Yes—the apostles deliberately stayed in Jerusalem because they were still looking for the King to return there and knew they had no God-given ministry to the Gentiles yet.
Acts 8:1 records that persecution scattered all the Jewish believers throughout Judaea and Samaria except the apostles. Les Feldick explains that the twelve 'sat tight' because they expected Christ to return to Jerusalem at any moment and did not want to be away when He came. He also teaches that they understood their ministry was first to the Jew and that they could not go to the Gentile world until Israel's covenant program was fulfilled.
Acts 8:1 — This verse directly records the fact behind the question: all the Jerusalem believers were scattered by persecution except the apostles.
Acts 1:8 — This is the commission the apostles did not yet carry out, showing they were not then going to the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 11:19 — It shows the scattered Jewish believers traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, while the apostles remained in Jerusalem.
After Stephen's martyrdom, the Bible says that a great persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem and that all the believers were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles (Acts 8:1). The book of Acts later shows that those scattered believers went as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only (Acts 11:19). Before Pentecost, Jesus had told the disciples they would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). The biblical text itself records that the apostles remained in Jerusalem; it does not give their private reasoning.
Les Feldick emphasizes the phrase in Acts 8:1, 'except the apostles,' and asks why the twelve would not leave Jerusalem even under intense persecution. He says they were still looking for the King and expected Christ to return to Jerusalem at any moment. If they went to Alexandria, Greece, or Italy, the King could return to Jerusalem and they would miss Him—so they sat tight. Les also teaches that this was not disobedience to the Great Commission. The apostles knew they had no ministry to the ends of the world until the covenant program with Israel was fulfilled. Their ministry was to the Jew, and they could not have a ministry to the Gentiles until Israel came to recognize that the One they crucified was their Messiah and He could have set up His Kingdom. Les compares them to someone waiting at an airport or bus depot who refuses to leave even for coffee because the delayed arrival could happen at any second.
Les Feldick says no—quite the opposite. He points out that if the Great Commission had 'kicked in gear' as most people think, the twelve should have been out among the Gentiles long before seven years had passed. Instead they remained in Jerusalem, and Les explains that they knew they had no ministry to the ends of the world until the covenant program had been fulfilled. Their ministry was to the Jew.
They were still looking for the King. Les says Christ would return to Jerusalem, not to Alexandria, Greece, or Italy, so the apostles were not about to go anywhere else. He compares them to a person waiting at an airport or bus depot who refuses to leave even for coffee because the delayed plane or bus could arrive at any second. This same attitude kept them in Jerusalem no matter how intense the persecution became.
Acts 8:1 says all were scattered abroad throughout Judaea and Samaria except the apostles. Les observes that every believing Jew had to run for his life from Saul's persecution, yet the very leaders of those believers sat tight. Everyone fled except the apostles, and Les says the apostles knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem.
Les teaches that the twelve knew their role and knew that they could not have a ministry to the Gentiles until Israel recognized that the One they crucified was their Messiah and He could have set up His Kingdom. At that point they understood their ministry was to the Jew, not to the Gentile world.
Power and Witnesses to the Uttermost Part
Les sets the stage by showing that, despite the commission in Acts 1:8, the Jewish believers did not immediately go around the world preaching the gospel.
Why They Wouldn't Leave Jerusalem
Les says the apostles would not leave because if the King returned to Jerusalem while they were away, they would miss Him—so they sat tight even seven years after Pentecost.
No God-Given Right to Leave
Les asks why the apostles would not leave even under intense persecution, and answers that they knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem.
Seven Years and Still Looking for the King
Les points out that the twelve were still in Jerusalem seven years later and were still looking for the King, which is why they did not run.
Christ Will Return to Jerusalem, Not Alexandria
Les explains that the apostles were not about to go to Alexandria because Christ would return to Jerusalem, and uses the bus depot illustration to show their waiting attitude.
Not Derelict; Ministry Was to the Jew
Les says the apostles were not derelict in their duty; they knew they had no ministry to the ends of the world until the covenant program was fulfilled, and their ministry was to the Jew.
Everyone Fled Except the Apostles
Les emphasizes the unusual fact that every believing Jew fled for his life from Saul, yet the apostles sat tight in Jerusalem.
No Gentile Ministry Until Israel Recognizes Messiah
Les teaches that the apostles could not have a ministry to the Gentiles until Israel recognized the crucified One as Messiah, and compares their waiting to someone at an airport waiting for a delayed arrival.
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 is the key biblical fact: persecution scattered all the believing Jews, but the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8: 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.
This records the commission the apostles had not yet carried out, explaining why their remaining in Jerusalem was not a violation of it.
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 shows the scattered Jewish believers went out while the apostles remained in Jerusalem.
Yes. Acts 8:1 says that when persecution scattered the Jerusalem church, they were all scattered abroad throughout Judaea and Samaria except the apostles.
Les says they were still looking for the King and did not want to be away from Jerusalem if Christ returned. He also says they knew they had no ministry to the Gentiles until the covenant program with Israel was fulfilled.
No. Les emphasizes they were not derelict in duty; quite the opposite. They understood their role and their God-given commission to the Jew first.
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