How does Acts 19:10 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Stage in Acts 19:10 “This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.” The Great Commission Reminder “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.” (Matthew 28:19-20) How Acts 19:10 Mirrors the Commission • All Nations → “Jews and Greeks alike” shows every ethnicity in Asia Minor reached. • Go → Paul relocates to Ephesus and stays; mission is geographic and intentional. • Make Disciples → Paul teaches daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus; converts become followers, not casual listeners. • Teach Them to Obey → Two-year daily instruction embeds doctrine and obedience. • I Am with You Always → Extraordinary miracles (Acts 19:11-12) confirm Christ’s ongoing presence. Key Links and Reinforcements • Acts 1:8—power to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” is unfolding in Asia. • Romans 10:17—“faith comes by hearing”; Acts 19:10 reports universal hearing. • Colossians 4:13-15—churches in Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae likely trace back to this two-year ripple effect. Practical Implications • Longevity matters: two steady years of teaching can saturate an entire region. • Ordinary spaces count: a rented lecture hall becomes a launchpad for global mission. • Everyone needs the gospel: cultural, religious, and ethnic barriers fall under Christ’s directive. • Christ keeps His promise: when believers obey the mandate, His power and presence follow. Living It Today • Plant yourself where God sends you and stay long enough for gospel saturation. • Combine proclamation with systematic teaching; both are commanded. • Expect Christ to work through ordinary venues—homes, schools, workplaces. • Measure success by spread of the Word, not by personal acclaim: “everyone…heard the word of the Lord.” |
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