What does Acts 1:8 mean by Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth?
Acts 1:8 means a literal sequence for Jewish witnesses: Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria had to be completely covered and converted first; only then were these Jews to go to the ends of the earth. It is not an allegory equating Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria with one’s own city, state, or nation.
Les explains that Scripture should not be allegorized unless Scripture itself does so. Many people allegorize Acts 1:8 to mean Jerusalem is their city, Judea is their state, Samaria is the United States, and then the ends of the world. Les says that sounds good from a missionary perspective, and he has nothing against taking the Gospel wherever we can, but that is not what this verse says. Instead, the verse says Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and after those three have been completely covered and converted, then these Jews were to go to the ends of the earth. Everything Jesus spoke and taught through the prophets was to the Jew, and they understood they had no role in evangelizing Gentiles until they had the King and the Kingdom. Then Gentiles would flow to Jerusalem, as Isaiah 2 shows, and Zechariah said ten men out of all nations would take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, “We have heard that God is with you, we’ll go with you.” But not until. Les notes that in verse 8 Jesus could have done like He did in Luke 4, but He did not.
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.
More Questions
Is Acts 1:8 an allegory that your Jerusalem must be reached before you go to the ends of the earth?
The common allegorization of Acts 1:8, where Jerusalem is your city, Judea is your state, Samaria is your country, and then you go to the rest of the world, is not what the verse teaches.
Why does Les say Acts 1:8 should not be allegorized as Jerusalem = your city, Judea = your state, Samaria = your nation?
Les rejects the common allegory that Acts 1:8 means Jerusalem is your city, Judea is your state, Samaria is your nation, and 'ends of the earth' is your world mission field, because that is not what the verse actually says.
How far did the Jewish fulfillment of Acts 1:8 go?
Les teaches that in Acts 1:8 the verse could have stopped after 'Samaria,' because as far as the Jew was concerned that is as far as the verse was going to be fulfilled.