Jesus’s response thus reshapes the disciples’ assumptions
in Acts 1:6. There is an eschatological hope of Israel’s restoration, but the
restoration’s shape will not be Israel’s ruling over but the incorporation
of the nation’s into Israel’s hope through Israel’s Messiah. The restored
and reshaped Israel will serve the nations as light bringer, rather than
ruling them. It is not, however, that the disciples’ Spirit-empowered witness εως εσχατου της γης, “to the end of the earth,” is the substance
of the restoration of Israel but rather that this witness is the means by which
the way is prepared for what will become αποκασταστασεως παντων , “the restoration of all
things” (3:21). Acts 1:7 clarifies (in similar vein to 3:20-21) that the
timing of this (final)restoration is in the Father’s hands. The need for
witness “to the end of the earth” implies that the promised return of Jesus (V.
11) will not be immediate. (Steve
Walton, Acts 1-9:42 [Word Biblical Commentary 37A; Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Zondervan, 2024], 125)
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