The Apostles Were Confused
The Apostles didn't fully understand the Gospel of the Cross. They thought the gospel was the gospel of the kingdom. However, Jesus clearly informed them prior to the cross what would happen.
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Luke 18:31-33 NASB
"Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. [32] For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, [33] and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.'”
Although he had privately told them very clearly what was going to happen, it is very clear that they misunderstood it.
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Luke 18:34 NASB
"The 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said."
What had Jesus told them that was so hard for them to understand? He told them the gospel that Paul preached. Jesus and him crucified.
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1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB
"Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, [2] by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. [3] For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"
Even right before Jesus ascended into Heaven, it is evident that the disciples were still confused and still didn't understand.
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Acts 1:6 NASB
"So, when 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?'”
Notice that the verse above says "𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲" were asking him about restoring the kingdom to Israel. Not just one of the disciples were asking, but "𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲" were asking. The disciples were obviously confused.
In this meeting spoken of in the first chapter of Acts with his disciples before his ascension, Jesus also told them about the baptism into the body of Christ not being by water but by the Spirit.
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Acts 1:4-5 NASB
"Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'”
Even though Jesus had told them about the change from being baptized with water to being baptized with the Holy Spirit, Peter 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 telling people that they must be water baptized in order to be forgiven of sins. He had forgotten because he still didn't understand the gospel of the cross.
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Acts 2:38 NASB
"Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
After the Lord revealed the truth to Peter on the roof top in Joppa (Acts 10:9-20), and he didn't understand that vision either (Acts 10:17 &19), he went to Caesarea, as he was instructed by the Spirit, and there he witnessed the Holy Spirit baptize gentiles, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 he remembered what Jesus had said.
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Acts 11:15-16 NASB
"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. [16] 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
To let go of doctrine polluted by a toxic mixture of grace and works so one may understand the gospel of the cross, and how Jesus' finished work frees us from the old covenant demands, it takes a revelation.
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2 Corinthians 3:14-16 NASB
"But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. [15] But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; [16] but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
Reflecting on the apostles' initial confusion about the gospel offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to deepen their faith. Even those closest to Jesus struggled to comprehend the significance of His death and resurrection. This highlights how understanding spiritual truths often requires time, revelation, and the work of the Holy Spirit. From the biblical account, we see that despite Jesus explicitly explaining the coming crucifixion and resurrection (Luke 18:31-33), the disciples still could not grasp the meaning, as Luke 18:34 states their minds remained veiled. This confusion continued even after Jesus’ ascension, as demonstrated when the disciples asked if He was restoring the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Their focus was still on the earthly kingdom rather than on the spiritual kingdom inaugurated through Jesus’ sacrifice. The transition from the water baptism of John to the baptism by the Holy Spirit is another example where the apostles initially misunderstood Jesus’ teaching (Acts 1:4-5). Peter himself continued to preach water baptism for forgiveness (Acts 2:38), until he witnessed the Spirit baptize gentiles in Caesarea, which brought the revelation into clearer focus (Acts 11:15-16). From a personal perspective, grappling with such profound spiritual truths often involves revisiting scripture multiple times and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to remove the veils of misunderstanding, just as 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 describes. Many believers today can relate to this journey of discovery—moving from confusion or partial understanding to a clearer grasp of the gospel of grace alone through faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. The apostles’ experience reminds us not to be discouraged by our own moments of doubt or confusion but to remain open to ongoing revelation and transformation. It encourages deeper study, prayer, and fellowship as we seek to fully understand and live out the gospel message. The story of the apostles' confusion and eventual understanding underscores the powerful role of the Spirit in opening our hearts to the truth of Christ, enabling us to embrace a faith grounded in grace rather than works.
