Acts 1:4
What does Acts 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 1:4 means
While gathered with His disciples, Jesus specifically commanded them not to leave Jerusalem. Instead, they were to wait for the "promise of the Father," a promise Jesus had previously spoken about. This command emphasizes the importance of obedience and patient expectation for a divine endowment necessary for their future ministry. They were to remain in one place, anticipating a supernatural event.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they were all together, with him, he gave them orders not to go away from Jerusalem, but to keep there, waiting till the word of the Father was put into effect, of which, he said, I have given you knowledge:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, <FI>saith he,<Fi> `Ye did hear of me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and, being assembled with [them], commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, which [said he] ye have heard of me.
Context
This verse records a direct command from the resurrected Jesus to His apostles. It flows from His previous teachings about the kingdom and sets a clear mandate for their immediate actions: stay in Jerusalem. This instruction is critical because it leads directly into the promise of the Holy Spirit, which will be expounded upon in the next verse, and explains their gathering in the city.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 24:41
And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?
- John 7:39
But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:
- Acts 10:41
not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
- Acts 2:33
Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
- Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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