Connect Acts 14:27 with Matthew 28:19-20 on spreading the Gospel. Setting the Scene • Jesus’ final words in Matthew 28:19-20 lay down a timeless, literal command: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” • About fifteen years later, Paul and Barnabas return from their first missionary journey and joyfully declare in Acts 14:27, “God… opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” • One passage gives the marching orders; the other shows the orders in action. The Mandate in Matthew 28:19-20 • Go – an intentional departure from comfort zones. • Make disciples – not mere converts, but lifelong learners of Christ. • Of all nations – no ethnic, cultural, or geographic barriers. • Baptizing – public identification with the Triune God. • Teaching – grounding believers in obedience to everything Jesus commanded (cf. John 14:15). • Promise – “I am with you always” supplies the power and presence needed (cf. Acts 1:8). The Report in Acts 14:27 • “They gathered the church together” – mission work is never solo; it belongs to the whole body. • “Recounted all that God had done through them” – credit given to the Lord, not to human strategy (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). • “Opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” – direct fulfillment of “all nations”; the command is proving effective. • The church hears living proof that Jesus keeps His promise to be “with you always.” Connecting the Dots 1. Same objective: reach every nation. 2. Same power source: Christ’s presence and the Spirit’s enabling. 3. Same result: doors open that no one can shut (cf. Revelation 3:7-8). 4. Same pattern: go → proclaim → disciple → report back → glorify God. Encouragement from Other Scriptures • Mark 16:15 – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” • Romans 1:16 – the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.” • 2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ.” • Isaiah 49:6 – God’s Servant is “a light for the nations.” • Revelation 7:9 – a preview of mission accomplished: “every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” worshiping the Lamb. Practical Takeaways for Today • Look outward: every believer is sent, whether across oceans or across the street. • Partner up: local churches send, support, and celebrate gospel advance. • Trust God’s opening of doors: obstacles become opportunities when He moves. • Disciple, don’t merely decide: invest time to teach obedience. • Share testimonies: reporting God’s work fuels more obedience and praise. Closing Reflection The Great Commission of Matthew 28 becomes living history in Acts 14, and it still unfolds wherever believers step out, trusting that the Lord who commanded also enables and accompanies. |
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