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.

And {G2532}, behold {G2400}, I {G1473} send {G649} the promise {G1860} of my {G3450} Father {G3962} upon {G1909} you {G5209}: but {G1161} tarry {G2523} ye {G5210} in {G1722} the city {G4172} of Jerusalem {G2419}, until {G2193} ye {G3739} be endued {G1746} with power {G1411} from {G1537} on high {G5311}.

Now I am sending forth upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been equipped with power from above.”

And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

Commentary

Context

This pivotal verse concludes Luke's account of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and final instructions to His disciples before His ascension. Having opened their understanding to the Scriptures concerning Himself (Luke 24:45), Jesus now gives them a crucial command regarding their future mission. It serves as a bridge to the Book of Acts, which details the fulfillment of this very promise. The disciples, though having seen the resurrected Christ, still needed divine empowerment to effectively carry out the Great Commission to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Key Themes

  • The Divine Promise: Jesus refers to "the promise of my Father," which is unequivocally the Holy Spirit. This promise is a central theme in the New Testament, signifying God's continued presence and active work among His people.
  • Empowerment for Mission: The phrase "endued with power from on high" signifies a divine equipping necessary for the disciples to be effective witnesses. This power was not for personal gain but for the advancement of God's kingdom.
  • Patient Obedience: The command to "tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem" emphasizes the importance of waiting on God's timing and specific instructions. It highlights that divine action often requires human patience and obedience to a designated place and time.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "endued with power from on high" carries significant meaning. The Greek word for "endued" is enduo (ἐνδύω), which literally means "to clothe" or "to put on." This implies that the power would envelop them, becoming an integral part of their being, much like putting on a garment. The "power" itself is from the Greek word dunamis (δύναμις), from which we get words like "dynamic" or "dynamite." It denotes inherent ability, strength, and miraculous power, indicating that the disciples would receive supernatural strength to perform their God-given tasks.

Related Scriptures

This command in Luke 24:49 finds its direct parallel and immediate reiteration in Acts 1:4-5, where Jesus again instructs His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father. The fulfillment of this promise is dramatically chronicled in Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, giving them the promised power and enabling them to speak in other tongues and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Jesus had previously promised this Helper, the Comforter, or Holy Spirit, to His followers during His earthly ministry.

Practical Application

Luke 24:49 teaches us that Christian service and witness are not to be undertaken in human strength alone. Just as the disciples needed the Holy Spirit's empowerment, believers today are called to rely on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit for effective ministry and daily living. It underscores the importance of seeking God's divine enablement and patiently waiting for His timing and provision, rather than rushing into endeavors without His anointing. This verse encourages us to pursue a life filled with the Spirit, recognizing that true spiritual impact comes from being "clothed" with power from on high.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 1:8 (26 votes)

    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

  • Acts 1:4 (22 votes)

    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.

  • Joel 2:28 (20 votes)

    ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  • Joel 2:32 (20 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

  • John 14:26 (18 votes)

    But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

  • Isaiah 44:3 (16 votes)

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

  • Isaiah 44:4 (16 votes)

    And they shall spring up [as] among the grass, as willows by the water courses.