Now, Jesus said, "In order to abide in my love, you must keep my commandments," but Jesus could not issue His commandments while the old covenant was in force without transgressing the Father's covenant. A transgressed covenant cannot be fulfilled by the transgressor. This means Jesus' commandments were issued after His death on the cross. The only time Jesus addressed all His disciples together and issued commandments was in Acts 1. If Acts 1:4-8 had not been interpreted by the early Church, these verses might sound very different. Therefore, I would like to ask you to lay aside what you think you know of these verses and consider them anew.
First, Jesus commanded His followers not to depart Jerusalem. Now a commandment not to depart a geographical place is meaningless unless there is a greater purpose and Jesus went on to say but. The word, but, is a conjunctive word, and ties what follows together with what came before. The commandment to wait in Jerusalem (v.4) is actually a commandment to wait for a baptism with the Spirit (v.5).
Obviously, we are not all in Jerusalem so a commandment to every follower of Jesus not to depart is meaningless unless the command is tied to a greater purpose and the word, but, ties the command together with the instructions that follow. The word is found in both the original Greek as well as the English translations. If we simply consider the grammatical construction of verses 4 and 5, we clearly see Jesus’ purpose for commanding His followers to wait in Jerusalem was to receive a baptism with the Holy Spirit. Verse 4 ends with a period but verse 5 begins with another conjunctive word and indicates the period should be exchanged with a comma. The command of verse 4 continues through verse 5.
The commandment was compartmentalized by early Church scholars and judged to apply to the eleven disciples alone, for indeed, they were in Jerusalem. It was not judged to be a universal command for all the Church for all the Church age. However, this was a short sighted and arbitrary judgment by men. It did not take into account the meaning of a conjunctive word, or the purpose for the commandment. In truth, the interpretation by early Church fathers butchers both the Greek and English languages. It is grammatically incorrect.
Again, Jesus said, “IF you keep MY commandments you will abide in my love.” If the comma after Jerusalem was replaced by a period and the word, but, removed, the interpretation made by men would be correct grammatically but in the light of John 15:10, obedience by eleven men cannot be the correct interpretation. The context of Acts 1:4-5 is John 15:10.
Second, a baptism was defined by early church fathers as a one time event, even though Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." The word, keep, would demand a constant state of baptism and since the first baptism occurred as a gift of tongues flowed through the mouth, a maintenance of that baptism demands a constant flow of tongues. Look, when the Jews were commanded to honor father or mother; that was not intended to be a one time act. None of the Ten Commandments could be satisfied with one time acts. The old covenant commandments had to be honored with obedience constantly in order to stay in covenant. The same is true with this commandment. It cannot be satisfied with a one time act.
Third, since John baptized with water and the disciples were being called to wait for a baptism with the Spirit, why did Jesus bring up John at all? Jesus said, "For John truly baptized with water but you. . ." Now, again, the word, but, is a conjunctive word and is used to tie two thoughts together. The word should cause a comparison to be made and John didn't just baptize with water; John preached baptism with water; John lived baptism with water; and he discipled his followers in baptism with water. If we hold true to the conjunctive, there is only one conclusion: the disciple’s behavior with baptism concerning the Holy Spirit should mirror John’s behavior concerning baptism with water. It is the only grammatically correct way to view the verse.
Therefore, in Acts 1:4-5, Jesus issued three commandments. He commanded His followers to wait for a baptism with the Holy Spirit, preach baptism with the Holy Spirit as John preached baptism with water, and disciple converts. A baptism with the Holy Spirit occurs over time, as illustrated in Acts 2; therefore, we must wait for it to occur day after day. Acts 1:4,5 and 8 are translated correctly but were interpreted wrongly and the result was disastrous. If we merely consider the grammatical construction of these two sentences, which should be one, we are forced to admit the true meaning is much different from what is taught in today’s churches.
Even if the command of Acts 1:4 is viewed to be a personal command to eleven men, it is clear those eleven men were sent out to preach a message of baptism with the Spirit and were commanded to disciple all converts in that message. The command was meant to be universal to the Church and all believers should comply.
Finally, Jesus said, "You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses of me," but, as in any covenant, the power was dependent on obedience of the commandments. The disciples failed to appreciate Jesus' words and having heard Jesus previously say, "Of those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John," Matt.11:11, and, seeking greatness, the disciples went out preaching John's gospel of repentance and baptism with water. The power of the new covenant was never fully manifested because the covenant was never fully obeyed.
Today, no one even considers Acts 1:4,5 and 8 as the issuing of the new covenant. Jesus said, “I have kept my Father’s commandments; now you must keep my commandments.” In this way Jesus has distinguished His commandments as different from His Father’s Commandments. The only commandments Jesus issued that were different from His Father’s are found here in Acts 1. By taking the meaning of the conjunctive words of Acts 1:4 and 5 out, Church scholars have taken the new covenant out of the scriptures. It has been cleanly wiped from the consciousness of Christians; so totally interpreted as to have no bearing on Christian life at all. Without obedience, the new covenant, as every covenant before or since, went into remission. People wonder where the power is and where the promises of Jesus are but the new covenant is so thoroughly wiped clean, no one considers whether they should keep Jesus' commandments and without faithful keeping, the covenant is rescinded.
Furthermore, that all followers of Jesus should wait and receive is illustrated by the other 109 believers who joined the disciples in waiting and all 120 received a baptism with the Holy Spirit, as stated by Acts 2:4. No distinction was made by the Holy Spirit between the 11 disciples and the other 109 that gathered, even though we are told only the eleven were commanded. All who gathered to wait in obedience of the command, received.