No — Peter and the apostles were not disobedient; they stayed in Jerusalem because they expected Israel's King to return and set up the kingdom first.
According to Les Feldick, the twelve were not neglectful of the Great Commission. They understood they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King, and they remained in Jerusalem during the persecution described in Acts 8. They were following their expectation that the prophetic program would continue without interruption into the kingdom.
Acts 1:8 — Jesus gave the geographic order of witness — Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth — but did not give the timing that the apostles still expected to be fulfilled through the kingdom.
Matthew 28:19-20 — This Great Commission command seems to require immediate world evangelism, yet the twelve remained in Jerusalem.
Acts 8:1 — The biblical record shows the apostles remaining in Jerusalem while other believers were scattered, which is the historical circumstance Les Feldick explains.
Joel 2:30-31 — Peter quoted these unfulfilled end-time signs at Pentecost, showing that he expected the prophetic program to continue straight to the day of the Lord.
The Great Commission passages lay out the command: Jesus told His disciples to go and teach all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe His commands (Matthew 28:19-20). Just before His ascension, He told them they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). Scripture records that after Pentecost a great persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem and the believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, but the apostles remained in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them (Acts 8:5). The biblical narrative does not explicitly explain why the apostles themselves stayed in Jerusalem; it simply records that they did. At Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel's prophecy about the Spirit being poured out, along with wonders in the heavens and on the earth — the sun turned to darkness, the moon to blood, and the day of the Lord (Joel 2:30-31).
Les Feldick teaches that the twelve apostles were not disobedient to the Great Commission. Their problem was expectation, not rebellion. They were so convinced that the King was about to set up His kingdom that they poured their energy into preaching to Israel, hoping the nation would repent. If Israel had believed, the King could have returned and the kingdom with its Old Testament promises to the Gentiles could have been established. Les points out that they remained in Jerusalem years after Pentecost, even under severe persecution. Instead of seeing this as a failure, he says they knew they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King. Their constancy in Jerusalem was not stubbornness; it was loyalty to a kingdom expectation. Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place. Les also emphasizes that Peter did not have foreknowledge of a gap in the prophetic program. When Peter quoted Joel at Pentecost, he kept going through prophecies that had not yet been fulfilled; he did not know to stop as Jesus did. Thus the early apostles were not neglectful — they were waiting for the King.
Les Feldick says the twelve men were so expectant of the King setting up His kingdom that this filled every moment of their existence. Peter burned himself out preaching that the One Israel crucified was indeed their King, and that if the nation would believe, the King would yet return and the kingdom with its Old Testament promises to the Gentiles would be theirs. Jesus did not explain the long interval, so Peter never caught on; all he could see was God fulfilling the promises to Israel in short order.
According to Les Feldick, absolutely not. He asks why the twelve were still in Jerusalem years after Pentecost if the Great Commission had 'kicked in gear' as many assume. His answer is that they knew they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King. They were not about to leave Jerusalem, because if the Messiah came again while they were gone, they would miss the kingdom. They stayed even while everyone else fled persecution.
Les says the disciples did fulfill Acts 1:8 as far as Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, but the twelve never went to the nations. He challenges readers to find any Scripture showing those twelve disciples ministering among Gentiles, and says they never did. The reason, in his teaching, is that Israel never accepted the King, so that opportunity was taken from them because of Israel's rejection.
Acts 8 shows a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem, and the believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, but the apostles stayed where they were. Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ. Les uses this as evidence that the gospel did spread through the scattering, yet the twelve themselves did not go to the nations. This pattern fits the apostolic expectation that the King still had to come to Israel first.
Peter Quotes Joel Without Stopping
Les says Peter did not have the foreknowledge to stop when quoting Joel, showing he expected the prophetic program to run straight through to the end without interruption.
The Twelve Await the King
The apostles were so expectant of the King setting up His kingdom that it filled their lives; they preached to Israel hoping the King could return and bring the kingdom promises.
Seven Years Later — Still in Jerusalem
Les asks why the twelve were still in Jerusalem years after Pentecost if the Great Commission had begun; the answer is they were still looking for the King.
Boundary Until Israel Has Her King
Les says the apostles were not derelict; they knew they could not go beyond Israel's borders until Israel had her King, and they worked for Israel's repentance.
Risking Missing the Messiah's Return
They were not about to leave Jerusalem, because if the Messiah returned they would be gone; Peter understood he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place.
No Foreknowledge of the Interruption
Jesus did not reveal the long interval or the turn to the Gentiles, so Peter expected God to fulfill Israel's promises in short order.
Acts 1:8 Misread
Les says Acts 1:8 sounds as if the disciples would go worldwide immediately, but by Acts 8 they had not done so.
No Gentile Ministry for the Twelve
The twelve fulfilled Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, but never went to the nations; Les challenges readers to find any Gentile ministry by the twelve, saying their opportunity was lost because Israel rejected the King.
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.
This is the Great Commission command that readers assume should have sent the apostles worldwide immediately.
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.
Jesus defined the geographic progression of their witness at His ascension without specifying the timing.
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 shows the apostles staying in Jerusalem while other believers were scattered by persecution.
Acts 8:5: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Philip, not one of the twelve, carried the gospel to Samaria under the scattering.
Joel 2:30-31: And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Peter quoted these unfulfilled end-time signs at Pentecost, revealing his expectation that the prophetic program would continue straight through to the day of the Lord.
Les Feldick says no. Peter and the twelve knew they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King, so staying in Jerusalem was not neglect but obedience to the prophetic expectation that the King would return and set up the kingdom.
Because they expected the Messiah to come again and set up His kingdom. They were afraid that if they left Jerusalem, the Messiah would come and they would be gone. Their whole effort was to see Israel repent and receive her King.
Les challenges readers to find one instance. He says they never did. They went as far as Samaria, but the twelve themselves had no ministry among the nations because Israel never accepted the King.
Peter did not have the foreknowledge to know the prophetic program would be interrupted. He continued through the wonders, the sun darkened, the moon turned to blood, and the day of the Lord, because he expected all of it to happen in the coming kingdom.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8