You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
Jesus' last words on earth — a promise of power and a mission to match.
The episode in a glance.
- 01'You will receive power' — ability, not just authority.
- 02'When the Holy Spirit has come upon you' — the Spirit is the source.
- 03'My witnesses' — your story, told.
- 04'To the end of the earth' — the scope is global.
Read along.
Acts 1:8 — '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.' These are Jesus' last words before he ascends.
'You will receive power.' Not advice. Not a technique. Power. Ability to do what you couldn't do before. To speak with courage. To love enemies. To keep going when everything says quit.
'When the Holy Spirit has come upon you.' The power isn't self-generated. It comes from the Spirit. That's why Pentecost matters. The disciples were told to wait until the power arrived. Then move.
'And you will be my witnesses.' Witnesses tell what they've seen. Not theologians. Not experts. Witnesses. Your story of what Jesus has done is enough. That's the message.
'To the end of the earth.' The scope is global. But it starts local. Jerusalem first. Then the regions. Then the world. The mission hasn't changed. The power hasn't run out. The church is still called to be his witnesses.