Acts 1:6

KJV

¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G3303} they therefore {G3767} were come together {G4905}, they asked {G1905} of him {G846}, saying {G3004}, Lord {G2962},{G1487} wilt thou {G600} at {G1722} this {G5129} time {G5550} restore again {G600} the kingdom {G932} to Israel {G2474}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?”

Berean Standard Bible

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

American Standard Version

They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 1:6 captures the disciples' lingering earthly expectations concerning the Messiah's role, even after forty days of post-resurrection instruction from Jesus. Their question, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?", reveals a persistent misunderstanding of the spiritual and global nature of God's kingdom, focusing instead on a political and nationalistic restoration for Israel just prior to Jesus' ascension.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This pivotal verse immediately follows Jesus' forty-day period of post-resurrection appearances, during which He continued to teach His disciples about "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" ([Acts 1:3](/acts/1-3 "Acts 1:3 - Jesus' Post-Resurrection Teachings")). It serves as the disciples' final question to Jesus before His ascension, directly preceding His redirection of their focus from speculative timing to their global mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit ([Acts 1:7-8](/acts/1-7-8 "Acts 1:7-8 - The Great Commission and God's Timing")). The question thus acts as a crucial transition point, highlighting the disciples' earthly mindset just before they are commissioned for a heavenly, spiritual task.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The question posed by the disciples reflects deeply ingrained Jewish messianic expectations prevalent in the first century. For centuries, many Jews anticipated a Messiah who would be a political liberator, a king like David, who would overthrow Roman oppression and re-establish an independent, glorious kingdom of Israel. This hope was rooted in Old Testament prophecies promising a future king and a restored nation, often interpreted in a literal, geopolitical sense. Even after witnessing Jesus' resurrection—the ultimate sign of His divine power—their understanding of the kingdom was still primarily nationalistic and temporal, rather than spiritual and universal. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, and having conquered death, surely He would now fulfill these political hopes and bring about the long-awaited redemption of Israel, as some had hoped for earlier in His ministry ([Luke 24:21](/luke/24-21 "Luke 24:21 - Disciples' Hope for Redemption")).
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme highlighted by this verse is the disciples' persistent **misunderstanding of the kingdom**. While Jesus had taught extensively about the true nature of the kingdom of God, emphasizing its spiritual reality and its presence within believers ([Luke 17:21](/luke/17-21 "Luke 17:21 - The Kingdom of God Within You")), their focus remained on an earthly, visible, and political restoration for Israel. Jesus' kingdom, as He told Pilate, was explicitly stated as "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")). This question also sets the stage for the theme of **God's sovereign timing**, as Jesus' response in [Acts 1:7](/acts/1-7 "God's Sovereign Timing") emphasizes that the timing of God's ultimate plans rests solely with the Father. Finally, it introduces the critical **shift from speculation to mission**, as the disciples' preoccupation with "when" is immediately redirected by Jesus in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "The Great Commission") to "what" they are to do: receive power from the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **asked (Greek, _eperōtáō'_):** G1905 - This verb signifies a direct and earnest inquiry, to "ask for, i.e. inquire, seek." It suggests that the disciples were not merely making casual conversation but were seriously seeking clarification on a matter of profound importance to them, reflecting their deep-seated expectations and hopes.
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** G2962 - Used as a respectful title, this word denotes "supreme in authority" or "Master." The disciples address Jesus with reverence, acknowledging His divine authority and power, even as their understanding of His immediate purpose remains limited to earthly aspirations.
* **restore again (Greek, _apokathístēmi'_):** G600 - This term means "to reconstitute (in health, home or organization)" or "to restore to a former state." Its use here perfectly encapsulates the disciples' desire for Israel to return to a golden age of national prominence, independence, and political glory, free from foreign domination. They envisioned a literal, political re-establishment of the Davidic throne.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When they therefore were come together":** This phrase indicates a deliberate gathering of the disciples with the resurrected Jesus, emphasizing the significance of the occasion. It's not a chance encounter but a final, intentional assembly before His departure, setting the stage for a crucial exchange.
* **"they asked of him, saying, Lord":** This highlights the disciples' direct address to Jesus, using the respectful title "Lord," which acknowledges His authority and divine nature. Their collective inquiry underscores a shared, pressing concern that they felt compelled to bring before Him.
* **"wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?":** This is the core of their question, revealing their persistent earthly, nationalistic expectations. The phrase "at this time" underscores their anticipation of an immediate, tangible political restoration for the nation of Israel. "Restore again" points to a desire for a return to a perceived golden age of national prominence and independence, reflecting a deep-seated hope rooted in Old Testament prophecies interpreted through a temporal lens.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Interrogative** structure, as it is a direct question posed by the disciples to Jesus. This highlights their active inquiry and their lingering misunderstanding of the nature of His kingdom, creating immediate tension. There is also an element of **Anticipation** within the question itself, as the disciples are clearly eager for an immediate, affirmative answer regarding the restoration of Israel's political sovereignty. Furthermore, the question implicitly sets up a **Contrast** between the disciples' earthly, nationalistic understanding of the kingdom and Jesus' broader, spiritual, and global vision, which He immediately clarifies in the subsequent verses by redirecting their focus from political speculation to the mission of the Holy Spirit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 1:6 serves as a profound theological touchstone, illustrating the persistent human tendency to project earthly expectations onto divine plans. The disciples' question highlights a tension between the immediate, visible, and political hopes for God's kingdom and its deeper, spiritual, and universal reality. While God's ultimate plan includes a future, glorious kingdom, Jesus consistently reoriented His followers to the kingdom's present, spiritual inauguration through His life, death, and resurrection. This verse underscores that the kingdom of God is not primarily about geopolitical power or nationalistic restoration in the present age, but about the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers and the global expansion of His spiritual authority through the church.

* [Luke 17:20-21](/luke/17-20-21 "Luke 17:20-21 - The Kingdom of God Is Within You")
* [John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Is Not of This World")
* [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The disciples' question in Acts 1:6 offers a timeless mirror for believers today. Like them, we can sometimes become overly focused on understanding the precise timing or the specific earthly manifestations of God's future plans, whether concerning end-time events, personal blessings, or societal transformation. This verse gently but firmly redirects our gaze from speculative curiosity about "when" to faithful obedience in "what" God has called us to do now. It encourages us to cultivate a profound trust in God's sovereign timing, recognizing that certain details of His ultimate plan remain solely within His divine prerogative. Instead of being consumed by questions about the future, our energy and passion should be channeled into fulfilling the Great Commission—being empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ's witnesses to the ends of the earth. This involves understanding that while God's kingdom will one day be fully and visibly manifest on earth, it is primarily spiritual and active now in the hearts of believers and through the global mission of the church. Our present calling is to live as citizens of this spiritual kingdom, demonstrating its values and extending its influence through evangelism, discipleship, and acts of love and justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might our own expectations of God's kingdom sometimes be too earthly, nationalistic, or focused on immediate gratification, rather than its spiritual and eternal dimensions?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to focus on "when" God will act or fulfill His promises, rather than "what" He calls us to do in the present moment?**
* **How does a proper understanding of the kingdom's present spiritual reality and future consummation inform our daily lives, priorities, and mission?**

### FAQ
**Why did the disciples still ask about an earthly kingdom after Jesus' resurrection?**

Answer: The disciples' question reflects the deeply ingrained and pervasive Jewish messianic expectations of their time. For centuries, the hope of Israel had been centered on a Messiah who would deliver them from foreign oppression and re-establish a glorious, independent Davidic kingdom on earth. Even after three years of Jesus' teaching and witnessing His resurrection, their worldview was still heavily influenced by these nationalistic and political hopes. They likely saw the resurrection not as a redefinition of the kingdom, but as the ultimate validation that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and therefore, it was now the perfect "time" for Him to fulfill those long-held earthly promises of restoring the kingdom to Israel. Their understanding of the kingdom's spiritual nature and global scope was still developing, as evidenced by their earlier hope that Jesus was "He who was going to redeem Israel" in a political sense ([Luke 24:21](/luke/24-21 "Luke 24:21 - Disciples' Hope for Redemption")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 1:6, though highlighting the disciples' limited understanding, sets the stage for the profound Christ-centered fulfillment of God's kingdom purposes. While the disciples envisioned a restored earthly kingdom for Israel, Jesus' response and subsequent ascension reveal that the true restoration and reign of the kingdom began not with a political overthrow, but with His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement as King over all creation. He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, establishing a spiritual kingdom that transcends national boundaries and is inaugurated in the hearts of believers ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness into His Kingdom")). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, laying the foundation for a kingdom "not of this world" yet active within it. His ascension signifies His universal sovereignty, as He is seated at the right hand of God, exercising all authority in heaven and on earth ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Christ's Exaltation and Lordship")). The "restoration" Jesus brings is far grander than a nationalistic one; it is the restoration of humanity's relationship with God and the establishment of a spiritual reign that will ultimately culminate in His glorious return, when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes the Kingdom of Our Lord")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 19:11

¶ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Luke 17:20

¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Daniel 7:27

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Matthew 24:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Ezekiel 37:24

And David my servant [shall be] king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Ezekiel 37:27

My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.