Acts 1:8 - Exposition

When for after that, A.V.; my witnesses for witnesses unto me, A.V. and T.R.; Samaria for in Samaria , A.V. Ye shall receive power ( δύναμιν ); a word sped-ally used of the power of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 6:8 ). "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit" ( Luke 4:14 ; see too Luke 24:49 ); "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power" ( Acts 10:38 ); "Through the power of the Holy Ghost" ( Romans 15:13 ); "The demonstration of the Spirit and of power" ( 1 Corinthians 2:4 ); " Strengthened with might ( δυνάμει ) by his Spirit" ( Ephesians 3:16 ); "The powers of the world to come" ( Hebrews 6:6 ). My witnesses . This function of the apostles, to be witnesses of Christ, is one much insisted upon in Scripture. So we read in Acts 1:22 , "Of these must one become ['be ordained,' A.V.] a witness with us of his resurrection." So again in Acts 10:40-42 , "God … showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us …. And he commanded us to testify," etc. (see also Acts 10:39 and Acts 10:42 of the same chapter; Acts 13:31 ; Luke 24:48 ; Acts 4:33 ; Acts 13:31 ; Acts 22:15 , Acts 22:18 , Acts 22:20 ; Acts 26:16 ; 1 Peter 5:1 ; 1Jn 1-3, etc.).