All throughout Scripture we see that God’s intent for spreading the Good News of His deliverance of Israel and the whole world is through his Witnesses. So who are his witnesses? We see this first in God’s Commission to Israel:

“You are my witnesses,” says Adonai , “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you can know and trust me and understand that I am he – no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me. I, yes I, am Adonai; besides me there is no deliverer.” Isaiah 43:10-13

Then, in Yeshua’s Great Commission:

“So the eleven talmidim went to the hill in Galilee where Yeshua had told them to go. When they saw him, they prostrated themselves before him; but some hesitated. Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you, and remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.’” Matt. 28:16-20

These were Yeshua’s final words before his ascension– you will be my witnesses…to the Jews, to Samaritans and to all nations of the earth! Yeshua makes clear our responsibility here on earth.

Yeshua gave his talmidim (learners) the power to be his witnesses. In Acts 1:1-11 we read, “Dear Theophilos; In the first book, I wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven. After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the kingdom of God. At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to ‘wait for what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!’ When they were together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore yourself to Isra’el?’ He answered, ‘You don’t need to know these dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalyim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!’”

This filling of the Ruach HaKodesh took place at Shavu’ot, as told in Acts 2:1-4.

“The festival of Shavu’ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”

This filling of the Spirit in Yeshua’s witnesses is the fulfillment of prophecy.

“Then Kefa stood up with the eleven and raised his voice to address them; ‘You Judeans, and all of you staying in Yerushalyim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me! These people are not drunk, as you suppose- it’s only nine in the morning. No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el: (Joel 3:1-5) Adonai says: [In the Last Days, I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone. Your sons and daughter will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my slaves, both men and women, will I pour out from my Spirit in those days: and they will prophesy. I will perform miracles in the sky above and signs on the earth below- blood, fire and thick smoke. The sun will become dark and the moon blood before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes. And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.]’” Acts 2:14-21

Yeshua’s witnesses bear this message: The declaration of the Gospel and God’s declaring of Yeshua Lord and Messiah: “Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah- this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!” (Acts 2:22-24, 33-36); repentance and the birth of the new covenant congregation (Acts 2:37-41); and the expression of new life and commitment: “They continued faithfully in teaching the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers. Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries. All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common; in fact, they sold their property and possession and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need. Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the temple court daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-48)