Acts 1:8 Historical Context

[USN2Pulpit]

Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

I've seen a lot made of the different locations listed in this passage: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth.

When placed in historical context, what do you feel is the significance of each of these locations? And how would you relate them in historical context to today's believer?

Thanks...

 

[webdog]

I think the context of the locations where witnessing is to start is the order listed. Jerusalem was "home", then you branched out further to Judea, even further through Samaria, and finally, you keep going until you can't go no more. Jerusalem is the city, Judea is the "county" Jerusalem is in, Samaria is the "county" just north of Judea.

 

[Humblesmith]

I'm not sure what you mean by historical context.

The verse provides the outline for the book of Acts, and in general, the sequence in which the apostles were witnesses.

The context is indeed historical, as opposed to symbolic. The only historical context I can tell is that it really did happen this way in history. Really.

 

[USN2Pulpit]

What I mean is what meaning would the hearers have placed on these particular locations? For instance, wasn't Samaria (and Samaritans themselves) despised by the Jewish people? Jerusalem was indeed a center of Jewish life, and Judea describes a region, but why did Jesus say "Samaria?"

 

[Pastor Larry]

I don't think it means anything but the locations. From Jerusalem, they went to Judea, then north to Samaria, and then spread from there.

Jesus said Samaria because that, like Judea, is a region.

 

[TCassidy]

Originally posted by USN2Pulpit:
What I mean is what meaning would the hearers have placed on these particular locations? For instance, wasn't Samaria (and Samaritans themselves) despised by the Jewish people? Jerusalem was indeed a center of Jewish life, and Judea describes a region, but why did Jesus say "Samaria?"

Compare John 4 with Acts 8.

 

[DeafPosttrib]

Use common sense.

Acts 1:8 refers with Matt. 28:19; and Mark 16:15. Christ commands us, go and preach to all individuals, start with in Jerusalem, then spread over the world. Christ desires every individuals to hear the gospel, to be saved. He doesn't want all people go to hell(1 Peter 3:9).

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

[El_Guero]

My opinion would be based around:

Jerusalem - Holy, political center, "the Big City"

Judea - Home (same culture, chosen people, etc)

Samaria - the other side of the tracks, definitely not he upper middle class suburbs

the end of the earth - even to the gentiles.