After everything they had seen—Jesus crucified, buried, risen, and standing right in front of them—the disciples still had one burning question:

“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

Even after the resurrection, they were still thinking in terms of earthly rule. They wanted to see the Messiah sit on David’s throne, drive out Rome, and restore Israel’s glory. It is what they had hoped for from the beginning. Luke tells us plainly, “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21).

But Jesus turned their attention toward something else.

“It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:7–8).

Jesus did not answer their question about when the kingdom would be restored. He turned their attention to the work ahead. They wanted to know when Jesus would reign. He was preparing them to serve.

They were looking toward Israel, but their witness would reach the remotest part of the earth. The gospel would spread outward from Jerusalem as people heard about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we are not much different. We look around at this world, shake our heads, and wonder, “When, Lord?”

We study signs. We follow headlines. We can become so focused on when Christ will return that we forget what He told us to do while we wait.

Jesus already gave the answer. It is the same one He gave them:

“You shall be My witnesses.”

Paul wrote, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

That is our mission. We are not to sit and wait. We are to speak about Christ. We are not to spend our lives guessing dates. We are to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter later understood this. He wrote:

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Stop worrying about the date. You already know what Christ has called you to do.

Let Him find us working when He returns.

Let Him find us faithful—not distracted by politics, prophecy charts, or needless arguments, but full of love for the lost, walking in the Spirit, and pointing people to the cross.

They wanted to know when the King would reign.

He told them to be His witnesses.

And He still does.