“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
Understanding the context is crucial when we read God’s Word. In Acts 1:8, and the verses preceding it, Jesus speaks to His disciples, foretelling what will happen in the coming days. This moment is monumental in Christianity, on par with Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension—it is a unique event that will not be repeated. In verse 9, Luke, the author of Acts, describes how our Lord Jesus ascended to heaven. According to chapter one, verse 8 was the last command Jesus gave to His disciples before His ascension. The last words spoken by someone before leaving this earth are often the most important, aren’t they? Therefore, what Jesus said to His disciples—and to us—holds great significance, and it is imperative that we understand it correctly and obey it with a sense of responsibility and commitment.
Verse 8 begins with the contrasting word “but.” When we read from the start of this chapter, in verses 4-5, Jesus, while staying with His disciples, tells them a profound truth. Yet, it seems the disciples were eager to go out, to witness, and perhaps to help restore the Kingdom of Israel, as they asked in verse 6, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus responds by saying that it is not for us to know the times or seasons, but that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus was emphasizing that they would not accomplish these things by their own strength, power, or knowledge. Instead, they would receive power from the Holy Spirit, a power that would empower them to bear witness to Him.
During my six years of ministry with Cru, our daily routine revolved around evangelism. Every action we took and every plan we made was centered on sharing the gospel. Over time, I learned various methods for initiating spiritual conversations, answering questions, sharing the gospel, and teaching others to do the same. These experiences built my confidence in evangelism, diminishing my fears and worries. However, it was then that God began teaching me a valuable lesson, one that I still remind myself of whenever I engage in evangelism or spiritual conversations with non-believers. The lesson is this: As I gained more experience, knowledge, skills, and strategies for sharing the gospel, I began to rely on my own strength. When I did that, I saw fewer open hearts, less repentance, and fewer saved lives. Instead, I encountered more arguments, debates, and misunderstandings.
On the other hand, I’ve observed that when a follower of Jesus feels inadequate—saying things like, “I don’t know what to say,” “I don’t know how to answer certain questions,” “I’m not well-versed in the Bible,” “I’m not a good communicator,” or “I’m afraid”—they are actually in the best position for the Holy Spirit to work through their weakness and demonstrate His power. These situations often lead to the most successful evangelism.
The second thing I observe in this passage is the clear command that Jesus gives us: “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (v.8). I don’t believe that Jesus arranged these locations in this specific order by accident. He is calling His followers to be faithful witnesses right where we are, starting with our immediate surroundings. This could mean our family, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, or friends who don’t yet know about Jesus. If we are faithful in witnessing where we are now, He can entrust us with even more.