The Risen King Commissions His Witnesses
Daily Scripture
Acts 1:1-14
1 Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2 right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. 4 While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: 5 John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”
7 Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. 11 They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son—14 all were united in their devotion to prayer, along with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Luke didn’t stop with one book. He knew Jesus’ story continued into what we call the book of Acts. (Luke’s gospel ended with a short preview in Luke 24:50-53.) As one scholar noted, Acts “is all about what Jesus is continuing to do and to teach.” Jesus is “announced as King and Lord, not as a distant memory but as a living and powerful reality…. We call it ‘The Acts of the Apostles,’ but we should really think of it as ‘The Acts of Jesus (II).’” The apostles asked, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel NOW?” They didn’t see that he already had. “In the resurrection and ascension, Jesus was being enthroned as Israel’s Messiah and therefore king of the whole world. The apostles were to go out as heralds of the one already appointed and enthroned, not someone who might become king in the future. One day that kingdom will come fully and finally. In the meantime, we have a job to do.” *
- Luke said that after his resurrection, Jesus spent forty days “speaking to them about God’s kingdom.” That was the core of his preaching throughout his ministry (Luke 4:43, 8:1). One scholar said God’s kingdom is “the experience of God’s rule of peace and justice in Israel, the world, and the entire universe.” ** How does Jesus’ teaching show that you are not just a member of a church with a finite history, but a citizen of God’s eternal kingdom? How can understanding that change the way you treat others, spend money, entertain yourself, or deal with conflict?
- In verse 7, Jesus made clear that God—whose authority Jesus shared (Mark 1:22, Luke 5:24)—sets the “times or seasons,” not us. He sent his followers to “the end of the earth” as witnesses to his kingship. The Greek term for “witness” appears thirteen times in Acts and means “one who testifies… speaking from personal experience.” *** Emil Brunner famously said, “The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.” **** What does being a ‘witness’ look like in your everyday life—at work, in your neighborhood, with family and friends?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, empower me to be an effective witness to your love and salvation. Let my peace, purpose, and passion draw others to you. Give me courage to speak from my personal experience of your grace. Amen.
GPS Insights
Chris Folmsbee
Chris Folmsbee, who serves as Executive Director of Resurrection Experience, wrote today's Insights. He is the author of more than a dozen books including the Wesley Challenge and the Wesley Prayer Challenge. Chris enjoys playing golf, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren.
“You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) What powerful, empowering words! In a world shaped by narratives, Christians are called to share stories of hope, grace, and transformation. The key insight of Acts 1:8 is simply this: telling the stories of our experiences of God and the Christian faith is part of Jesus’ plan to expand his vision of salvation for our broken, yet redeemable world.
Witnesses best tell the story of Jesus and his love for this world by living lives marked by faithfulness, kindness, generosity, and humility. We best invite others to wonder about the deeper “why” behind following Jesus when we make faith tangible and relatable. Most often, this kind of storytelling happens in small, ordinary moments rather than grand gestures. A kind word, a thoughtful response, or a quiet act of kindness or care can carry the kind of lasting impact that piques the curiosity of others to learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith.
The call to reach “the ends of the earth” begins right where we are, in daily interactions with the people around us. When Christians embrace their role as storytellers, faith becomes less about persuasion and more about invitation for people to explore the Christian faith. In the end, witnessing is simply this: telling the truth about what we’ve experienced of God, and trusting that our stories, however ordinary they may seem, are a part of something extraordinary that leads to the redemption of our world.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Material from Wright, N.T., Acts for Everyone, Part One: Chapters 1-12 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 2). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
** F. Scott Spencer, study note on Acts 1:3 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 218 NT.
*** Barclay M. Newman and Eugene A. Nida, A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. New York: United Bible Societies, 1972, p. 19.
**** Emil Brunner (1889-1966), The Word and the World, London: SCM Press, 1931, p. 11.
