What connections exist between Acts 18:8 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Opening the Text “Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.” “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.” Side-by-Side Connections • Make disciples → “believed in the Lord” • Baptize → “were baptized” • All nations → diverse Jews (Crispus) and Gentiles (Corinthians) • Teach obedience → Paul remained in Corinth “a year and six months, teaching the word of God” (Acts 18:11) • Christ’s presence → the Lord promises Paul, “I am with you” (Acts 18:10), mirroring “I am with you always” From Command to Fulfillment 1. Go • Paul has left Antioch, crossed the Aegean, and entered Corinth (Acts 18:1). 2. Make disciples • The gospel confronts both synagogue and marketplace; hearers “believed.” 3. Baptize • Immediate, public identification with Christ; parallels Acts 2:38; 16:31-33. 4. Teach • Ongoing instruction anchors new believers; cf. 2 Timothy 2:2. 5. All nations • Corinth, a Roman trade hub, previews the gospel’s worldwide reach. 6. Christ’s abiding presence • Jesus’ reassurance in Matthew 28 finds a concrete echo in Acts 18:9-10. Why Crispus Matters • A synagogue ruler turns to Christ—evidence that the gospel penetrates Jewish leadership. • His “whole household” follows, illustrating the Commission’s call to influence entire families (cf. Acts 10:44-48). • A Jewish leader and Gentile townspeople stand side-by-side in baptism: a living portrait of “all nations.” The Ripple Effect in Corinth • “Many…believed” shows multiplication, the heart of disciple-making. • Baptism signals a break with pagan life; new believers enter covenant community. • Paul’s daily teaching (Acts 18:11) cultivates obedience, fulfilling the “teaching them to observe” mandate. Scripture Weaves the Same Thread • Mark 16:15-16—preach, believe, be baptized. • Romans 10:17—“faith comes by hearing,” illustrated in the Corinthians who “heard Paul.” • Acts 4:4—similar pattern: many hear, believe, the church grows. Encouragement for Today • The Commission is not theoretical; Acts 18:8 shows it operating in real time. • The same sequence—go, proclaim, believe, baptize, teach—remains our blueprint. • Christ’s promise of presence proved true for Paul in Corinth and remains certain “to the very end of the age.” |
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