Witnesses
Acts 1:6-8.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons the Father has fixed by his own authority.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and To the end of the earth.
Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,
The resurrection had renewed the hopes of the disciples in the role of Jesus as Messiah.
Excitement (v. 6).
The disciples had not understood that the kingdom needed to be established in the hearts of the people. They assumed that Jesus would use his power which had been demonstrated in the resurrection to chase the Romans out and restore the kingdom to Israel.
Extent (v. 7).
But Jesus informs them that there are limits to what they can determine. The restoration of the kingdom to Israel and the timing of it are the preserve of the Father, who will accomplish his purposes in his own time.
Expectation (v. 8).
But there is enough work for the disciples to occupy themselves with until God’s time for the Kingdom is right.
Power.
Jesus promised them the same power by which he had performed miracles, but they had to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them.
Purpose.
The reason for empowerment in the Holy Spirit was so that they would be his witnesses, testifying of the things he had said and done, and especially of the resurrection.
Plan.
They were to start in Jerusalem, the home of the faith of Israel, then the Judea province, neighboring Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
This is the key verse of this book. The rest of Acts is really how the gospel goes from Jerusalem to Rome, the center of the gentile world, in order to spread to the ends.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.