You are witnesses of these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just telling them they saw what happened; He's appointing them as witnesses. This means their commission isn't just about what they experienced (the suffering and resurrection), but what they are now authorized to proclaim about God's work and the offer of repentance and forgiveness through Him.
You are witnesses of these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just shown His disciples that all the Scriptures foretold His suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness in His name. Now, He commissions them, stating they are witnesses to these profound events and truths, marking the beginning of their mission to spread the Gospel. They are to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit before they begin this task.
Jesus declares His disciples are witnesses. But witnesses to what exactly? It’s more than just the resurrection!
In Luke 24:48, Jesus tells His disciples, 'You are witnesses of these things.' This isn't just a quick statement; it's the launchpad for their mission. The 'things' He refers to aren't limited to His resurrection alone. As the commentaries suggest, this commission encompasses:
This means their role as witnesses was to proclaim the entire narrative of God's redemptive plan, as revealed in Jesus Christ and confirmed by the Scriptures.
Being a witness for Jesus isn't just about what you saw; it’s about what God empowers you to do.
Jesus doesn't just send His disciples out empty-handed. Immediately after telling them they are witnesses, He adds in verse 49, 'But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.' This 'clothing' isn't just a metaphor; it signifies a profound divine enablement.
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The disciples, despite having seen and heard Jesus, were still struggling with doubt and fear. Their witness needed more than just their own testimony; it required the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. This power would:
This promise is a crucial reminder: our effectiveness in sharing Christ comes not from our own abilities, but from the power God freely gives.
Understand the original words
martys · Greek Noun
People who provide testimony or evidence based on personal observation or experience. In the New Testament, it refers to those who bear witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus' command for his disciples to be witnesses wasn't just about recounting facts; it was a commission to testify to the transformative power of His resurrection, a power they would soon receive through the Holy Spirit.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Resurrection and Appearances
Following his crucifixion, Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples multiple times over a period of 40 days, confirming his resurrection and teaching them about the Kingdom of God.
c. 30 AD
The Great Commission
Jesus instructed his disciples to go into all the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples, signifying the start of their mission as witnesses.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ascension
Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, promising to send the Holy Spirit to empower his followers for their witness.
c. 30 AD
Descent of the Holy Spirit
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in Jerusalem, enabling them to speak in other languages and boldly proclaim Jesus' resurrection.
c. 30 AD onwards
Early Church Ministry
The apostles began their ministry, bearing witness to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which led to the rapid growth of the early Christian church.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' commission in Luke, stating the disciples will 'be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,' underscoring the global scope of their witness.
John 15:27Jesus tells His disciples directly, 'And you also must testify, because you have been with me from the beginning,' highlighting that their personal experience with Him is the foundation of their witness.
Acts 2:32Peter powerfully proclaims after Pentecost, 'This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses,' demonstrating the apostles fulfilling their commission to testify about Jesus' resurrection.
1 John 1:1-3The Apostle John emphasizes the eyewitness nature of their testimony: 'That which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands... we proclaim also to you,' mirroring the core requirement of bearing witness to what they have experienced.
clarkeLuke 24:48: "And ye are witnesses of these things."
Ye are witnesses of these things - He gave them a full commission to proclaim these glad tidings of peace and salvation to a lost world. The disciples were witnesses not only that Christ had suffered and rose again from the dead; but also that he opens the understanding by the inspiration of his Spirit, that he gives repentance, that he pardons sin, and purifies from all unrighteousness, and that he is not willing that any should perish, but t…
meyerLuke 24:48: "And ye are witnesses of these things."
Luke 24:48 . Ἐστε ] indicative. τούτων ] is arbitrarily referred only to the sufferings and the resurrection (so also Kuinoel and de Wette). It must belong to all the three points previously mentioned. Hence: “But it is your business to testify that according to the prophecies of Scripture the Messiah actually suffered, and is risen again, and repentance and forgiveness are announced on the ground of His name,” etc. Of the former two points th…
Jesus isn't just telling them they saw what happened; He's appointing them as witnesses. This means their commission isn't just about what they experienced (the suffering and resurrection), but what they are now authorized to proclaim about God's work and the offer of repentance and forgiveness through Him.
Jesus has just shown His disciples that all the Scriptures foretold His suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness in His name. Now, He commissions them, stating they are witnesses to these profound events and truths, marking the beginning of their mission to spread the Gospel. They are to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit before they begin this task.
Jesus has just shown His disciples that all the Scriptures foretold His suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness in His name. Now, He commissions them, stating they are witnesses to these profound events and truths, marking the beginning of their mission to spread the Gospel. They are to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit before they begin this task.
"You are witnesses of these things." — Jesus isn't just telling them they saw what happened; He's appointing them as witnesses. This means their commission isn't just about what they experienced (the suffering and resurrection), but w…
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Last reviewed October 2026