He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus gently redirects their focus: the Father has kept the exact timing of future events under His own personal authority, not just His general power. This isn't about forbidding future knowledge but clarifying whose prerogative it is to hold and reveal such precise details.
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples have just asked Jesus if he will restore the kingdom to Israel now. Jesus, having ascended to heaven, redirects their focus from specific future timing to the broader mission they've been given. He tells them it's not for them to know the exact times and seasons God has set, but rather to be witnesses for Him to the ends of the earth.
Jesus tells his followers it's not their job to know specific future dates. Why does He point to the Father's authority specifically here?
When Jesus says, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority,' He's highlighting God the Father's ultimate control and wisdom. The Greek words for 'times' (chronous) and 'seasons' (kairous) suggest not just dates, but also opportune moments and durations. The Father doesn't just have this knowledge; He has established it by His own authority, meaning it's His to determine and dispense. This isn't about God being secretive, but about acknowledging His unique role as the sovereign Lord of history. He alone holds the blueprint and the timetable for His redemptive purposes.
The disciples were asking about restoring the kingdom to Israel. Jesus redirects them. What does this reveal about our own calling?
Jesus' response, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons,' is a gentle but firm redirection. The disciples' eagerness to know when the kingdom would be restored was understandable, but it was a distraction from their immediate task. Jesus emphasizes that their role isn't to be calendar-keepers of God's grand plan, but active participants in the mission He's given them. This means focusing on the 'what' and 'how' of obedience and witness in the present, rather than speculating on the 'when' of future events. Our energy is best spent on the duties God has clearly laid out for us now.
Understand the original words
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chronous ē kairous · Greek Noun
Specific points or intervals in divine history, emphasizing God's sovereign control over the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
exousia · Greek Noun
The absolute, supreme power and right to command and control, belonging inherently to God the Father in the orchestration of history.
Jesus' redirecting the disciples from seeking precise timelines to embracing the Father's sovereign authority highlights a crucial shift from political expectation to spiritual mission.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ascension
Jesus ascends into heaven after his resurrection, leaving his disciples with final instructions.
c. 30 AD
Disciples Ask About Restoring Israel
The disciples, expecting an immediate political restoration of Israel, ask Jesus if this is the time.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to preach the Gospel.
c. 33-60 AD
Early Church Growth
The early Christian church expands rapidly across the Roman Empire, spreading the message of Jesus.
c. 50-60 AD
Paul's Letters
Apostle Paul writes letters to various churches, addressing theological issues and church life.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' statement in Acts, emphasizing that even the Son himself does not know the exact time of his return, but only the Father, highlighting the divinely appointed reserve of this knowledge.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2Paul here reiterates that the 'day of the Lord' will come like a thief in the night, reinforcing the idea that specific times and seasons are not meant for believers to fully grasp, but rather to remain vigilant and ready.
John 21:21-22When Peter asks about John's future, Jesus redirects him, saying, 'If, then, I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!' This shows a pattern of Jesus guiding disciples away from probing into specific futures and toward focusing on their own present calling.
Daniel 9:24-27While Daniel earnestly seeks to understand prophetic timelines, his vision ultimately reveals a period of 'seventy weeks' being determined for his people and city, pointing to God's overarching plan and specific timing, even if not fully detailed for human knowledge.
vincentActs 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."
The times - the seasons (χρόνους - καιροὺς)Rev. properly omits the article. The former of these words, time absolutely, without regard to circumstances; the latter, definite periods, with the idea of fitness.His own (τῇ ἰδίᾳ)Stronger than the simple possessive pronoun. The adjective means private, personal. Often used adverbially in the phrase κατ' ἰδίαν, a…
bengelActs 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."
Acts 1:7 . Οὐκ ὑμῶν ἐστιν , not for you is it ) He does not say, “It is not for you;” but “not for you (not your part) is it;” in order that the emphasis may be on the ὑμῶν [Engl. Vers. loses this point]. Comp. by all means John 4:38 , οὐχ ὑμεῖς ,— ἄλλοι , not ye—others have ; and “ not unto thee (it appertained), but to the priests,” 2 Chronicles 26:18 ; and οὐχ ἡμ…
Jesus gently redirects their focus: the Father has kept the exact timing of future events under His own personal authority, not just His general power. This isn't about forbidding future knowledge but clarifying whose prerogative it is to hold and reveal such precise details.
The disciples have just asked Jesus if he will restore the kingdom to Israel now. Jesus, having ascended to heaven, redirects their focus from specific future timing to the broader mission they've been given. He tells them it's not for them to know the exact times and seasons God has set, but rather to be witnesses for Him to the ends of the earth.
The disciples have just asked Jesus if he will restore the kingdom to Israel now. Jesus, having ascended to heaven, redirects their focus from specific future timing to the broader mission they've been given. He tells them it's not for them to know the exact times and seasons God has set, but rather to be witnesses for Him to the ends of the earth.
"He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority." — Jesus gently redirects their focus: the Father has kept the exact timing of future events under His own personal authority, not just His general power. This isn't about forbidding future knowledg…
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Last reviewed October 2026