And, 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.

ACTS 1:4KJV
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Acts 1:4 (KJV)

What does Acts 1:4 mean?

Acts 1:4 shows Jesus directing his followers to remain in Jerusalem until they receive what the Father has promised. Their next step depends on that promised gift, not simply on their own readiness to leave.

Jesus speaks while gathered with them after his resurrection. He calls the gift “the promise of the Father” and says they have already heard about it from him. The instruction connects what Jesus previously told them with what they are about to experience.

The Greek behind Acts 1:4

  • “wait” — περιμένω (perimenō): The Greek carries the sense of waiting for something expected. Here, their waiting has a particular object: the Father’s promise.
  • “promise” — ἐπαγγελία (epangelia): The word refers to something pledged or promised. The phrase points to what the Father has said he will give, rather than to a promise the followers must make.

Why Acts 1:4 matters

  • The promised gift is identified in the surrounding passage. In Acts 1:5, Jesus speaks of their being baptized with the Holy Spirit, connecting the promise to the arrival of God’s Spirit.
  • Jesus’ words prepare the followers for a sequence of events. In Acts 1:8, receiving the Holy Spirit comes before their work as witnesses, telling others what they have seen and heard.
  • Jerusalem is the starting place for that work. Acts 1:8 names Jerusalem first, then points outward to wider regions and the ends of the earth.

Where else these words appear

“should” Greek G5563 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
  • Acts 18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;(because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

“commanded” Greek G3853 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
  • Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

“promise” Greek G1860 · used in 51 verses

  • Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
  • Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

“Jerusalem” Greek G2414 · used in 59 verses

  • Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
  • Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
  • Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: