How does Acts 19:1 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Introduction to the Passages • Acts 19:1—“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.” • 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Seeing the Great Commission in Action • Paul “came to Ephesus” precisely because the risen Lord had commanded His followers to go to “all nations.” • Luke notes that Paul “found some disciples,” signaling that the gospel had already reached this major Gentile center, aligning with the mandate to make disciples everywhere. • The Great Commission’s three verbs—go, make disciples, baptize, teach—frame Paul’s entire ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-10). – Go: Paul intentionally travels from the interior regions to a strategic city. – Make disciples: He identifies believers and immediately begins grounding them (19:2-7). – Baptize: Those who had only known John’s baptism are baptized “into the name of the Lord Jesus” (19:5). – Teach: For two years Paul reasons daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus so that “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord” (19:10). Strategic Obedience to “All Nations” • Ephesus was the cultural and commercial hub of Asia Minor; reaching it meant the gospel would ripple outward (Acts 19:10; cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:8). • Paul’s pattern mirrors Acts 1:8—the gospel advancing “to the ends of the earth”—which flows directly from Jesus’ own words in Matthew 28. The Role of the Holy Spirit • Matthew 28:20 promises Christ’s continual presence; Acts 19 shows that presence manifested through the Spirit (19:6) empowering proclamation (19:11-12). • The Spirit’s gifts validate the message and unify believers, fulfilling Jesus’ assurance that He is with His disciples as they obey. Fruit That Multiplies • New disciples in Ephesus themselves become disciple-makers: “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20). • 2 Timothy 2:2 reflects the same pattern—entrust truth to faithful people who will teach others—showing the lasting impact of Paul’s obedience to the Commission. Practical Takeaways for Today • Intentional Going: Identify modern “Ephesus” moments—workplaces, campuses, online spaces—where people gather and the gospel can spread widely. • Relational Discipling: Like Paul, start where believers are, clarify the gospel, lead to baptism, and keep teaching. • Spirit-Dependent Ministry: Trust Christ’s promised presence; seek the Spirit’s power rather than relying solely on human strategy. • Multiplication Mind-set: Aim for disciples who disciple others, echoing the chain from Jesus in Galilee to Paul in Ephesus to believers today. Acts 19:1 is thus a vivid snapshot of the Great Commission in motion—proof that Jesus’ command did not end on a Galilean hillside but continues wherever His followers faithfully go, disciple, baptize, and teach. |
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