Your Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria

“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 is a well-known verse to many Christians, often associated with missions, as it depicts how believers will carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth, reaching every unreached people group. Yet, paradoxically, some Christians use this passage to justify not engaging in mission work. This should raise questions. How can a direct command from Jesus to spread the Gospel globally be misinterpreted as an excuse to avoid missions? The answer lies in how this verse is understood.

There are two primary interpretations of this verse, and examining each can help clarify which aligns more closely with the truth:

VIEW ONE: A LITERAL INTERPRETATION

This view interprets the places mentioned in the verse—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth—as literal locations. Jesus is understood to be referring to the physical city of Jerusalem, the regions of Judea and Samaria, and the actual ends of the earth. In this interpretation, no specific sequence is implied for fulfilling the command.

ANALYSIS OF VIEW ONE

If we accept this literal interpretation, it suggests that the early church had a clear, step-by-step plan to follow, beginning with spreading the Gospel in these specific locations. The New Testament shows that the early church successfully brought the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Therefore, under this view, we are now in the phase of spreading the Gospel to the "ends of the earth," not due to any particular order in the verse, but because the first three parts of the command have been fulfilled.

VIEW TWO: A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION

This interpretation sees the places Jesus mentions as symbolic of "spheres of influence." Here, "Jerusalem" represents one’s family or local community, "Judea and Samaria" signify the broader region or nation, and "the ends of the earth" stand for global outreach. Like View One, this perspective does not specify a clear sequence.

ANALYSIS OF VIEW TWO

If this interpretation is correct, then every Christian is called to impact not just their local community but also their region and the world. No one is exempt from any of these areas of witness. A missionary, under this view, must serve not only in foreign lands but also maintain a witness in their hometown. This presents a challenge, as it is impossible to be in two places at once—physically present in both a distant mission field and one’s local community. As a result, Christians adopting this view often impose an unscriptural sequence, believing they must reach their local "Jerusalem" first before extending outward. Many use this as an excuse to stay in their comfort zones, claiming they must first reach every family member before engaging in broader missions. In reality, few of those making this claim actively evangelize their family.

AND NOT THEN

A common mistake is substituting "and" with "then" in Acts 1:8. The Greek word "kai" clearly means "and," not "then," meaning Jesus’ followers are to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth simultaneously. Although Luke 24:47 indicates that the disciples were to begin in Jerusalem, it does not prescribe a strict order.

THE EARLY CHURCH’S APPROACH

The early church did not follow View Two. The disciples began their mission in the literal city of Jerusalem, not their home region of Galilee. Persecution then scattered them throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1), and they became witnesses in those areas as well. Peter’s vision in Acts 10 revealed that God’s love extended beyond Israel, and Paul was commissioned as a missionary to the Gentiles, those outside the Jewish regions. From Acts 8 onward, the focus shifted to the Gentile world—the "ends of the earth." This practice reflects the early church’s endorsement of View One.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US

We cannot impose an order on our outreach, focusing solely on family, city, or country and neglecting the global mission. Jesus clearly states in Matthew 24:14, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." The early church began in Jerusalem, expanded to Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reached the ends of the earth. Christ's return depends on the Gospel being preached to all ethnic groups. This is our task. Let's fulfill it!