Lord, wilt thou at this time, &c.— The disciples seem to have expected, that, when the Spirit was in so extraordinary a manner poured out, and the world, according to Christ's prediction (John 16:8.) convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, the whole nation of the Jews would own him for the Messiah, and so not only throw off its subjection to the Romans, but itself rise tovery extensive and perhaps universal dominion. The word αποκαθιστανεις, rendered wilt thou restore, intimates the shattered and weakened state in which Israel now was. Dr. Heylin renders the clause more properly, Wilt thou re-establish the kingdom of Israel at that time? namely, when they should be baptized, as was promised just before. Our Lord's answer, though calculated to repress an improper curiosity, yet may intimate, that the kingdom should at length be restored, though not immediately, or with all the circumstances which they imagined. "It will not beof any use to you, in your work, to know the times or the seasons for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Besides, this is one of the things which the Father hath thought fit to conceal from mortals in the abyss of Omniscience. This only is of importance for you to know, that you shall receive miraculous powers after the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and that by these powers you shall bear witness unto me with great success."
Related Commentaries of Acts 1:6
Acts 1:6-8
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
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.
8 But ye shall receive power,a after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.