Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Acts 1:8 (NIV) says:

“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.”

Here’s what it really teaches:

1. The Source of Power – The Holy Spirit

Jesus promises that the disciples would not go on their mission alone.

The Holy Spirit would empower them, giving courage, wisdom, and the ability to do God’s work.

This reminds us that effective Christian life and mission depend on God’s Spirit, not on human strength or cleverness.

2. The Purpose of Power – To Be Witnesses

The goal of receiving the Spirit is not for personal benefit but to bear witness to Christ.

To be a witness means testifying through words, actions, and lifestyle that Jesus is alive and Lord.

3. The Scope of the Mission – Expanding Circles

Jesus outlines a roadmap of the Gospel’s spread:

Jerusalem → their immediate community.

Judea → their broader region.

Samaria → people who were different and sometimes hostile (Jews and Samaritans had tensions).

Ends of the earth → the universal mission of the Church.

This shows that the Gospel is for all nations, all cultures, all people.

4. A Call to the Church Today

For Christians now, Acts 1:8 is both a promise and a commission.

Promise: The Holy Spirit still empowers believers.

Commission: We are called to witness for Christ starting in our homes, communities, and reaching beyond cultural and national boundaries.

✨ In short: Acts 1:8 teaches that Christians are given the Holy Spirit’s power to be Christ’s witnesses everywhere, starting from where they are and moving outward to the whole world.