Unto the Uttermost Part of the Earth

Fr. Scott A. Haynes

A Meditation on the Feast of the Ascension

“But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

These final words of Jesus Christ before His Ascension encapsulate both a divine promise and a sacred commission. They signal the beginning of the Church’s missionary vocation, animated by the Holy Ghost, and destined to reach every corner of the globe. In this short verse, the Lord charts the course for His apostles and, through them, the Church universal: from the holy city of Jerusalem, out into the surrounding regions, and finally beyond all known borders. Herein lies the heartbeat of Catholic mission—Christ’s desire that His message of salvation be proclaimed “unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Promise: “You Shall Receive the Power of the Holy Ghost”

Before commanding them to act, Christ promises His apostles a supernatural power: the Holy Ghost. This is no ordinary assignment. To be His witnesses requires courage beyond human strength, wisdom beyond human understanding, and love beyond human measure. The apostles—still frightened and uncertain—were not yet ready to carry the Gospel to the nations. But at Pentecost, ten days after the Ascension, the Holy Ghost would descend like a mighty wind and tongues of fire, transforming these hesitant fishermen into fearless heralds of the truth.

St. John Chrysostom marvels at this transformation: “Observe how this promise was given to them when their hearts were yet full of terror… How then did they suddenly come to be what they were? Clearly, it was the Spirit that transformed them.” [1] The Holy Ghost does not merely give gifts; He remakes the soul from within. The apostles become “other Christs,” not only preaching His word but also bearing His wounds, His rejection, and finally, His martyrdom.

The Commission: “You Shall Be Witnesses unto Me”

The word “witness” here comes from the Greek martyres—from which we derive the word martyr. A witness is one who testifies to what he has seen and heard. The apostles had seen the Lord crucified, risen, and glorified. They had eaten with Him, touched His wounds, received His teaching. Now they must bear witness to these truths before the world, even at the cost of their lives.

Tertullian famously wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” [2] Indeed, the apostles did not merely teach Christ's doctrine—they offered their very lives in proof of its truth. Their testimony was not limited to words, but extended to sacrifice, suffering, and death. By their witness, the world would come to know the living Christ.

The Geography of Evangelization

Our Lord outlines a divine geography: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth. Each stage symbolizes not only a physical location but also a spiritual challenge.

1. Jerusalem: the heart of Judaism, the place of the Temple, the city where Christ was crucified. To begin in Jerusalem is to start among one’s own people—where familiarity can breed contempt. Yet it is also a place of privilege: “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

2. Judea: the surrounding countryside. It represents extension to neighbors—those who share language and custom, yet may be indifferent or even hostile.

3. Samaria: the half-breed land, a mix of Jewish and Gentile blood, long despised by orthodox Jews. Christ had already shown mercy there (John 4), preparing the apostles to follow. Samaria represents the first true test of the Church’s universality—reaching across old hatreds and cultural divides.

4. The uttermost part of the earth: a horizon without limit. This is the Gentile world, the Roman Empire, the unknown beyond. It represents the ultimate calling of the Church—to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).

   
   

The Apostles Go Forth: Witnesses to the Nations

Each apostle took seriously the command to go "unto the uttermost part of the earth." Early tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers give us insight into their various missions:

• St. Peter journeyed to Rome, where he would become the first bishop and ultimately suffer martyrdom under Nero. His crucifixion upside down is a testimony to his humility and steadfast faith.³

• St. Paul, though not one of the original Twelve, fulfilled this command more than most. From Jerusalem to Rome, he preached Christ crucified, wrote inspired epistles, and was beheaded in Rome.

• St. James the Greater evangelized Spain. According to Spanish tradition, he reached Galicia and later returned to Jerusalem, where he was the first apostle to be martyred (Acts 12:2).

• St. John remained near Ephesus and cared for the Virgin Mary, eventually writing the Gospel that bears his name. He alone died a natural death, though not without suffering exile and persecution.

• St. Andrew traveled to Greece and Scythia, and was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras.

• St. Thomas, often called "Doubting Thomas," went the furthest east—to India, where he is venerated to this day. The Mar Thoma Christians of Kerala trace their spiritual lineage to him.

• St. Bartholomew is said to have gone to Armenia, India, and possibly even Mesopotamia, where he was flayed alive.

• St. Matthew preached in Ethiopia and Persia, and tradition says he was martyred while celebrating Mass.

• St. Philip brought the Gospel to Phrygia (modern-day Turkey) and was crucified upside down.

• St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus preached in Persia, where they were martyred together.

• St. James the Less, the bishop of Jerusalem, remained in the holy city until he was thrown from the Temple and clubbed to death.

• St. Matthias, who replaced Judas, is believed to have preached in Cappadocia and along the Caspian Sea.

These men fulfilled Acts 1:8 in word and deed. They were not merely teachers—they were witnesses, martyrs, and missionaries.

A Church Always on Mission

The mission of Acts 1:8 did not end with the apostles. It continues in every age. The Church is not stationary—it is sent. In every baptized soul, there lives the same Holy Ghost who empowered the apostles. Each Catholic is summoned to be a witness—to Christ’s love, truth, and salvation. The missionary activity of the Church is of utmost importance, because it if labors for the salvation of souls.

This missionary call is not reserved for priests or religious. The laity, too, are charged with carrying the Gospel into homes, workplaces, and public life. By baptism the lay faithful become united with the Mystical Body of Christ; they share with their High Priest in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly functions of Christ by virtue of their baptism.

But we must begin, as Christ instructed, in Jerusalem—in our own hearts and homes. Evangelization starts with repentance, prayer, and the pursuit of holiness. Only then can it extend to Judea, Samaria, and the world beyond.

Martyrdom and Glory: The Fruit of Witnessing

The apostles did not fear death because they had seen the Risen Lord. Their witness, culminating in martyrdom, was not a loss but a victory. As St. Ignatius of Antioch, writing on his way to martyrdom in Rome, said: “Now I begin to be a disciple… Let me receive the pure light; when I have arrived there, I shall be a man.” [3]

To be a witness means to carry within oneself the presence of Christ so vividly that others are drawn to Him. This may cost us friends, status, or even our lives—but it gains us eternity.

Conclusion: “To the Ends of the Earth”

Acts 1:8 is not just a command—it is a prophecy. The Church, despite persecution, failures, and internal wounds, continues to spread the Gospel across time and geography. From the catacombs of Rome to the mountains of Peru, from the deserts of Egypt to the skyscrapers of New York, the Gospel has gone forth.

Yet the “uttermost part of the earth” is not only a distant jungle or desert—it may be the neighbor next door, the relative estranged, the coworker despairing. Christ sends each of us to them.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The desire to evangelize is a necessary fruit of the Christian life.” [4] If we have truly encountered Christ, we cannot help but share Him. May the Holy Ghost kindle in us the same fire that fell upon the apostles. May we too become witnesses—unto Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Footnotes

1. St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily 1.

2. Tertullian, Apologeticus, ch. 50.

3. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book II, ch. 25.

4. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, ch. 6.

5. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 905.