Acts 1:1-11
Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth
Read the passage
1In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,
2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11“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.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Luke opens Acts by recalling what Jesus began to do and teach. After His suffering, Jesus presented Himself alive to the apostles with many convincing proofs. Over forty days He appeared to them and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Jesus tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Father's promised gift, the Holy Spirit. They ask whether He will now restore the kingdom to Israel. He does not give them the timetable they want. The Father holds that authority; their responsibility is to receive the Spirit's power and bear witness to Jesus.
The mission stretches from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. They will speak as people who know the risen Lord, but they will need more than their own determination. The Spirit will equip them for the work Jesus gives.
Then Jesus is taken up, and a cloud hides Him from their sight. While they are still looking upward, two men in white tell them He will return in the same way. His departure carries a promise of return. Until then, His followers have a mission and a reason to wait for God's help before beginning it.
Questions
1 What did Jesus discuss with the apostles?
AnswerHe spoke about the kingdom of God and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s promised gift, the Holy Spirit.
2 What did Jesus promise they would receive when the Holy Spirit came?
AnswerThe Spirit would give them power to be Jesus’ witnesses, beginning in Jerusalem and extending far beyond their own community.
3 Where would their witness begin and go?
AnswerTheir witness would begin in Jerusalem, move through Judea and Samaria, and reach the ends of the earth.
4 What did the two men say about Jesus' return?
AnswerThey said Jesus would return from heaven in the same way the disciples had seen Him go, giving His departure a promise rather than a final goodbye.
What This Means for Us
The apostles ask about a schedule; Jesus tells them what they are to do. We can become so occupied with what God has not told us that we neglect what He has made clear.
Think of someone with whom you could speak honestly about Jesus. Begin with what you know from Scripture and pray for the Spirit's help. Also pray for those taking the gospel to places and languages beyond your own reach. The mission Jesus describes is larger than our family or neighborhood.
His return gives us hope while that work continues. We can trust the Father's timing without pretending to know it.
Prayer
Risen Jesus, give us your Spirit and make us faithful witnesses. Keep us from staring at what we cannot yet know, and help us obey what you have clearly given us to do. Amen.