11/27/25

Samuel Clifford

 

Luke begins in Acts 1:3 by saying Jesus, “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,” (Acts‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭(A) KJV‬‬ )

 

The primary issue Jesus instructed the apostles on was the kingdom-“speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭(B) KJV‬‬)

 

“To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

(‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NASB)

 

Jesus commanded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of the Spirit that would occur “not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5). The disciples then asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭(B) KJV‬‬

 

This question carried several implications that are often looked over.

 

1. The Apostles expected a restoration of the kingdom to Israel.

 

2. The word “restore” (apokathistemi) reveals the apostles expected continuity with Israel’s prior kingdom. This term means “to bring or restore something to its former state.” Restoration implies prior existence for only that which once existed can be restored.

 

3. The question of the apostles concerning the timing of the Kingdom is a “when” question and not a “what” question. The apostles aren’t asking Jesus to define the kingdom of to explain its nature. They want to know when it was coming.

 

4. Finally, the apostles did not view the kingdom as already being in operation or inaugurated at this point. Instead, they were looking for its coming.

 

How does this prove premillennialism?

 

Well, it is highly probable after forty days of instruction from the risen Jesus that the apostles had a proper grasp on the nature of the kingdom of God as Luke had just said they had been taught verses prior.

 

“being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:3‬ (B) ‭KJV‬‬

 

What does Jesus answer?

 

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.””

(‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB)

 

Several points are worthy of note here.

 

1. Jesus assumes the accuracy of the apostles’ understanding. The apostles were expecting the restoration of the kingdom to national Israel, and Jesus gives no indication their understanding isn’t correct. If infact the apostles were wrong, would not Jesus correct their misunderstanding?

 

2. The apostles were not to know the timing of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. That was only for the Father to know.

 

3. Jesus tells the apostles that they are to focus on the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Since the timing of the kingdom is not to be known and is in the indefinite future, the apostles needed to focus their attention to the immediate task at hand-the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This indicates that there will be a gap of time between the proclamation of the gospel and the establishment of the earthly kingdom.

 

Thus, Acts 1:3-8 certainly indicates a restoration of Israel in the prior form of a kingdom that is in the indefinite future.