Sunday Read: The Book of Acts Begins - Power for Witness
The book of Acts opens with Jesus's final instructions before ascending to heaven. After commanding his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, Jesus told them: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
This verse became the structural outline for the entire book of Acts. Chapters 1-7 cover witness in Jerusalem. Chapters 8-12 describe expansion into Judea and Samaria. Chapters 13-28 follow Paul's missionary journeys carrying the gospel to the ends of the (Roman) earth. Luke wrote Acts as history of how Jesus's promise was fulfilled - how Spirit-empowered witnesses spread the gospel from one city to the entire empire in roughly thirty years.
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" directly answers the disciples' question about restoring Israel's kingdom. They asked about political power and national restoration. Jesus redirected them to spiritual power and global mission. The Spirit wouldn't give them power to overthrow Rome or establish earthly kingdom. He'd give power to witness about Jesus - to speak truthfully, live faithfully, suffer courageously, and love sacrificially even when it costs everything.
This power wasn't for personal benefit or spiritual pride. It was for witness - testifying to what they'd seen and heard about Jesus. A witness in ancient legal contexts testified to facts they knew personally. Christian witness means speaking truthfully about what Christ has done. The disciples were uniquely qualified as witnesses - they'd walked with Jesus, seen his miracles, heard his teaching, witnessed his crucifixion, and encountered him alive after resurrection. They had firsthand knowledge no one could dispute.
The geographic progression - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth - moved from familiar to foreign, comfortable to challenging, accepted to rejected. Jerusalem was home, where Jesus's followers had community and context. Judea was their broader region, culturally similar but geographically dispersed. Samaria was hostile territory - Jews and Samaritans despised each other over centuries of ethnic and religious conflict. The ends of the earth meant Gentile lands, where Jewish customs were unknown and Christ's message would seem foreign.
This progression challenges modern missions thinking. We want to start with the exotic - international travel, foreign cultures, dramatic adventure. Jesus says start with Jerusalem - your neighborhood, city, immediate community. Once you're faithfully witnessing where you are, expand to Judea - your region, people who share your culture but live in different places. Then move to Samaria - people you're inclined to avoid, communities you find uncomfortable, groups you've been taught to distrust. Finally, reach the ends of the earth - truly foreign contexts where Christ is unknown.
Most Christians never get past Jerusalem in practice. We know we should witness locally but feel unqualified. We know we should care about global missions but don't engage personally. We know we should cross cultural boundaries but stay in our comfort zones. Jesus's command hasn't changed: be my witnesses everywhere, starting where you are and expanding outward until you've reached people utterly unlike you.
But notice the promise that precedes the command: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." Witness isn't something you do in your own strength, wisdom, or eloquence. It's Spirit-empowered testimony to what Christ has done. You don't need to be persuasive, educated, or impressive. You need to be available, obedient, and honest. The Spirit provides the power. You provide the witness.
Twelve days from now (May 14), we'll observe Ascension Thursday, when Jesus returned to the Father. Twenty-one days from now (May 24), we'll celebrate Pentecost, when the Spirit came in power. You're living in the same season the first disciples lived - between resurrection and Pentecost, between promise and fulfillment, between commission and empowerment. Jesus has given you the command. The Spirit will give you the power. Your job is to be ready when power comes.
