Why were the apostles excited about the kingdom being restored to Israel?
The apostles were excited because they anticipated Messiah's coming rule and reign over Israel, a kingdom glory far greater than what Israel knew under David and Solomon. For forty days the resurrected Christ had spoken to them of things pertaining to the kingdom, so their question about restoration was logical and their expectation was high.
Les teaches that the word 'again' in the disciples' question points back to Israel's past glory as a nation under David and Solomon, a glory that had spread to the then-known world. Yet these men understood that even Solomon's glory was nothing compared to the glory that would be when their Messiah would rule and reign; therefore they were excited and anticipating. Their question was logical because Acts 1:3 says Jesus showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, appearing to them forty days and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom. For those forty days in His resurrection body, He had been explaining things they previously had not comprehended. Les also directs us back to Luke 18 to see how blinded these men were.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Why was the disciples’ question in Acts 1:6 about restoring the kingdom to Israel a logical question?
The question was logical because Jesus had spent forty days after His resurrection speaking to the Eleven about the kingdom, and Israel had already experienced national glory under David and Solomon. The disciples understood that Messiah's coming rule would surpass even Solomon's glory, so they eagerly anticipated its restoration.
When did Israel have a kingdom that they were proud of and gloried in?
Israel had a kingdom they were proud of and gloried in during the reigns of David and Solomon. That earlier kingdom is the one in view when Scripture speaks of restoring the kingdom again to Israel, since “restore again” points back to something that existed in the past.
More Questions
What does the word 'again' mean in Acts 1:6 when the apostles ask about restoring the kingdom to Israel?
Les teaches that the word 'again' in Acts 1:6 points back to the national glory Israel had already reached under David and Solomon, glory that had spread to the then-known world.
What kind of kingdom did the apostles expect to be restored to Israel?
The twelve apostles understood that the glorious kind of kingdom seen under David and Solomon would be restored to Israel, but the King would be the Messiah, a greater than Solomon.
Why did the apostles ask Jesus whether he would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time?
The apostles asked Jesus about restoring the kingdom because they were eagerly anticipating his Messianic reign, which they knew would far surpass the glory of Solomon.
How do we know the apostles were not wrong to expect a physical, political kingdom for Israel?
If the apostles' expectation of the kingdom had been merely spiritual-ethereal rather than the physical, political, and spiritual kingdom, Jesus would have upbraided them as mistaken—but He did not.