The apostles stayed in Jerusalem because they were expecting Israel's King to return there, and they understood they had no God-given ministry to the Gentiles until that covenant program was fulfilled.
The Bible records that when persecution scattered the Jerusalem believers, the apostles were the exception and remained in the city. Les Feldick teaches this was not stubbornness or disobedience but expectant waiting: they believed the Messiah could return to Jerusalem at any moment. Peter understood that his ministry to the Gentiles could not begin until Israel's king was in place, so the twelve stayed in Jerusalem.
Acts 8:1 — Records that when severe persecution scattered the Jerusalem believers, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem as the explicit exception.
Acts 11:19 — Shows that even those believers who were scattered preached to Jews only, not to Gentiles.
Acts 8:1 records the result of the persecution that followed Stephen's death: "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." The same verse that shows the scattering also explicitly names the apostles as the exception. Acts 11:19 explains what happened to those who were scattered: "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." The Scriptural record therefore shows a Jewish-focused church in this period, with the apostles still in Jerusalem. These verses establish the facts on the ground: severe persecution, a scattered congregation, and the twelve staying in Jerusalem. The Bible records the fact; Les Feldick's teaching below explains the reason.
Les Feldick emphasizes that seven years after Pentecost, the twelve apostles were still in Jerusalem, even though Saul of Tarsus was persecuting Jewish believers and all the other believers had been scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. He says this should surprise us if we assume the Great Commission required them to be throughout the Roman Empire — yet they would not leave, and not even intense persecution could drive them out. Les says the reason was their expectant waiting: they believed the King would return to Jerusalem, and if they stepped away to Alexandria, Rome, or anywhere else, they might miss His coming. He compares them to a man at a bus depot who will not leave the door for a cup of coffee because the bus will arrive the moment he steps away. That was exactly the apostles' frame of mind. Les insists they were not being disobedient. Peter understood that he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place, and the twelve knew they had no ministry to the ends of the world until this covenant program was fulfilled. Their ministry was to the Jew. Having spent three years with Christ, they understood their commission — which is why they stayed.
Acts 8:1 says every believing Jew had been scattered out of Jerusalem because they had to run for their lives, except the apostles. Les Feldick points out that the very leaders of those Jewish believers sat tight seven years after Pentecost. He concludes they were not about to leave because the King might return to Jerusalem, and they would miss His coming. His bus-depot illustration pictures a man who refuses to step into a coffee shop for fear the late bus will arrive and he will not be at the door to meet it — exactly the mindset of the twelve.
Les asks his students to think: if the apostles were embracing the Great Commission, where should they have been six or seven years after Pentecost — throughout the whole Roman Empire? Yet they were in Jerusalem, and they refused to leave even under persecution. Les's answer is that they knew they had no God-given right to leave. Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place. The twelve had no ministry to the ends of the world until this covenant program was fulfilled; their ministry was to the Jew. They were not derelict in their duty.
The Bible records the fact that the apostles stayed, but it does not give the internal reason in the same passage. Acts 8:1 notes that everyone was scattered "except the apostles." Acts 11:19 shows that those who were scattered traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, "preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." The biblical record, then, does not show the early church turning to the Gentiles during this time.
Change in the Apostles' Boldness
Les points to the change in the eleven men after the resurrection as evidence of resurrection power — the same men who once fled in fear no longer ran, which helps explain why the apostles could stay in Jerusalem under persecution.
Waiting for the King's Return
Les says the twelve weren't about to leave Jerusalem for Alexandria, Greece, or Italy because if they left, the King might return to Jerusalem and they wouldn't be there.
Peter's Understanding of His Gentile Ministry
Les says Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place, which is why the twelve stayed in Jerusalem rather than going to the nations.
No God-Given Right to Leave
Les asks where the apostles should have been if they were embracing the Great Commission, then says they knew they had no God-given right to leave Jerusalem.
The Bus-Depot Analogy
Les compares the apostles to a man waiting at a bus depot who won't step into a coffee shop for fear the bus will arrive and he'll miss it — exactly the mindset of the twelve as they waited for the King's return.
Everyone Fled Except the Apostles
Les emphasizes that every believing Jew had to run for his life, yet the apostles sat tight seven years after Pentecost, showing their deliberate choice to remain.
Ministry to the Jew Until the Covenant Program Was Fulfilled
Les says the apostles were not derelict in their duty; they knew they had no ministry to the ends of the world until Israel's covenant program was fulfilled. Their ministry was to the Jew.
The Apostles Understood Their Commission
Les argues that these men had been with Christ for three years; if they didn't understand their commission, no one could. They understood it, and that is why they stayed.
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.
Shows the apostles as the only Jerusalem believers who remained in the city during the persecution.
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.
Shows that even the scattered believers preached to Jews only, not to Gentiles, during this period.
Les Feldick says no — quite the opposite. They knew they had no God-given right to leave and no ministry to the ends of the world until this covenant program was fulfilled. Their ministry was to the Jew, and Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place.
Acts 8:1 says all were scattered abroad throughout Judea and Samaria except the apostles. Les says the believers who fled had to run for their lives because of Saul's persecution, while the twelve sat tight because they were expecting the King to return to Jerusalem at any moment.
Les Feldick mentions seven years after Pentecost. Even after that long, with intense persecution under Saul, the twelve apostles were still sitting tight in Jerusalem.
Les compares the apostles to a man waiting at a bus depot for his wife's late bus. He knew that if he went into the coffee shop across the street, the bus would arrive and he wouldn't be at the door to meet her. The apostles had the same frame of mind about the King's return to Jerusalem.
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