How does Acts 10:39 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Key texts in focus • Acts 10:39 – “We are witnesses of all that He did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem.” • Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” • Matthew 28:20 – “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Shared themes: Witness and Mission • Both passages spotlight eyewitness testimony to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. • Each stresses an outward, disciple-making movement that reaches every people group. • The authority of Jesus undergirds both mandates (cf. Matthew 28:18; Acts 10:42). • Obedience links them—Peter obeys the command Jesus gave on the mountain. • The Holy Spirit empowers the mission in both contexts (cf. Acts 1:8). Acts 10:39 as fulfillment of the Great Commission • Personal witness: Peter says, “We are witnesses…,” echoing Jesus’ call to “teach” what they had seen. • Cross-centered message: “They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree” (v. 39b) mirrors the Commission’s command to preach everything Jesus accomplished. • To all nations: Peter is in a Gentile home (Cornelius), proving the gospel is moving beyond Judea just as Jesus ordered. • Teaching obedience: Peter proceeds to explain repentance, forgiveness, and baptism (vv. 43-48), exactly the discipling pattern of Matthew 28:20. • Divine backing: God’s outpouring of the Spirit on Gentiles (vv. 44-46) assures the same “I am with you always” presence promised in Matthew 28:20. Supporting Scriptures • Luke 24:46-48 – foretells that “repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed… beginning in Jerusalem.” • Acts 1:8 – “You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” • Romans 10:14-17 – highlights the necessity of preaching for saving faith. • 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – calls believers “ambassadors for Christ.” • 1 Peter 3:15 – urges readiness to give a reason for the hope within. Practical takeaways • Tell what Jesus actually did—keep the historical facts of His ministry, death, and resurrection central. • Let the cross remain the heart of your message; Peter never minimized it. • Cross cultural lines confidently; the gospel is for every nation without distinction. • Depend on the Spirit’s power; human eloquence is never the primary driver. • Teach converts to obey Jesus’ commands, not merely make decisions—disciple-making is lifelong. |
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