Acts 1:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

NIV: He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

NASB: But He said to them, 'It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority;

CSB: He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

NLT: He replied, 'The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

Jesus is promising the disciples that the kingdom of God is at hand (Acts 1:3). Naturally, they interpret this to mean He will fulfill the hint of glory they saw at the triumphal entry (Mark 11:1–10), free Israel from Rome, and reign as David's heir (2 Samuel 7:8–13). Throughout Jesus' ministry, they have anxiously awaited this kingdom, not least because they will hold positions of honor (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). Jesus has already told them only God knows when Israel will be saved (Mark 13:32). But that was before Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

The disciples don't realize that the concept of "the kingdom of God" and "God's people" will make a dramatic change. Instead of Israel, the church will come to the forefront.

"Times" is from the Greek root word chronos. It merely means an indeterminate amount of time. "Seasons" is from the Greek root word kairos. It means more a definite timeframe in which a specific goal is accomplished. Although Jesus is not being specific here, Scripture later reveals this "season" is the "times of the Gentiles" mentioned in Luke 21:24.

Paul explains in Romans 11:25, "Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." The season will last until God's predetermined number of Gentiles have come to a saving faith in Him, and then Israel will be restored and Jesus will reign as the Messiah (Acts 1:6).

Acts 1:1–11 fulfills Jesus' teaching that for the Holy Spirit to come, He must return to heaven (John 16:7). After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus spent forty days showing Himself to His believers to prove that resurrection and give them instructions. Now, it is time for Jesus' earthly ministry to end and the Holy Spirit's to come into full effect (John 16:8–14). Acts 1:1–11 is an expanded account of Luke 24:50–53; it is also part of a larger section of Acts that describes the ministry of the twelve apostles as they establish the church in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7).

Acts 1 sets the stage for the establishment of the church and the spread of the gospel. Jesus is alive but if the Holy Spirit is to come Jesus must ascend into heaven (John 16:7). The disciples obey His last instructions and wait in Jerusalem. Peter uses Old Testament Scripture to show the group of about 120 they must choose a disciple to replace Judas. The man must have been with them from Jesus' baptism to His ascension. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias are put forward and, in the last use of the lots found in the Bible, Matthias is chosen.

Acts 1 is the second letter Luke wrote for Theophilus. In it, he narrates the transition between Jesus' ministry as described in the Gospel of Luke and the development and spread of the church. The disciples have received a temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), and Jesus has spent forty days reassuring His faithful followers (Acts 1:3), appearing to over five hundred in that short time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Now, the disciples complete some administrative-like tasks before the Holy Spirit can begin the ministry of the church on Pentecost (Acts 2).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in 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 ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.