Acts 1:7

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 1:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.
Acts 1:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto them, etc.] To his disciples, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons; meaning, not the times that are past from Adam to Christ; as how long the world stood; when the flood came; when Sodom and Gomorrha were burned to ashes; when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, and the law was given to them; when the kingdom of Israel began, and when the Jews were carried captive, and when they returned; when the sceptre departed from Judah, and Daniel’s weeks had an end: or the particular seasons of the year, and the times for planting, ploughing, sowing, reaping, etc. but when should be the time, the day, and hour of the coming of the son of man, when he shall set up…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It is not for you to know the times, &c.--implying not only that this was not the time, but that the question was irrelevant to their present business and future work.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It is not for you to know - The question of the apostles respected the time of the restoration; it was not whether he would do it. Accordingly, his answer meets precisely their inquiry; and he tells them in general that the time of the great events of God’s kingdom was not to be understood by them. They had asked a similar question on a former occasion, Matthew 24:3, “Tell us when shall these things be?” Jesus had answered them then by showing them that certain signs would precede his coming, and then by saying Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” God has uniformly reproved a vain curiosity on such points, 1Th 5:1-2;…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The times or the seasons - Times, in the language of the Scriptures, denote a longer; seasons, a shorter space. Which the Father hath put in his own power - To be revealed when and to whom it pleaseth him. Acts 1:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“It: Act 17:26; Deu 29:29; Dan 2:21; Mat 24:36; Mar 13:32; Luk 21:24; Eph 1:10; Th1 5:1, Th1 5:2; Ti1 6:15; Ti2 3:1 which: Mat 20:23; Mar 10:40 Acts 1:8”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification