How does Acts 18:1 connect with Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene: Acts 18:1 “After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.” • A simple travel note, yet packed with significance: Paul, already on mission, relocates to a strategic, bustling Gentile city. • Corinth’s diversity, commerce, and influence make it a perfect launchpad for spreading the gospel “to all nations.” Jesus’ Mandate: 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 obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Direct Connections Between the Two Passages • Going: ‑ Jesus said, “Go.” Acts 18:1 shows Paul literally going—leaving Athens, obeying the call to move where gospel work is needed. • All nations: ‑ Corinth’s population was a mosaic of Greeks, Romans, Jews, and travelers. Paul’s arrival fulfills the multinational scope of the Great Commission. • Making disciples: ‑ In Corinth, Paul “reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4). Discipleship begins with proclamation and persuasion. • Baptizing: ‑ “I baptized the household of Stephanas” (1 Corinthians 1:16). Conversions in Corinth led to immediate obedience in baptism, aligning with Jesus’ command. • Teaching to obey: ‑ Paul “stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). Long-term teaching fulfills the Great Commission’s instructional component. • Christ’s continual presence: ‑ Jesus promised, “I am with you always.” In Corinth the Lord reassures Paul, “Do not be afraid… for I am with you” (Acts 18:9-10). The same presence undergirds both passages. Practical Implications for Today • Obedience often begins with a simple step of relocation or change, trusting the Lord to use geographical moves for gospel advance. • Cities and cultural hubs remain strategic mission fields where “all nations” converge. • Evangelism, baptism, and sustained teaching belong together; separating them dilutes the Commission. • The promise of Christ’s presence was not just for the Eleven or for Paul—it sustains every believer who steps out in faith to share the gospel. |
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