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witness to "the end of the earth". What the Lord did not say to the disciples in so many
words is very vividly brought before the mind by the event that immediately followed:--
"And having said these things, as they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received
Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up,
behold two men stood by them in white apparel: which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1: 9-11).
Further questioning concerning the hope of Israel is thus referred to the second
coming. The words "shall so come, in like manner" would make the apostles realize not
only that the restoration of the kingdom of Israel would be fulfilled when Dan. 7: was
fulfilled:--
"I saw . . . . . the Son of man come with the clouds of heaven . . . . . and there was
given him dominion" (Dan. 7: 13, 14).
but that the angel's statement also had Zech. 14: 4 in view:--
"And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before
Jerusalem on the east" (Zech. 14: 4).
"Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from
Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey" (Acts 1: 12).
There is a close parallel in Acts 3: with the outstanding teaching of Acts 1:
(1) In both, the "restoration" is in view:--
"Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1: 6).
"The times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His
holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3: 21).
(2) In both, there is the possibility that Israel would not be restored immediately:--
"It is not for you to know the times or the seasons" (Acts 1: 7).
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3: 19).
(3) In both, the second coming of the Lord is prominent:--
"This same Jesus . . . . . shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven" (Acts 1: 11).
"He shall send Jesus Christ . . . . . Whom the heavens must receive until the times of
restitution" (Acts 3: 20, 21).
(4) In both, there is the hint that the Gentile may be blessed as a result of Israel's
attitude:--
"Ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem . . . . . and unto the ends of the
earth" (Acts 1: 8).
"Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in
turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3: 26).
That the Gentile, if not specifically mentioned here, is nevertheless in mind, may be
seen by reference to Acts 13::--