Staying put

Elijah goes to Gilgal, and Elijah tells him to stay. Elisha refuses, and together they move on to Bethel. Elijah tells Elisha to stay put again, but again he refuses and the move on to Jericho.

When Elijah has departed and Elisha returns to the land, he “stays” in Jericho (2 Kgs 1:18). He stays with the sons of the prophets, and is a healing presence among them, only after he has received the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. There appears to be a different requirement for the apostles of Jesus, who are told to stay put in Jerusalem until they have received the Spirit.