And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
I send.
Isaiah 44:3,4 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: …
Isaiah 59:20,21 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD…
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
but.
Isaiah 32:15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Acts 1:4,8 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me…
Acts 2:1-21 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place…
I am sending the promise of My Father upon you.
The "promise of My Father" refers to the Holy Spirit, as prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Joel 2:28-29) and reiterated by Jesus in His teachings (John 14:16-17, 26). This promise is a fulfillment of God's covenant to empower His people. The sending of the Holy Spirit marks a new era in salvation history, where believers are equipped for ministry and witness. The phrase underscores the Trinitarian work in salvation, with the Father promising, the Son sending, and the Spirit empowering.
But remain in the city
The city referred to is Jerusalem, a central location in Jewish religious life and the site of significant biblical events. Jesus instructs His disciples to stay there, highlighting Jerusalem's role as the starting point for the spread of the Gospel (Acts 1:8). This instruction also aligns with the Jewish festival of Pentecost, which would soon occur, providing a strategic moment for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
"Clothed with power" is a metaphorical expression indicating being endowed or equipped with divine strength and authority. This power is the Holy Spirit, who enables the disciples to carry out their mission (Acts 2:1-4). "From on high" signifies the heavenly origin of this power, emphasizing its divine source. This empowerment fulfills Jesus' promise and prepares the disciples for their role in the early church, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles.
Jesus opens with a call for attention—“And behold” (Luke 24:49). He wants His followers to stop, look, and take seriously what comes next. Throughout Scripture, such a word signals a pivotal revelation (see Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). After the resurrection, every word from Christ carries weight; He is about to anchor their hope and instruct their next steps.
The risen Lord speaks in the present tense: “I am sending.”
•He, not the disciples, initiates the mission (John 14:16–17; 16:7).
•This action underscores His ongoing authority after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18).
•Because Jesus “sends,” the gift arrives with certainty; He never breaks His word (Numbers 23:19; 2 Corinthians 1:20).
The “promise” is the Holy Spirit—long foretold, now imminent.
•Joel 2:28–29 foretold an outpouring of God’s Spirit on “all people,” fulfilled in Acts 2.
•Ezekiel 36:26–27 promised a new heart and Spirit to enable obedience.
•Acts 1:4 calls this same gift “the promise of the Father,” directly linking Luke with the book of Acts.
The Father’s promise, secured by the Son, will soon inhabit every believer, proving the Trinity works in concert for our redemption and empowerment.
The Spirit will come “upon you,” not merely around you.
•Acts 2:3–4 describes tongues of fire resting on each disciple, then filling them.
•Acts 2:38–39 extends the same promise to “you and your children and all who are far off.”
The indwelling presence turns frightened followers into courageous witnesses (Acts 4:13). What God promised for them is available to all who repent and believe today.
Obedience sometimes means waiting.
•Jesus repeats this instruction in Acts 1:4, urging them not to “depart from Jerusalem.”
•Jerusalem is the city God chose for His name (Psalm 132:13) and the prophesied starting point for the gospel (Isaiah 2:3; Luke 24:47).
•Waiting protected the disciples from rushing ahead in self-reliance; it also knit them together in prayer (Acts 1:14).
“Clothed” pictures being wrapped or covered, so that the new garment defines what people see.
•Acts 1:8 promises, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” That power surfaces in Acts 2:4 when they begin speaking boldly in other tongues.
•The Spirit’s clothing equips believers for spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-11) and bold testimony (2 Timothy 1:7-8).
•Old Testament glimpses—Gideon “clothed” with the Spirit (Judges 6:34)—show the same divine pattern: God empowers chosen servants to accomplish tasks beyond their natural ability.
The source is “from on high,” leaving no doubt this is heavenly, not human.
Luke 24:49 announces a guaranteed, Father-promised gift—the Holy Spirit—personally bestowed by Jesus upon waiting disciples. Their obedience in Jerusalem positions them to be clothed with divine power, transforming them from fearful followers into unstoppable witnesses. The same Spirit still empowers those who trust Christ today to live holy lives and proclaim His gospel with confidence.
Verse 49. - And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. Promised on the last Passover evening (John 14-16; see especially John 14:16-26; John 15:26, 27; John 16:7, etc.), and fulfilled partly on the first Easter evening, when he breathed on them (John 20:22), and completely on the first Pentecost (Acts 2:1, etc.). But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. These words apparently were spoken on the day of his ascension (see Acts 1:4).