When the Apostles Became Kings: Ruling and Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Book of Acts

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the two volumes of Luke-Acts are based on an inaugurated eschatological framework. The kingdom of Christ has already been established, but it is not yet present in its fullness. Given this framework of “already/not yet,” how do we understand Jesus' promise to the Twelve in Luke 22:28–30 that they would “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel?” If that is the promise, what does the fulfillment entail? Here we will examine Jesus' promise in Luke's Gospel and its fulfillment in the Book of Acts. The central proposal of this study is that the twelve apostles began to judge the twelve tribes of Israel in their inaugurated co-regency in the series of events following the ascension of Jesus and culminating in Pentecost.

Keywords

co-regents kingship ruling judging thrones eschatology Luke-Acts

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