The disciples longed to know all about the times and the seasons. They wanted the key of prophetic fulfillment. Instead, they were given a task… a responsibility… a work to do. They were to be witnesses for Christ; in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

There was one difference between that day and ours: they were to wait and then witness. The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit was to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and they were to begin their witnessing following that great miracle. We are to wait and witness. We do not await the coming of the Holy Spirit for He indwells every believer at the moment he is born again… but we await the coming of the Saviour who will evaluate our service at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The coming of the Holy Spirit would launch an era of witnessing. The disciples would be empowered by His presence within and Jerusalem would be shaken by their witnessing. The coming of the Saviour will end our opportunity for witnessing, for at His coming we shall be taken to heaven to be with Him.

The formula for witnessing given by Jesus has not changed. They were to begin where they were… Jerusalem …and their area of responsibility encompassed the entire world. We are to begin where we are… in our own communities… our own cities and reach out to the world.

How are you doing in your “Jerusalem?”