In what ways does Acts 14:26 connect to the Great Commission in Matthew 28? “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.” Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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.’ ” Shared Mission Pulse • Both passages center on a “work” initiated by the risen Christ and carried forward by His servants. • Matthew records the command; Acts records the completion (at least of one phase) of that command. • The Great Commission is not theory in Acts 14:26—it is demonstrably in motion. “Go” and “Return”: Movement Within the Mandate • Matthew 28:19 opens with “Therefore go.” • Acts 14:26 shows Paul and Barnabas returning from actually going—evidence that the command produced physical movement across regions. • Their route (Acts 13–14) spans Cyprus, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Pamphylia—fulfilling the “all nations” scope. Authority and Sending • Matthew 28:18 grounds mission in Jesus’ universal authority. • Acts 13:2-3 reveals the Antioch church commissioning Paul and Barnabas “by the Holy Spirit,” an extension of that same authority. • Acts 14:26 notes they “had been committed to the grace of God,” echoing reliance on Christ’s lordship rather than human initiative. Disciple-Making Accomplished • Matthew 28 highlights baptizing and teaching. • Acts 14:21-23 reports that Paul and Barnabas “made many disciples,” strengthened believers, and appointed elders—practical outworking of the Great Commission’s disciple-making call. • Their “completed” work (14:26) wasn’t a one-time evangelistic burst; it involved nurturing fledgling churches just as Jesus prescribed. Grace and Presence • Jesus promises, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). • Acts 14:26 attributes success to “the grace of God,” acknowledging Christ’s ongoing presence and empowerment throughout the journey (cf. Acts 11:21). Report and Celebration • Matthew 28 anticipates ongoing witness; Acts 14:27 immediately follows with a missions report: “They reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” • This mirrors the Commission’s implicit expectation of continual testimony to Christ’s work. Geographic Ripple Effect • Matthew’s Commission looks to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 clarifies this trajectory). • Acts 14 positions Antioch as a sending hub, displaying the early Church’s obedience to push outward—the apostolic pattern for every generation. Takeaway Acts 14:26 stands as a progress marker showing that the Great Commission was not left on a Galilean hillside. It was actively embodied by missionaries who went, preached, discipled, organized churches, and then returned to give God glory—proving that the risen Lord’s mandate is both achievable and ongoing. |
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