The Parousia and the Kingdom in Acts 1:6-8
The apostles' question in Acts 1:6, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" reflects their ongoing expectation of a messianic kingdom tied to Israel's national restoration. Jesus' response redirects their focus towards a different kind of kingdom and a different timeline [2].
Literary Context
Acts 1:6-8 is part of Luke's narrative bridging the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the church's mission. The disciples' question about restoring the kingdom to Israel follows Jesus' resurrection and his instructions on the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-5). Jesus' answer in verse 7, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority," indicates that the timing of the kingdom's restoration is not for them to know. Instead, they are to receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and be Jesus' witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) [2].
Historical Setting
The expectation of a restored kingdom to Israel was rooted in Jewish messianic hopes, which often included the idea of Israel's national liberation and dominance. Jesus' response does not directly address these expectations but instead shifts the focus to the mission of the disciples. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) marks the beginning of this mission, empowering the disciples to witness to Jesus Christ [2].
Key Terms and Exegetical Decisions
The term "kingdom" (Greek: βασιλεία, basileia) is central to understanding Acts 1:6. Jesus' teaching on the kingdom throughout the Gospels often emphasized its present reality and future consummation. The phrase "restore the kingdom to Israel" suggests a restoration of Israel's national or political status, which Jesus does not directly address. Instead, he emphasizes the universal mission of the disciples [1].
The phrase "times or seasons" (Greek: χρόνοι ή καιροί, chronoi ē kairoi) in Acts 1:7 refers to the timing and nature of God's plan. Jesus indicates that this is not for the disciples to know, emphasizing instead their role in witnessing to him.
Range of Interpretations
Interpreters have understood Jesus' response in Acts 1:6-8 in various ways. Some see it as a redirection of the disciples' focus from a nationalistic understanding of the kingdom to a universal mission. Others interpret Jesus' words as indicating a delay or a different kind of fulfillment of the kingdom expectations [3].
Reformed interpreters, such as those from the Old Princeton tradition, have emphasized the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom and its gradual expansion through the preaching of the Gospel. Charles Hodge notes that the Scriptures illustrate the gradual progress of Christ's kingdom, comparing it to a grain of mustard seed and leaven in meal [4, 7].
The Parousia and the Kingdom
The concept of the Parousia (the second coming of Christ) is closely tied to the understanding of the kingdom in Acts 1:6-8. Jesus' response does not provide a timeline for the Parousia but emphasizes the disciples' role in the present. The New Testament elsewhere teaches that the Parousia will be a future event when Christ returns in glory, and the kingdom will be fully realized [3].
The book of Revelation, in particular, describes the ultimate triumph of Christ's kingdom, where believers are made "a kingdom and priests" to God (Revelation 1:6). This reflects the idea that the kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope [5, 6].
The understanding of Acts 1:6-8 has significantly influenced Christian theology and practice, particularly in the areas of eschatology and missions. The passage underscores the importance of the church's mission to witness to Christ and the expectation of Christ's return, shaping Christian hope and practice across various traditions.
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Isaiah 6:8 cross-references: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:8, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7, Genesis 22:1, Genesis 22:11, Exodus 4:10, Deuteronomy 4:33, 2 Samuel 1:7, 1 Kings 22:20, Isaiah 65:1, Ezekiel 1:24, Ezekiel 10:5, Matthew 4:20, Acts 9:4, Acts 20:24, Acts 22:21, Acts 26:16, Acts 28:25, Ephesians 3:8”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 1:8 cross-references: Psalms 22:27, Psalms 98:3, Isaiah 42:10, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 16:19, Micah 3:8, Zechariah 4:6, Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 1:35, Luke 10:19, Luke 24:29, Luke 24:46, John 15:27, Acts 1:5, Acts 1:22, Acts 2:1, Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, Acts 5:32, Acts 6:8, Acts 8:1, Acts 8:5, Acts 10:38, Acts 13:31, Acts 22:15, Romans 10:18, Romans 15:19, Colossians 1:23, Revelation 11:3”
- 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 2:9: 2:9 As Christ will appear in royal and divine power (his parousia; 2:1, 8; 1 Thes 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23), this figure similarly will come (parousia) with a royal entrance.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:5 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:23 2:24 2:24 4:19 8:10 8:12 9:6 12:3 14:22 15:1-21 17:7 17:12 21:23 22:2 24:1-67 24:3 26:31 27:4 27:12 27:34-38 29:18 29:27 29:28 30:1 34:12 47:31 49:2-4 49:10 49:17 Exodus 1:19 1:20 3:13 3:14 6:8 6:12 16:23 16:26 20:1-26 20:2 21:9 21:12 21:14 21:17 22:10 22:19 23:7 24:8 26:3 26:5 26:6 26:17 31:13 31:14 31:16 31:17 34:28 Leviticus 4:17 7:18 10:11 14:6 17:1-16 17:4 18:1-30 18:6 18:8 18:16 18:18 18:18 18:18 19:12 20:23 23:1-44 24:17 25:39-41 26:1 26:41 Numbers 5:19 6:3-5 19:11 19:11-13”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1:6: And hath--rather as Greek, "And (He) hath." made us kings--The oldest manuscripts read, "a kingdom." One oldest manuscript reads the dative, "for us." Another reads "us," accusative: so Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. This seems preferable, "He made us (to be) a kingdom." So Exo 19:6, "a kingdom of priests"; Pe1 2:9, "a royal priesthood." The saints shall constitute peculiarly a kingdom of God, and shall themselves be kings (Rev 5:10). They shall share His King-Priest throne in the millennial kingdom. The emphasis thus falls more on the king”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 1:6: And hath made us kings and priests,.... The Alexandrian copy, and Complutensian edition, read, "a kingdom, priests"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "a kingdom and priests"; and the Arabic version, "a kingdom of priesthood"; reference seems to be had to Exo 19:6, "and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests"; which the Jerusalem Targum renders, "ye shall be unto me", , "kings and priests"; and so the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases it thus, "and ye shall be before me", "kings" crowned with a crown, "and priests" ministering. Hence it is a common saying wi”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 94: among the Gentiles.” The Scriptures abound with passages of similar import. It is not only asserted that the kingdom of Christ is to attain this universal extension by slow degrees, but its gradual progress is illustrated in various ways. Our Lord compares his kingdom to a grain of mustard-seed, which is indeed the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs; and to heaven which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 857 9. Although God has always had a kingdom upon earth,”