How does Acts 11:1 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Scripture Passages • Acts 11:1: “The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.” • Matthew 28:19-20: “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, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Immediate Meaning of Acts 11:1 • Word about Cornelius and his household spreads “throughout Judea” (Acts 10:44-48). • Jewish believers now realize that Gentiles have genuinely “received the word of God.” • The verse marks a watershed moment: the gospel is no longer seen as a Jewish-only message. Direct Ties to the Great Commission • Matthew 28:19 commands outreach “to all nations”; Acts 11:1 confirms that “the Gentiles also” have, in fact, been reached. • Jesus commands baptism and teaching; Acts 10:48 shows Peter baptizing Cornelius, and Acts 11:1 shows that event reported to the wider church. • The promise “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20) is lived out in the Spirit’s direction of Peter (Acts 10:19-20, 11:12). Key Parallels • Scope – Great Commission: “all nations.” – Acts 11:1: “Gentiles also.” • Action – Great Commission: “make disciples… baptizing… teaching.” – Acts 10–11: Peter preaches, household believes, Spirit falls, baptism follows. • Authority – Great Commission: Jesus’ authority (Matthew 28:18). – Acts 11:17: Peter appeals to God’s authority—“Who was I to hinder God?”—showing submission to Christ’s mandate. Cascading Fulfillment in Acts • Acts 1:8 outlines the expansion: Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → “ends of the earth.” • Acts 11:1 stands at the Judea-Samaria/Gentile boundary, proving the mission has crossed into the final stage. • Subsequent chapters (13–28) detail systematic Gentile outreach, demonstrating ongoing obedience to Matthew 28. Implications for Believers Today • The church’s mission remains global; Acts 11:1 reminds us the gospel’s reach cannot be limited by ethnicity, culture, or tradition. • God Himself validates cross-cultural ministry; modern believers can step out confidently, knowing the same Spirit directs the effort (Acts 13:2). • Unity in Christ transcends former barriers (Ephesians 2:13-18); the welcome extended to Cornelius models the welcome we extend to every people group. Takeaway Acts 11:1 is a progress report showing that the church was actively carrying out Christ’s Great Commission. What Jesus commanded in Matthew 28 becomes concrete reality in the conversion of Cornelius and the joyful acknowledgment that “the Gentiles also had received the word of God.” |
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