Uploaded April 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
It might seem that Acts 1:7-8 is just an ad hoc attempt by the early Christians to avoid the embarrassing fact that Jesus didn't set up an earthly kingdom. But these verses are part of a larger pattern of Jesus' personality, both before and after his resurrection, drawn from all four Gospels. Jesus is often cryptic, unwilling to answer questions in the way his listeners would prefer, and even sharp in his speech. The disconcerting resurrection Jesus is the same person as the disconcerting Jesus of the earlier ministry. Yet at the same time, Jesus loves his followers and uses different approaches for their benefit, to teach and to comfort.
It might seem that Acts 1:7-8 is just an ad hoc attempt by the early Christians to avoid the embarrassing fact that Jesus didn't set up an earthly kingdom. But these verses are part of a larger pattern of Jesus' personality, both before and after his resurrection, drawn from all four Gospels. Jesus is often cryptic, unwilling to answer questions in the way his listeners would prefer, and even sharp in his speech. The disconcerting resurrection Jesus is the same person as the disconcerting Jesus of the earlier ministry. Yet at the same time, Jesus loves his followers and uses different approaches for their benefit, to teach and to comfort.
