In what ways does Acts 11:5 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19? Setting the Scene Acts 11:5 — “I was in the city of Joppa, and while I was praying, I fell into a trance and saw a vision of a great sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.” 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.” Shared Missional Trajectory • Both verses portray God taking the first step: – Matthew 28:19 records Jesus’ direct command. – Acts 11:5 shows God sending a vision to Peter. • The result in each case is a clear, unmistakable directive to reach beyond existing borders with the gospel. “Four Corners” and “All Nations” • “Four corners” of the sheet (Acts 11:5) visually echoes “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). • The imagery suggests the whole earth—north, south, east, and west—standing open for gospel proclamation. • Isaiah 49:6 and Acts 1:8 reinforce the global scope promised to Israel and fulfilled through the church. From Clean/Unclean to One New People • Peter’s sheet contained animals Jews called unclean (Acts 10:12). • Jesus’ commission already leveled the ethnic playing field: no group is excluded from salvation (Galatians 3:28). • Acts 11:18 concludes, “God has granted repentance unto life even to the Gentiles,” showing the commission in action. Location Matters • Joppa is the same port Jonah used when fleeing Gentile mission (Jonah 1:3). • Peter, at Joppa, obeys the very Gentile-focused task Jonah resisted—fulfilling, not fleeing, the Great Commission. Divine Authority Behind Both Calls • Jesus’ risen authority precedes Matthew 28:19 (v. 18). • The heavenly voice that accompanies Peter’s vision (Acts 11:7-9) carries identical weight. • Both commands come from the same Lord, ensuring the church’s confidence in cross-cultural outreach. Practical Takeaways • The Great Commission isn’t theory; Acts 11 shows its first large-scale Gentile implementation. • Vision and command merge: God still prompts believers—through Scripture, prayer, and providence—to cross boundaries for the gospel. • Assurance: if God could bridge Jew-Gentile divides, He can overcome any cultural barrier today (Ephesians 2:13-17). Summary Snapshot Matthew 28:19 lays down the mandate; Acts 11:5 reveals the moment that mandate began to blossom among the nations. “All nations” becomes vivid reality when the sheet descends by its four corners, inviting every tribe, tongue, and people into Christ’s kingdom. |
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