Acts 1:8
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
But 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.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
receive power--See Luk 24:49. and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . in Jerusalem . . . in all Judea . . . and unto the uttermost part of the earth--This order of apostolic preaching and success supplies the proper key to the plan of the Acts, which relates first the progress of the Gospel "in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria" (the first through ninth chapters), and then "unto the uttermost part of the earth" (the tenth through twenty-eighth chapters).
Open source ↗The inspired historian begins his narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, I. With a reference to, and a brief recapitulation of, his gospel, or history of the life of Christ, inscribing this, as he had done that, to his friend Theophilus (Act 1:1, Act 1:2). II. With a summary of the proofs of Christ's resurrection, his conference with his disciples, and the instructions he gave them during the forty days, of his continuance on earth (Act 1:3-5). III. With a particular narrative of Christ's ascension into heaven, his disciples' discourse with him before he ascended, and the angels' discourse with them after he ascended (Act 1:6-11). IV. With a general idea of the embryo of the Christian church, and its state from Christ's ascension to the pouring out of the Spirit (Act 1:12-14). V. With a particular account of the filling up of the vacancy that was made in the sacred college by the death of Judas, by the electing of Matthias in his room (Act 1:15-26).
Open source ↗1:8 This key verse outlines the geographical extension of the Good News from its Jewish starting point in Jerusalem and Judea (1:6–8:1), out to Samaria (8:4-25), Antioch in Syria (11:19-30), and eventually throughout the Mediterranean world to Rome (13:1–28:31). Christ later gave a similar call to be his witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth to Saul of Tarsus (9:15), who had persecuted the Jewish Christians and then became the primary instrument for taking the Good News to the Gentiles. • The Holy Spirit was the source of power for all this evangelistic and missionary effort.
Open source ↗From the web
What trusted teachers and preachers say about this passage, from around the web.
desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗desiringgod.org
Open source ↗ccel.org
Open source ↗ccel.org
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”