Acts 1:4 kjv

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Acts 1:4 nkjv

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

Acts 1:4 niv

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

Acts 1:4 esv

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;

Acts 1:4 nlt

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.

Acts 1 verses

Acts 1 4 Meaning

Acts 1:4 records Jesus' specific command to His disciples following His resurrection and before His ascension. While gathered with them, Jesus instructed them not to leave Jerusalem but to remain there and wait for the "promise of the Father." He clarified that this promise was the indwelling Holy Spirit, something they had heard Him speak about previously. This command emphasized the divine source and necessity of spiritual empowerment before they could fulfill their mission of being His witnesses.

Acts 1 4 Context

Acts chapter 1 serves as a transitional bridge between Luke's Gospel and the book of Acts. Luke opens Acts by referring back to his "former treatise" (Lk 1:1), which recounted all that Jesus "began both to do and teach." Acts 1:4, therefore, falls within the period of forty days between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension, during which He continued to give instructions and speak "of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). This specific command for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem is immediately followed by the explanation that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, enabling them to be His witnesses "to the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The historical context includes the disciples' Jewish understanding of God's covenant with Israel and their anticipation of an earthly kingdom, making the command to wait for a spiritual endowment crucial for redefining their mission.

Acts 1 4 Word analysis

• And, being assembled together with them, (συναλιζόμενος, synalizomenos)
  • This Greek word implies "eating together with" or simply "gathering together with." While it can suggest sharing meals, highlighting the tangible reality of Jesus' post-resurrection body and continued fellowship, many scholars lean towards "being gathered with" or "staying with," emphasizing the proximity for authoritative instruction. This direct interaction underscores Jesus' personal authority and intimacy with His chosen witnesses.
• commanded them (παρήγγειλεν, parēngeilen)
  • A strong verb indicating a direct order or instruction, often used in a military or official context. It shows Jesus' absolute authority over His disciples. This was not a suggestion but a clear directive, highlighting the importance and non-negotiable nature of the command that followed.
• that they should not depart from Jerusalem,
  • not depart: A prohibition emphasizing the strict requirement to remain.
  • from Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life, the place of the temple, prophecy, and salvation's accomplishment (Jesus' death and resurrection). It was the prophesied starting point for the Word of God going out (Isa 2:3; Lk 24:47). Staying here meant waiting at the very nexus of God's unfolding plan, where the pivotal events had just occurred and where the Pentecost outpouring would draw people from across the known world. This strategic location was crucial for the birth and initial spread of the Church.
• but wait for (περιμένω, perimenō)
  • This Greek term signifies an active, expectant waiting, implying patience and preparedness for a definite event. It suggests that this waiting was not passive idleness but a posture of humble dependence and earnest anticipation of divine intervention. It highlights reliance on God's timing and provision, rather than immediate self-effort.
• the promise of the Father,
  • This phrase identifies the source and nature of the upcoming event. The "Father" highlights God's sovereignty and initiative in sending the Holy Spirit. "Promise" implies something certain, guaranteed by God Himself, echoing Old Testament prophecies of a new covenant and the pouring out of God's Spirit. This specific "promise" is clearly identified as the Holy Spirit in Lk 24:49 and Acts 1:5.
• which, said he, ye have heard of me.
  • This phrase serves as a powerful reminder and confirmation. Jesus connects the present command directly to His previous teachings, particularly in John chapters 14-16, where He repeatedly spoke of the Father sending the Helper/Spirit. It reassures the disciples that this was part of God's consistent plan, not a sudden, new revelation, and validated their understanding of His prior instructions.
• Words-Group Analysis:
• "commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait": This highlights a tension between divine command and human expectation. The disciples, potentially eager to start mission or escape persecution, were divinely restrained. This delay was not for lack of purpose but for strategic empowerment, teaching a profound lesson on spiritual preparedness over human haste.
• "the promise of the Father, which...ye have heard of me": This group emphasizes the divine initiative and consistency. The Father promises, Jesus communicates the promise, and the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment. This underscores the Trinitarian working in the redemption plan and the reliability of God's Word spoken through Christ.

Acts 1 4 Bonus section

The act of "waiting" (περιμένω, perimenō) in Acts 1:4 provides a profound theological lesson:

• Dependence: It demonstrates absolute dependence on God for empowerment, rather than relying on human strength or strategizing for mission. This waiting prevents presumption and encourages humility.
• Divine Timing: It emphasizes the critical importance of God's timing. The mission could only effectively begin once the Spirit was sent, not on the disciples' preferred timeline. This sets a precedent for seeking God's moment.
• Unity: Waiting together in Jerusalem naturally fostered unity and communal prayer among the disciples, preparing them to function as a cohesive body once the Spirit arrived. The birth of the Church would be marked by corporate reception of the Spirit.
• Fulfillment: The waiting underscored the necessity of fulfilling Old Testament promises concerning the Spirit's outpouring before the New Covenant fully ushered in the Age of the Spirit.

Acts 1 4 Commentary

Acts 1:4 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Jesus' final crucial instruction to His disciples before His ascension. It sets the stage for the book of Acts by establishing the necessary divine empowerment for the nascent Church's mission. Jesus commanded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem, which was essential both geographically and spiritually. Geographically, Jerusalem was the designated launching pad for the gospel, the "starting point" from which the message would radiate outwards as foretold by prophets and Jesus Himself. Spiritually, it ensured the disciples were unified in a single place when the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, creating the first multi-national, Spirit-filled community.

The core of the command was to "wait for the promise of the Father"—the Holy Spirit. This wasn't passive waiting, but active, prayerful anticipation. It underscored that effective ministry would not stem from human wisdom or zeal, but from divine power and guidance. The disciples, despite having spent three years with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection, still needed this distinct outpouring of the Spirit for empowering them for witness and to overcome spiritual blindness and resistance (Acts 1:8). Jesus' final affirmation, "ye have heard of me," emphasizes the continuity of God's plan and the truthfulness of Jesus' teachings concerning the Holy Spirit, making the promise credible and deeply anticipated. This foundational waiting highlights God's pattern of providing power before demanding great tasks, ensuring His glory in the accomplishment.