How does Acts 13:47 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene in Acts 13:47 • Paul and Barnabas, preaching in Pisidian Antioch, face opposition from some Jews and turn deliberately to the Gentiles • They anchor this pivot in Scripture: “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you as a light to the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” (Acts 13:47) • The quotation echoes Isaiah 49:6, showing God’s long-standing plan to bless all peoples through His Servant and, by extension, through His servants Jesus’ Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 • After His resurrection, Jesus issues final marching orders: “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.” (Matthew 28:19-20) • Key verbs—go, make disciples, baptize, teach—outline an ongoing, worldwide mission • The promise of Christ’s continual presence empowers obedience Direct Links Between the Two Passages • Same global scope – Acts 13:47: “to the ends of the earth” – Matthew 28:19: “all nations” • Same divine authority – “The Lord has commanded” (Acts) – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18, immediately before the Commission) • Same spotlight on salvation and discipleship – “Bring salvation” (Acts) – “Make disciples… teaching them to obey” (Matthew) • Same hope rooted in Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Christ – Isaiah 49:6 foretells a light for the Gentiles – Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8 reinforce that forgiveness and Spirit-empowered witness begin in Jerusalem and extend worldwide Continuity of Mission—from Servant to Church • Isaiah portrays Messiah as the light; Jesus fulfills the role and then appoints His followers as His body to continue the work • Paul and Barnabas understand themselves not as innovators but as participants in the same redemptive plan Jesus announced • The early church’s missionary journeys are practical outworkings of the Great Commission One Mission, One Promise • Christ’s abiding presence (Matthew 28:20) resonates with the Spirit’s guidance and power showcased throughout Acts (Acts 1:8; 13:2-4) • Whether in first-century Antioch or twenty-first-century neighborhoods, believers act under the same command and enjoy the same assurance Practical Threads for Today’s Disciples • Embrace a global vision: every culture, language, and locality lies within God’s saving purpose • Proclaim Christ with confidence: Scripture validates the call, and the risen Lord guarantees effectiveness • Combine verbal witness with intentional disciple-making: evangelism and teaching are inseparable • Depend on Christ’s presence and the Holy Spirit’s power rather than personal skill or strategy • Celebrate continuity: the church today stands in an unbroken line of lights shining salvation “to the ends of the earth” |
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