The Return to Jerusalem and Jesus' Final Instructions

We aren’t given the details of their return to Jerusalem. If we put the events in chronological order, we find that the Apostles are in Galilee and then the next report we have of them is from Jerusalem. We know they returned at least 10 days before Pentecost, but how much earlier than that isn’t given. Most likely, it was shortly before that event. If so, this would be mid-April.

The emphasis of this final instruction seems to be a reminder that the promise of the Holy Spirit would shortly be fulfilled and that they were to stay in Jerusalem until it was. Rather than concentrating on what Jesus was stressing, they again focused on the temporal and asked if this would restore Israel’s political power.

Basically, Jesus tells them that’s none of their business and to concentrate on the subject at hand, being a witness in the power of the Holy Spirit.