Connect Acts 5:28 with Matthew 28:19-20 on the Great Commission's importance. Setting the Stage Matthew 28:19-20 lays down the marching orders, and Acts 5:28 shows what happens when those orders collide with human commands. Reading them together lets us trace the line from Jesus’ words to the apostles’ courageous actions—and then to our own lives. The Commission Defined (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.” Key observations: • Go—intentional movement toward people who need the gospel • Make disciples—more than converts; lifelong learners of Christ • All nations—no boundaries, ethnic or cultural • Baptize—inserting new believers publicly into the covenant community • Teach to obey—full-bodied discipleship, not mere information transfer • I am with you—Christ’s ongoing presence guarantees success The Commission Tested (Acts 5:28) “‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this Man’s blood upon us!’” What’s happening: • The Sanhedrin forbids what Jesus commanded. • The apostles have already “filled Jerusalem” (a taste of “all nations”). • Their obedience brings opposition—but also undeniable impact. Connecting the Dots 1. Same Message, Different Contexts • Matthew: Jesus issues the command on a mountain in Galilee. • Acts: The apostles obey the same command in the heart of Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). 2. Authority Clash • Jesus: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). • Sanhedrin: “We gave you strict orders” (Acts 5:28). • Apostles resolve the conflict with Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.” 3. Evidence of Effective Obedience • “Filled Jerusalem” parallels Jesus’ vision of worldwide saturation. • The religious leaders’ frustration confirms the gospel’s spread. 4. Promise Fulfilled • “I am with you always” becomes tangible through the Spirit’s power (Acts 4:31). Why the Great Commission Still Matters • Unchanged Mandate—Jesus never rescinded it (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2). • Unmatched Authority—His lordship stands above every earthly directive (Colossians 1:18). • Unstoppable Power—The same Spirit equips believers today (Romans 1:16). • Urgent Need—Billions remain unreached; the commission keeps us outward-facing (2 Corinthians 5:20). Practical Takeaways for Every Believer • Anchor your evangelism in Christ’s authority, not personal confidence. • Expect opposition, but measure success by faithfulness, not applause. • Stay Christ-centered: the goal is disciples who obey all He commanded. • Lean on His presence through prayer and the Word; He hasn’t left us alone. Following the Great Commission places us in the same storyline as the apostles: called by Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, and sent to fill our cities—and ultimately the nations—with His life-changing teaching. |
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