How does Acts 2:38 connect with Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 2:38 were spoken only weeks apart. In Matthew, the risen Lord lays out His marching orders; in Acts, Peter carries them out. “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.” “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Side-by-Side Connections • Go → Peter preaches publicly to people “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). • Make disciples → About three thousand “accepted his message” and were “added to their number” (Acts 2:41). • Baptizing them → “Be baptized, every one of you.” • In the name of the Father, Son, Spirit → “In the name of Jesus Christ” (the Son), with the Holy Spirit promised, and by implication obedience to the Father’s plan. • Teaching them to obey → The new believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). • I am with you always → The indwelling Holy Spirit is Christ’s abiding presence (John 14:16-18). Repentance: The First Step in Disciple-Making • Jesus had proclaimed “repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). • Peter begins exactly there: “Repent.” • Repentance turns the heart, enabling true discipleship. Baptism: Obedience in Action • Jesus commands baptism; Peter commands baptism. • Romans 6:3-4 ties baptism to union with Christ’s death and resurrection—core to disciple identity. • Public baptism immediately set first-century believers apart, fulfilling the Great Commission’s call for visible commitment. The Name: Trinitarian Yet Centered on Christ • Matthew lists Father, Son, Spirit. • Acts emphasizes “Jesus Christ.” • Throughout Acts, baptism “in the name of Jesus” highlights His messianic authority (Acts 4:12), while still implying the full Trinity (Acts 2:33; 10:38). • Calling on Jesus’ name therefore enacts the Trinitarian formula rather than contradicting it. The Holy Spirit: Presence and Power • Jesus promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes” (Acts 1:8). • Peter echoes: “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” • The Spirit both seals salvation (Ephesians 1:13) and enables obedience to everything Jesus commanded, fulfilling Matthew 28:20. Ongoing Teaching and Fellowship • Matthew 28 stresses ongoing instruction. • Acts 2:42 shows it happening: apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer. • The Great Commission is not a one-time event; Acts 2 records its sustained rhythm. Why the Two Passages Must Be Read Together 1. Matthew provides the blueprint; Acts shows the blueprint in action. 2. The same elements—repentance, faith, baptism, Spirit reception, lifelong obedience—flow seamlessly from Jesus’ command to Peter’s sermon. 3. The unity confirms Scripture’s reliability and the Spirit’s guidance in the early church. Takeaway Acts 2:38 is not a departure from the Great Commission but its first recorded fulfillment. What Jesus commanded on the Galilean mountain erupts in power on Pentecost, setting the pattern for gospel ministry to the very end of the age. |
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