How does Acts 8:5 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Text of the Passages “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.” “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.” The Great Commission Unpacked • Go – intentional movement outward • Make disciples – more than converts; lifelong learners of Jesus • All nations – no ethnic or geographic limit • Baptizing & teaching – evangelism joined to ongoing instruction • Christ’s presence – divine empowerment accompanies obedience Philip’s Ministry in Samaria • “Went down” – he leaves Jerusalem, embodying the command to “go” • “Proclaimed the Christ” – centers his message on Jesus, fulfilling “teach them” • Audience: Samaritans – a distinct people group, illustrating “all nations” • Immediate fruit (Acts 8:6-8) – crowds listen, miracles occur, joy fills the city, showing Christ’s promised presence at work Direct Connections Between the Two Texts • Movement: Matthew commands; Acts records a disciple actually moving. • Message: both stress Christ as the focus—“make disciples of Me” vs. “proclaimed the Christ.” • Scope: “all nations” is demonstrated when the gospel crosses Jewish-Samaritan boundaries (cf. Acts 1:8). • Method: proclamation followed by baptism (Acts 8:12) mirrors Jesus’ order of baptizing/teaching. • Power: signs and transformed lives in Samaria confirm Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always” (cf. Mark 16:20). Broader Biblical Reinforcement • Isaiah 49:6 – God’s servant a light “to the nations,” foreshadowing Samaria’s inclusion. • John 4:39-42 – many Samaritans believe in Jesus, paving the way for Philip’s later mission. • Acts 10:34-35 – Peter affirms God shows no partiality, reinforcing the trajectory begun in Samaria. Implications for Believers Today • The Commission is active: believers are still sent beyond comfort zones. • Focus on Christ: methods may vary, but the content—Jesus’ person and work—remains non-negotiable. • Inclusive reach: ethnic, cultural, and historical barriers are invitations, not obstacles. • Expectant reliance: as with Philip, obedience attracts Christ’s accompanying power (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9). |
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