How does Acts 4:4 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?

The Great Commission Echoed in Acts 4:4

• Matthew 28:19-20 commissions the disciples to “make disciples of all nations… baptizing… and teaching.”

• Acts 4:4 records an early fulfillment of that command: “But many who heard the message believed; and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

• The rapid expansion in Acts 4:4 demonstrates that the disciples took Jesus’ words literally and immediately began carrying them out.

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Obedience in Action

• Jesus said “Go”; Peter and John went to the temple (Acts 3:1).

• Jesus said “make disciples”; Peter preached the gospel, and thousands believed (Acts 4:4).

• Jesus said “teach them to obey”; Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:12-26 explains repentance and faith, modeling the teaching aspect of the Commission.

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Baptism and Public Identification

• Matthew 28:19 links disciple-making with baptism.

• Earlier in Acts 2:41, “about three thousand” were baptized, showing the apostles already practicing what Jesus commanded. Acts 4:4 continues the same pattern of belief leading to public identification with Christ.

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Global Vision, Local Start

• The Commission targets “all nations.”

• Acts begins in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8) but is moving outward; Acts 4:4 is a milestone showing the gospel’s momentum before it spreads to Judea, Samaria, and beyond.

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Empowered by Christ’s Presence

• Jesus promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

• Acts 4:8 notes Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit,” the tangible presence of the risen Christ, enabling bold proclamation that produced the fruit reported in 4:4.

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Measuring Fruitfulness

• Matthew 28:19-20 implies growth—disciples reproducing disciples.

• Acts 4:4’s count of five thousand men (not including women and children) highlights measurable, exponential growth, validating the effectiveness of obedient evangelism.

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Conclusions for Today

• The literal commands of Jesus lead to literal results: proclamation, belief, and multiplication.

• Acts 4:4 is not an isolated miracle but a direct, traceable outcome of Matthew 28:19-20, encouraging believers to expect God to honor the same obedience now.