How does Acts 10:5 connect to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Two Divine Imperatives: Acts 10:5 and Matthew 28:19-20 “Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon, who is called Peter.” “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Both passages contain a clear, Spirit-initiated command that sets God’s people in motion. One launches Peter toward a Gentile household; the other launches the Church toward the world. Shared Language of Mission - “Send men” (Acts 10:5) mirrors “go” (Matthew 28:19). - In both, divine authority undergirds the command—an angelic messenger (Acts 10:3-6) and the risen Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). - Movement is outward, intentional, and cross-cultural. Fulfillment of “All Nations” - Cornelius represents the Gentile “nations” anticipated in Matthew 28. - Acts 10:34-35—Peter recognizes that “God does not show favoritism.” - Acts 10:44-48—Gentiles receive the Spirit and are baptized, literally meeting every element of the Great Commission: evangelism, instruction, baptism. Progression of the Gospel 1. Promise: Matthew 28 gives the mandate. 2. Power: Acts 1:8 (“you will be My witnesses…to the ends of the earth”) supplies the Spirit’s enablement. 3. Practice: Acts 10 begins the breakthrough to those “ends,” moving beyond Jewish boundaries. Key Parallels - Divine Initiative: God orchestrates both scenes; human agents simply obey. - Geographic Expansion: Joppa to Caesarea prefigures Jerusalem to “all nations.” - Discipleship Process: Hearing the word (Acts 10:33), believing (10:43), receiving the Spirit (10:44), baptism (10:48) echoes teaching and baptizing in Matthew 28. Takeaway Themes - Mission is God’s idea, not ours; He sends, we respond. - The gospel’s reach is universal—no ethnic, cultural, or social wall stands. - Obedience opens doors we could never engineer ourselves. Living It Out - Expect God to initiate opportunities that stretch your comfort zone, just as Peter’s journey to Caesarea stretched his. - Align personal and church priorities with the “go/send” rhythm evident in both passages. - Celebrate every instance where new people groups hear, believe, and are baptized, seeing it as a fresh echo of Acts 10 and Matthew 28 working together. |
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