Luke 24:49 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Before the disciples can carry His message anywhere, Jesus tells them to wait for the gift His Father has promised.
The Context of Luke 24:49
Jerusalem, the close of Luke's Gospel, among Jesus' final words before He is parted from them and carried up (verse 51). The promise of the Father points ahead to Pentecost, which Luke describes at the start of Acts, when the Spirit comes upon the waiting disciples (Acts 2). The same instruction to wait in the city is repeated there in Acts 1:4.
What Does Luke 24:49 Mean?
After the great commission comes a surprising command: wait. Jesus has just told them to carry forgiveness to every nation, and now He tells them to stay put a while longer. There is something they must receive first, what He calls the promise of His Father, a gift He will send down upon them. Until it comes they are to stay in the city. The word for being clothed pictures power settling over them like a garment they will put on.
The disciples were to do this work in a strength beyond their own. The same Jesus who gave the work also promised the power for it, the Holy Spirit poured out from on high. Their part for the moment was simply to wait and trust that the Father keeps His word. This is how Christ sends His people: always supplied, always accompanied, clothed with a strength that comes from above and was promised long before they felt ready.
Luke 24:49 in the Original Language
endyo (ἐνδύω), 'endued' -- to clothe, to be wrapped and covered, as one puts on a garment.
How to Apply Luke 24:49 Today
There are seasons when the faithful thing is to wait, trusting that God is busy preparing to give what we cannot manufacture ourselves. Christ never sends us out on our own power. The same Spirit He promised the first disciples is the gift held out to all who follow Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 24:49
What does Luke 24:49 mean?
Before the disciples can carry His message anywhere, Jesus tells them to wait for the gift His Father has promised.
What is the context of Luke 24:49?
Jerusalem, the close of Luke's Gospel, among Jesus' final words before He is parted from them and carried up (verse 51). The promise of the Father points ahead to Pentecost, which Luke describes at the start of Acts, when the Spirit comes upon the waiting disciples (Acts 2). The same instruction to wait in the city is repeated there in Acts 1:4.
How can I apply Luke 24:49 today?
There are seasons when the faithful thing is to wait, trusting that God is busy preparing to give what we cannot manufacture ourselves. Christ never sends us out on our own power. The same Spirit He promised the first disciples is the gift held out to all who follow Him.