“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' — the apostles' question reveals they still expect a physical, nationalistic restoration of Israel's monarchy and geopolitical independence. Jesus does not dismiss their hope for restoration (apokathistano) but redirects their attention from chronology to mission: they are to be witnesses to the restoration of all things, not calculators of its timing. The pattern continues: Jesus redirects eschatological curiosity toward ethical engagement.
Church Fathers on Acts 1:6
When the disciples intend to ask anything, they approach Him together, that by dint of numbers they may abash Him into compliance. They well knew that in what He had said previously, Of that day knows no man Matthew 24:36, He had merely declined telling them: therefore they again drew near, and put the question. They would not have put it had they been truly satisfied with that answer. For having heard that they were about to receive the Holy Ghost, they, as being now worthy…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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