Read through the passages - Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands ethrough the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, jwill you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive npower 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.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, the was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two wmen stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will acome in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” - (Acts 1:1-11 ESV)
Think Through the Text
- In Acts 1:6, the disciples ask Jesus when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel. What do you think the disciples are expecting Jesus to do for the people of Israel at this point in the story? In what ways did they possibly misunderstand why Jesus came in the first place?
- Jesus commands the disciples to go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth as witnesses of his resurrection. This must have felt simultaneously overwhelming and invigorating. But then Jesus commands them to wait in the city. Why? What is it that the disciples need in order to carry out this great mission?
- The call to live on mission for Jesus started in Jerusalem, the hometown of the disciples, and moved out in concentric circles from there (Judea, Samaria, end of the earth). What do you think your “Jerusalem” is? What might the concentric circles be going out from your “Jerusalem”?
Write it Out
Capture, chart, outline your thoughts - whatever works best for you: