The apostles stayed in Jerusalem because they understood their ministry was still to Israel, not to the Gentiles, until Israel's King was in place.
Les Feldick teaches that the apostles knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem. They were still looking for the Messiah to return and establish His Kingdom, so even intense persecution could not drive them out. They were not neglecting the Great Commission; the time to go to the ends of the earth had not yet come.
Acts 8:1 — This verse shows the contrast: all the believers were scattered except the apostles, who stayed in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:19 — This shows that even the scattered believers preached to none but Jews, consistent with the apostles' understanding.
Acts 8:1 records that after Stephen's stoning, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and "they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." The verse does not explain why the apostles remained, but it plainly states that they did. Acts 11:19 further reports that those who were scattered preached the word to none but Jews only. This was true even as they traveled to Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. Meanwhile, the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) had told the disciples to go and teach all nations—yet the early chapters of Acts show the apostles still centered in Jerusalem.
Les Feldick teaches that the apostles remained in Jerusalem because they knew they had no God-given right to leave. Their ministry was still to Israel, and they were waiting for Israel's King to be put in place. If they left, they would miss the Messiah when He returned to establish His Kingdom. Even under intense persecution, they stayed. Les emphasizes that they were not derelict; they understood their commission. They knew the time to carry the message to the ends of the world had not yet come—that would begin after Israel's covenant program was fulfilled.
Les points out that the apostles knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem. The Great Commission's command to go into all the world had not yet kicked in for them; their ministry was to the Jew until Israel's King was in place.
They were still looking for the King. Les compares their staying to waiting for a bus: just as he knew if he left for coffee the bus would arrive, the apostles knew if they left Jerusalem the Messiah would come again. So they stayed.
Les notes that seven years after Pentecost, the twelve were still in Jerusalem, not out among the Gentiles—and persecution could not drive them out.
Scripture says the scattered believers preached to none but Jews (Acts 11:19). Les adds that they had no idea God was going to turn to the Gentiles; the very thought was anathema to them.
God Still Dealing with Israel
Les sets the scene that Acts 8 is still on Jewish ground—God was still dealing with Israel, which explains why the apostles stayed.
No God-Given Right to Leave
Les stresses that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem under persecution because they knew they had no God-given right to go anywhere else.
Ministry to Gentiles Waits for Israel's King
Les explains that Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's King was in place.
Ministry Was to the Jew
The apostles were not derelict; they knew their ministry was to the Jew until the covenant program was fulfilled.
Seven Years in Jerusalem
Les underscores that after seven years the apostles were still sitting tight in Jerusalem, not among the Gentiles.
Still Looking for the King
The reason the twelve stayed was that they were still looking for the Messiah, the King, to come.
They Understood Their Commission
The men who had been with Christ understood God's Word and their commission, which is precisely why they stayed in Jerusalem.
Preaching to None but Jews
Even the scattered believers preached to none but Jews because they had no idea God was going to turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This verse directly shows that the apostles alone remained in Jerusalem when the persecution scattered everyone else.
Acts 11:19: Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
This confirms that even outside Jerusalem, the early believers preached only to Jews.
Matthew 28:19-20: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Great Commission appears to command going to all nations, yet the early church remained centered on Israel, which is the tension Les addresses.
No. Les teaches they were quite the opposite of derelict. They knew their ministry was to Israel until the covenant program was fulfilled, so they stayed in Jerusalem by divine design.
Les says that even seven years after Pentecost, the twelve were still in Jerusalem, and intense persecution could not drive them out.
Les explains that the apostles knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem yet. Their ministry to the ends of the world would not begin until Israel's King was in place.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained