TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Key verse: 8
NIV
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore(A) the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.(B) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;(C) and you will be my witnesses(D) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,(E) and to the ends of the earth.”(F)
9 After he said this, he was taken up(G) before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white(H) stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,”(I) 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(J) in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, (A)will you at this time (B)restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, (C)“It is not for you to know (D)times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive (E)power (F)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and (G)you will be (H)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and (I)Samaria, and (J)to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, (K)he was lifted up, and (L)a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, (M)two (N)men stood by them in (O)white robes, 11 and said, (P)“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, (Q)will (R)come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Read full chapterCross references
- Acts 1:6 : See Luke 17:20
- Acts 1:6 : [Mic. 4:8; Matt. 17:11; Mark 9:12; Luke 19:11]
- Acts 1:7 : [Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32]
- Acts 1:7 : Dan. 2:21; 1 Thess. 5:1
- Acts 1:8 : ch. 4:33; Luke 24:49; 1 Thess. 1:5; [ch. 10:38; Luke 4:14]
- Acts 1:8 : ver. 5
- Acts 1:8 : [ver. 22]; See Luke 24:48
- Acts 1:8 : [Isa. 43:12]
- Acts 1:8 : ch. 8:1, 14; [Matt. 10:5]
- Acts 1:8 : ch. 13:47; [Mark 16:15; Col. 1:23]
- Acts 1:9 : ver. 2
- Acts 1:9 : See 1 Thess. 4:17
- Acts 1:10 : [Luke 24:4]
- Acts 1:10 : Josh. 5:13; Dan. 9:21; 10:5; 12:6, 7; Zech. 1:8-11
- Acts 1:10 : Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; John 20:12
- Acts 1:11 : ch. 2:7; 13:31
- Acts 1:11 : [Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 1:10]; See Matt. 16:27
- Acts 1:11 : 2 Thess. 1:10
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. You will be my witnesses (6-8)
The disciples dreamed of an earthly, restored kingdom of Israel. They thought that Jesus' resurrection meant that the time had come. But God's kingdom is spiritual; it includes people of every nation, race and language. It would come at God's appointed time, and they must participate in its coming until Jesus' return. When the gospel is preached and accepted, God's kingdom comes into the hearts of people. So disciples must be apostles, i.e., missionaries. They must witness to the risen Christ in Jerusalem (where Jesus was crucified), in Judea and Samaria (among their friends and neighbors), and to the ends of the earth (even Rome)--until the end of the age (Mt 28:18-20).
2. The ascension (9-11)
The ascension of Jesus into heaven is the water-shed of Jesus' ministry. From this time, he would work from heaven through his disciples and the Holy Spirit. He will come again in clouds of glory to bring in the end of the age.
Prayer: Lord, help me to witness to your gospel until you come again.
One Word: Go. Be Jesus' witnesses
