Acts 1:8 kjv

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8 nkjv

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 1:8 niv

But 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 esv

But you will receive power 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."

Acts 1:8 nlt

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere ? in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1 verses

Acts 1 8 Meaning

Acts 1:8 serves as Jesus's pivotal pre-ascension command, establishing the church's mission and equipping. It signifies that divine enablement, specifically through the indwelling and empowering Holy Spirit, is essential for His disciples to effectively serve as His witnesses. This witness is not limited geographically but is designed to expand progressively from their immediate locale (Jerusalem), through their regional homeland (Judea and Samaria), and ultimately to encompass all peoples to the very ends of the earth.

Acts 1 8 Context

Acts 1:8 stands at the pivotal beginning of the Book of Acts, following Jesus's resurrection appearances and preceding His ascension. The disciples' preceding question in Acts 1:6, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?", reveals their enduring focus on a geopolitical, temporal, and nationalist messianic kingdom. Acts 1:8 directly responds to this by redirecting their focus from when (the timing of God's sovereign plan, Acts 1:7) and what kind of kingdom (not earthly, but spiritual and expanding) to what they were to do – become witnesses. It reframes the expectation of physical kingdom restoration with the spiritual empowerment for global gospel expansion, thus setting the entire agenda and geographical trajectory for the Book of Acts. Historically, "Samaria" represents a profound boundary crossing for first-century Jews, symbolizing the inclusion of ethnically mixed and previously estranged peoples into God's redemptive plan. The phrase "ends of the earth" underscores a departure from exclusive Jewish evangelism to a universal, inclusive, gentile-focused mission, challenging their prior limited understanding of the Messiah's kingdom.

Acts 1 8 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a contrast or antithesis. It sets up Jesus's statement in opposition to the disciples' question about the kingdom's restoration (Acts 1:6), re-framing their immediate priorities.
• you will receive (λήμψεσθε - lēmpsthe): Future tense of lambanō, meaning to take, receive, or grasp. It indicates a guaranteed, future reception, a passive yet assured act of God imparting something to them. It is not something they earn or generate.
• power (δύναμιν - dynamis): Meaning inherent strength, capability, or power, often with a sense of miraculous power. This is the supernatural divine enablement to perform Jesus's will, not human ability. It's the active power of God at work through believers, allowing them to overcome human limitations in proclaiming the gospel and living a life pleasing to God. It goes beyond mere physical strength to encompass moral authority and spiritual effectiveness.
• when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (ἐπελθόντος τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς - epelthontos tou Hagiou Pneumatos eph' hymas):
  • Holy Spirit (Ἁγίου Πνεύματος - Hagiou Pneumatos): The Third Person of the Trinity, distinct yet co-equal with the Father and Son, Who indwells believers and provides divine power and guidance.
  • has come upon (ἐπελθόντος - epelthontos): An aorist participle of eperchomai, implying a definitive, single event with continuing results. It denotes an 'invasion' or 'descent' of divine power upon individuals, enabling them for specific tasks. This refers directly to the event of Pentecost (Acts 2).
  • upon you (ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς - eph' hymas): Direct, personal endowment. The Spirit is not just present but empowers them for mission.
• and you will be (ἔσεσθέ - esesthe): Future tense of eimi, indicating a future state of being, a transformed identity. Their being will be inextricably linked to their doing.
• my witnesses (μου μάρτυρες - mou martyres):
  • my (μου - mou): Possessive pronoun, emphasizing that their testimony is intrinsically connected to Jesus Himself. They testify about Him and for Him, embodying His message.
  • witnesses (μάρτυρες - martyres): From which "martyr" derives, originally meaning someone who testifies based on personal experience or knowledge. In the New Testament, it denotes one who testifies to the resurrection and saving power of Christ. This witnessing involves proclaiming truth (facts about Jesus's life, death, resurrection), defending that truth, and potentially suffering for it. It is both verbal proclamation and life demonstration.
• in Jerusalem (ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ - en Hierousalēm): The starting point, geographically, historically, and religiously significant. It's where Jesus was crucified and resurrected, and where the Spirit would first be poured out. This denotes starting evangelism locally.
• and in all Judea (καὶ πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ - kai pasē tē Ioudaia): The wider province of Judah, expanding beyond the city. This signifies reaching the surrounding, familiar cultural and ethnic groups.
• and Samaria (καὶ Σαμαρείᾳ - kai Samareia): A region culturally and ethnically distinct and historically hostile to Jews. Including Samaria emphasizes the crossing of social and racial barriers in evangelism. It prefigures the breaking down of ethnic divides in the gospel.
• and to the end of the earth (καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς - kai heōs eschatou tēs gēs): This denotes the ultimate, universal reach of the gospel message, to every nation and people group, to the remotest parts known. It is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Gentile inclusion in God's kingdom and extends beyond Jewish territories to all humanity.

Acts 1 8 Bonus section

The progressive geographical movement outlined in Acts 1:8 (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth) is a clear literary and theological map for the subsequent chapters of the book of Acts. Chapter 2 focuses on Jerusalem. Chapters 8-12 depict the expansion into Judea and Samaria. The latter part of Acts (chapters 13-28) chronicles Paul's missionary journeys, carrying the gospel to the "ends of the earth" (specifically the Roman world, considered the ends of the known earth at the time). This intentional structuring of the narrative demonstrates the immediate and progressive fulfillment of Jesus's final instruction to His apostles, validating its prophetic nature and foundational importance for understanding the early church's growth. The disciples were commanded not to seek power but to receive it, signifying a passive reception of divine enablement rather than an active striving, highlighting God's initiative in His mission.

Acts 1 8 Commentary

Acts 1:8 is not merely a statement but a programmatic summary of the entire Book of Acts. Jesus provides the indispensable enablement (Holy Spirit's power) and the definitive task (being His witnesses) with a clear, progressively expanding geographical scope (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth). This verse reorients the disciples' focus from nationalistic kingdom expectations to a global evangelistic mission, emphasizing that divine power is the means by which this mission is accomplished, not by human might or political maneuvering. It defines the identity of believers as active witnesses and highlights that this calling is initiated locally but extends globally, breaking down ethnic and geographical barriers as it goes. This commissioning highlights God's universal plan for salvation through the power of His Spirit, extending His covenant people from a Jewish remnant to include all nations. This pattern—Spirit empowerment leading to witness that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries—serves as the blueprint for Christian mission throughout history.