How does Acts 4:10 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Introducing the Two Texts • Acts 4:10: “let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” • 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 obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Shared Themes to Notice • The exclusive, saving authority of Jesus’ name • The public proclamation of that name before “all” peoples • God’s own validation—resurrection power in Acts 4; promised presence in Matthew 28 • A commission that moves from Jerusalem outward (Acts 1:8) and from Israel to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19) How Acts 4:10 Fulfills and Illustrates the Great Commission 1. Proclamation in Jesus’ Name – Matthew: “make disciples… in the name…” – Acts: Peter openly declares the very same name before Israel’s leadership. 2. Validation by Supernatural Power – Matthew: Jesus risen; promises His continual presence. – Acts: The risen Lord’s power heals the lame man (Acts 3:6-8) and backs the apostles’ words. 3. Universal Audience – Matthew: “all nations.” – Acts: “all the people of Israel,” then soon after, the gospel crosses ethnic lines (Acts 8, 10, 13). 4. Uncompromising Exclusivity – Acts 4:12 quickly follows: “There is salvation in no one else...” – Echoes the Great Commission’s call to baptize solely into the triune Name—no other way of salvation. 5. Teaching Obedience – Matthew: “teaching them to obey…” – Acts 4-5 shows the apostles obeying Christ rather than men, modeling the very obedience they will teach (Acts 5:29). Additional Scripture Connections • Acts 2:38—repent and be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.” • Romans 10:13—“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” • Mark 16:15—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Implications for Us Today • The Great Commission is not theory; Acts shows its first practical steps. • Confidence: the same risen Christ who empowered Peter empowers us (Hebrews 13:8). • Boldness: proclaiming Jesus’ exclusive name may bring opposition (Acts 4:18-20), yet obedience is non-negotiable. • Expectancy: God still confirms His gospel with transformed lives (2 Corinthians 5:17). Takeaway Truths • The name Jesus gave in Matthew 28 is the very name Peter lifts high in Acts 4. • Resurrection authority undergirds both passages, guaranteeing the mission’s success. • The early church’s example urges believers today to proclaim, baptize, and teach with the same clarity, courage, and confidence. |
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