Acts 1 · Verse 6

Acts 1:6

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 1:6, King James Version

Acts 1:6 in other translations

BSB	So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
WEB	Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
ASV	They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
YLT	They, therefore, indeed, having come together, were questioning him, saying, ‘Lord, dost thou at this time restore the reign to Israel?'
DARBY	They therefore, being come together, asked him saying, Lord, is it at this time that thou restorest the kingdom to Israel?
BBE	So, when they were together, they said to him, Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?
Webster	When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

What does Acts 1:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 1:6-8

6-8. wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?--Doubtless their carnal views of Messiah's kingdom had by this time been modified, though how far it is impossible to say. But, as they plainly looked for some restoration of the kingdom to Israel, so they are neither rebuked nor contradicted on this point.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. When they therefore were come together. At the Mount of Olives. See Acts 1:9,12.

Wilt thou at this time, etc. The apostles had entertained the common opinions of the Jews about the temporal dominion of the Messiah. They expected that he would reign as a prince and conqueror, and free them from the bondage of the Romans. Many instances of this expectation occur in the Gospels, notwithstanding all the efforts which the Lord Jesus made to explain to them the true nature of his kingdom. This expectation was checked, and almost destroyed by his death, Lk 24:21. And it is clear that his death was the only means which could effectually check and change their opinions respecting the nature of his kingdom. Even his own instructions would not do it; and only his being taken from them could direct their minds effectually to the true nature of his kingdom. Yet, though his death checked their expectations, and appeared to thwart their plans, yet his return to life excited them again. They beheld him with them; they were assured it was the same Saviour; they saw now that his enemies had no power over him; that a Being who could rise from the dead, could easily accomplish all his plans. And as they did not doubt now that he would restore the kingdom to Israel, they asked whether he would do it at this time? They did not ask whether he would do it at all, or whether they had correct views of his kingdom; but taking that for granted, they asked him whether that was the time in which he would do it. The emphasis of the inquiry lies in the expression, "at this time," and hence the answer of the Saviour refers solely to the point of their inquiry, and not to the correctness or incorrectness of their opinions. From these expectations of the apostles we may learn,

(1.) that there is nothing so difficult to be removed from the mind as prejudice in favour of erroneous opinions.

(2.) That such prejudice will survive the plainest proofs to the contrary.

(3.) That it will often manifest itself even after all proper means have been taken to subdue it. Erroneous opinions thus maintain a secret ascendancy in a man's mind, and are revived by the slightest circumstances, even long after we supposed they were overcome; and even in the face of the plainest proofs of reason or of Scripture.

Restore. Bring back; put into its former situation. Judea was formerly governed by its own kings and laws; now it was subject to the Romans. This bondage was grievous, and the nation sighed for deliverance. The inquiry of the apostles evidently was, whether he would now free them from the bondage of the Romans, and restore them to their former state of freedom and prosperity, as in the times of David and Solomon. See Isa 1:26. The word" restore" also may include more than a reducing it to its former state. It may mean, Wilt thou now bestow the kingdom and dominion to Israel, according to the prediction in Dan 7:27?

The kingdom. The dominion; the empire; the reign. The expectation was that the Messiah--the King of Israel--would reign over men, and thus the nation of the Jews extend their empire over all the earth.

To Israel. To the Jews, and particularly to the Jewish followers of the Messiah. Lightfoot thinks that this question was asked in indignation against the Jews. "Wilt thou confer dominion on a nation which has just put thee to death?" But the answer of the Saviour shows that this was not the design of the question.

(e) "wilt thou" Mt 24:3,4 (f) "restore again" Isa 1:26, Dan 7:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 When they therefore were come together - It is very likely that this is to be understood of their assembling on one of the mountains of Galilee, and there meeting our Lord. At this time restore again the kingdom - That the disciples, in common with the Jews, expected the Messiah's kingdom to be at least in part secular, I have often had occasion to note. In this opinion they continued less or more till the day of pentecost; when the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit taught them the spiritual nature of the kingdom of Christ. The kingdom had now for a considerable time been taken away from Israel; the Romans, not the Israelites, had the government. The object of the disciples' question seems to have been this: to gain information, from their all-knowing Master, whether the time was now fully come, in which the Romans should be thrust out, and Israel made, as formerly, an independent kingdom. But though the verb αποκαθιστανειν signifies to reinstate, to renew, to restore to a former state or master, of which numerous examples occur in the best Greek writers, yet it has also another meaning, as Schoettgen has here remarked, viz. of ending, abolishing, blotting out: so Hesychius says, αποκαταστασις is the same as τελειωσις, finishing, making an end of a thing. And Hippocrates, Aph. vi. 49, uses it to signify the termination of a disease. On this interpretation the disciples may be supposed to ask, having recollected our Lord's prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the whole Jewish commonwealth, Lord, Wilt thou at this time destroy the Jewish commonwealth, which opposes thy truth, that thy kingdom may be set up over all the land? This interpretation agrees well with all the parts of our Lord's answer, and with all circumstances of the disciples, of time, and of place; but, still, the first is most probable.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 1:6-11

They were earnest in asking about that which their Master never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge. He had given his disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his resurrection, and this knowledge is enough for a Christian. It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love. When we stand gazing and trifling, the thoughts of our Master's second coming should quicken and awaken us: when we stand gazing and trembling, they should comfort and encourage us. May our expectation of it be stedfast and joyful, giving diligence to be found of him blameless.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 1:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΟἱHoiThoseG3588

μὲνmenindeedG3303

οὖνounthereforeG3767

συνελθόντεςsunelthonteshaving come togetherG4905

ἠρώτωνērōtōnwere askingG2065

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004

κύριε,kurieLord,G2962

εἰeiifG1487

ἐνenatG1722

τῷtō<the>G3588

χρόνῳchronōtimeG5550

τούτῳtoutōthisG3778

ἀποκαθιστάνειςapokathistaneisare you restoringG600

τὴνtēntheG3588

βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932

τῷtō<the>G3588

Ἰσραήλ;Israēlto Israel?G2474

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 1:6

Luke 19:11
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Daniel 7:27
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Luke 17:20
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Ezekiel 37:24-27
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Jeremiah 33:15-17
In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Luke 22:29
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Isaiah 1:26
And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Matthew 17:11
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Lord.
Mt 24:3; Joh 21:21
restore.
Ge 49:10; Isa 1:26; 9:6,7; Jer 23:5,6; 33:15-17,26; Eze 37:24-27
Da 7:27; Ho 3:4; Joe 3:16-21; Am 9:11; Ob 1:17-21; Mic 5:2
Zep 3:15-17; Zec 9:9; Mt 20:21; Lu 22:29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:6
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Read all of Acts 1

Acts 1:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces los que se habían juntado le preguntaron, diciendo: Señor, ¿restituirás el reino á Israel en este tiempo?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Eux donc étant assemblés, l’interrogèrent, disant: Seigneur, est-ce en ce temps-ci que tu rétablis le royaume pour Israël?
German Elberfelder 1871	Sie nun, als sie zusammengekommen waren, fragten ihn und sagten: Herr, stellst du in dieser Zeit dem Israel das Reich wieder her?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Igitur qui convenerant, interrogabant eum, dicentes: Domine, si in tempore hoc restitues regnum Israël?