Acts 1:8
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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
This iconic verse outlines the sequence of empowerment and global witness: the Holy Spirit’s arrival will enable believers to be witnesses beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The geography traces the expanding radius of the gospel—from local to regional to cross-cultural frontiers. The emphasis is not on human strategy but divine enabling. The fourfold witness framework reflects both Jewish and Gentile worlds and signals a universal mission: the gospel is for all peoples, not for a select few. The phrase “after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” makes the Spirit’s empowerment the necessary catalyst for mission.
Spirit-empowered witness is central to Luke-Acts. The verse ties mission directly to the Spirit’s presence and power, not human planning. It also highlights the church’s missional scope as God’s intention for a diverse, global community united in testimony to Jesus.
- Assess your life for spaces of witness: home, work, school, neighborhood. How can you begin or deepen gospel conversations there?
- Support cross-cultural missions or partner with local ministries that serve diverse communities.
- Pray for Spirit-led opportunities to share the gospel in practical ways (acts of kindness, listening, serving needs).
Cross-References: Isaiah 49:6; Luke 24:46-49; Romans 1:16; Acts 2:1-4