How does Acts 11:14 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene Acts 11:14 records Peter recounting the angel’s words to Cornelius: “He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.” Matthew 28:19-20 contains Jesus’ Great Commission: “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 observe all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Immediate Observations • Both passages focus on a “message” that saves and a discipling process that follows. • Salvation reaches beyond individuals—households (Acts 11:14) and nations (Matthew 28:19) alike. • Divine initiative is clear: an angel in Acts, the risen Lord in Matthew. • Human obedience is required: Peter must speak, Cornelius must listen; disciples must “go,” listeners must “observe.” Bridging the Two Passages 1. Same Gospel, Same Authority • Jesus authorizes the message (Matthew 28:18-20). • Peter carries that exact message to Cornelius (Acts 10–11). 2. Household & Nations—Concentric Circles of Mission • Great Commission: start with “all nations.” • Acts 11:14: gospel reaches the micro-level household, illustrating how nations are discipled one family at a time (cf. Acts 16:31-34). 3. Baptism & Teaching • Matthew: “baptizing… teaching them to observe.” • Acts 10:48: Peter “ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,” fulfilling the Commission’s pattern. 4. Salvation Defined • Acts 11:14 promises salvation through hearing the word. • Matthew 28:19-20 outlines that word: repent, believe, be baptized, follow Christ (cf. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). 5. Presence & Power • Matthew: “I am with you always.” • Acts 10:44: “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word,” evidencing Christ’s ongoing presence (cf. John 14:16-17). Implications for Us Today • Evangelism is both universal and personal—reaching cultures yet never bypassing single households. • The same Spirit who empowered Peter empowers believers to obey the Commission. • True fulfillment involves proclamation, conversion, baptism, and lifelong teaching—not merely decisions. • God orchestrates divine appointments (angel to Cornelius, Christ’s command to disciples); believers respond in faithful witness. Summary Takeaways • Acts 11:14 showcases a living example of the Great Commission in action. • The Gospel’s reach from “all nations” to “your household” underscores God’s intent to save people collectively and individually. • Baptism, Spirit-empowered proclamation, and obedient teaching unite both texts, proving that what Jesus commanded in Matthew is precisely what He continues accomplishing in Acts—and in every generation that obeys His call. |
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