What Acts 1:1–11 Teaches About God's Mission and Your Calling

Dear Faithful Servant of Christ,

If you’ve been obeying God, serving faithfully, and studying His Word—but you’re not seeing the fruit you expected—Acts 1:1–11 has a timely and uncomfortable truth for you:

Obedience doesn’t always lead to visible results. But it always leads to alignment with God’s mission.

Let’s explore how this passage speaks directly to those of us who are mature in faith but weary in waiting.

When Your Obedience Doesn’t Produce What You Expected

Acts 1:6
“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”

This wasn’t a random or foolish question. It was shaped by centuries of oppression and theological hope.

For nearly 900 years, Israel had been under the domination of five successive empires—Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and now Rome. With each new ruler, the pain of lost national identity and autonomy deepened. Generations of Israelites grew up without ever knowing what it meant to live in true national freedom.

So the expectation of the Messiah wasn’t just spiritual—it was profoundly political. The people believed God would send a deliverer, a king in the line of David, who would overthrow the pagan oppressors and restore the glory of Israel.

The disciples believed Jesus was that Messiah. And they were right—but their understanding of how He would fulfill that role was still deeply limited.

So when Jesus, in Acts 1:5, tells them, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now,” their minds immediately connected it to Old Testament patterns they knew well.

What the Disciples Heard When Jesus Promised the Spirit

When Jesus said, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit,” the disciples weren’t thinking about speaking in tongues or spiritual gifts as we do today. They hadn’t yet experienced Pentecost. Their reference point was the Hebrew Scriptures.

And in the Old Testament, whenever the Spirit of the Lord came upon someone, it often signaled a moment of divine empowerment for military leadership and national deliverance.

Consider Judges 3:10:

“The Spirit of the Lord came on Othniel, and he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.”

This pattern repeated with Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others. So naturally, the disciples thought:

“If the Spirit is about to come upon us, just as it did on the judges of old, then this must be the moment. Jesus will lead the charge, and we’ll be His generals. Rome is going down. Israel will rise again.”

They were expecting a political coup, not a spiritual commission.

Jesus Redirects Their Vision

Acts 1:7–8
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”

Jesus doesn’t shame their question, but He does reshape their expectation.

“You will receive power”—yes. But not for war. Not for Israel’s political gain. You’ll receive power to witness.

Their dream was valid, but it was limited. God’s calling always expands beyond what we think is “enough.”

When You Must Surrender a Good Dream for a Greater Mission

This was a defining moment for the disciples. To say yes to Jesus now meant laying down not only their personal comfort but also a lifelong dream of national renewal.

They had to surrender their hope of Israel rising again to embrace the reality that God’s kingdom knows no borders—and His power would come not to elevate Israel politically, but to launch a global mission.

This is your moment too.

If you're still carrying a personal expectation of how your obedience should “pay off,” it might be time to surrender it. That doesn’t mean your dream was selfish. It just means it’s now in the way of something bigger.

You’ve Been Called to Be a Witness

Acts 1:8
“You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses…”

This is the purpose behind Holy Spirit empowerment: not status, success, or speed—but witness.

You are called to bear witness to Jesus—in your family, your workplace, your church, your city. And if He asks you to do it without applause, without fast fruit, and without earthly reward?

That’s still His mission. And it’s still worth everything.

So What Should You Do Now?

If you're in a season where the results are unclear or the growth feels slow—don’t retreat. Don’t redefine your mission. Don’t resent the silence.

Recommit.

• Reignite your Bible study.
• Reengage your calling.
• Recenter your life around the mission of God—not the dreams that once inspired you.

The greatest purpose in life is to advance the mission Jesus began.

You are not falling behind. You are being invited deeper.

Let Me Help You Stay Rooted in God’s Word

If you’re serious about growing deeper in Scripture but sometimes feel stuck, I’ve created a simple tool just for you.

👉 Download my guide: "5 Simple Steps to Study Any Passage."

Whether you’re preparing to teach, disciple others, or hear from God personally, this guide will help you open your Bible with clarity and confidence.

Use it to anchor your heart again in the mission. Let Scripture remind you: God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s forming you.

With you on the journey,
Your Bible Study Mentor,
Dr. Mario Escobedo