day — what matters is showing up and continuing. Fr. Mike prays for listeners and asks for prayers in return.
- Production notes: Ascension is expanding the project (YouTube, forthcoming translations) and relies on listener support.
Short summary (one-liner)
Day 322 juxtaposes the ascension and missionary commissioning in Acts 1 (you will receive dynamite-like power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses) with Paul’s opening argument in Romans 1 (the gospel is God’s saving power; humanity’s rejection of God leads to moral decline), closing with a Proverbs warning about deceitful hatred — and ends with a pastoral call to move from knowing the story to actively joining God’s mission.