How does Acts 22:16 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19? Setting the Scene in Acts 22:16 • “And now why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16) • Spoken by Ananias to Saul of Tarsus; it marks the moment Saul responds to Christ’s call with tangible obedience. • Key elements: immediate action (“rise”), baptism, cleansing, and invocation of Jesus’ name. The Echo of the Great Commission: Matthew 28:19 • “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.” (Matthew 28:19) • Jesus commands His followers to replicate what Saul experiences: conversion, baptism, and identification with the triune God. Themes That Interlock 1. Command, not suggestion – Acts 22:16: “Why do you delay?” implies urgency. – Matthew 28:19: “Go… baptizing…” is an imperative. 2. Baptism as first public step of discipleship – Saul’s baptism parallels the disciples’ mission to baptize new believers. 3. Cleansing and new identity – Acts: “wash away your sins.” – Matthew: baptism “in the name” signals a transfer of allegiance and covenant cleansing. 4. Invocation of the divine name – Acts: “calling on His name” (Jesus). – Matthew: Father, Son, Spirit—all one name, one authority. Why Baptism Matters • Mark 16:16—“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” • Romans 6:3-4—Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life. • 1 Peter 3:21—Baptism “now saves you” as an appeal to God for a good conscience. • Galatians 3:27—“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Baptism is no mere symbol; it is God-ordained participation in Christ’s death and resurrection, publicly sealing the believer’s faith. Calling on His Name: Trinitarian Reality • Acts 22:16 centers on Jesus’ name; Matthew 28:19 expands that single name to Father, Son, and Spirit. • The unity of the Godhead means that calling on Jesus is inseparable from embracing the fullness of God revealed in the Great Commission. Discipleship and Immediate Obedience • Saul does not wait for perfect circumstances; neither should new believers. • The Great Commission mandates teaching “to observe all” Jesus commanded—obedience begins with baptism and continues with lifelong learning. Living the Connection – Embrace urgency: if you believe, do not delay baptism. – Recognize baptism as entry into a discipling relationship with the triune God. – Call on Jesus’ name daily, knowing you stand under the same authority that sent the first disciples. – Teach and model this link so that every new believer sees baptism not as an optional ritual but as the God-ordained starting point of faithful discipleship. |
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