How does Matthew 28:19 connect with the Great Commission in Acts 1:8? The Command to Go and Make Disciples “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.” (Matthew 28:19) • One imperative—“make disciples”—drives every supporting verb (go, baptize, teach, v. 20). • The scope is “all nations,” a literal worldwide mandate foreshadowed in Genesis 12:3 and fulfilled in Revelation 7:9. • The singular “name” reveals one God in three Persons, grounding the mission in the Trinity’s unity and authority. • Jesus’ closing promise “I am with you always” (v. 20) guarantees His continual presence. Power and Strategy to Fulfill the Command “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) • The same risen Lord speaks again, now moments before His ascension (v. 9). • The mission’s fuel is the Spirit’s power, not human strength (cf. Zechariah 4:6). • A clear geographic roadmap unfolds: local (Jerusalem), regional (Judea), cross-cultural neighbors (Samaria), and global (“ends of the earth”). How the Two Passages Interlock – Same Sender: Jesus Christ, exercising “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). – Same Audience: the apostles, representing the church (cf. Ephesians 2:20). – Same Timing: the forty-day window between resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3). – Complementary Emphases: • Matthew highlights the mission’s content—disciple-making through baptism and teaching. • Acts highlights the mission’s enablement—Spirit-empowered witness. – Triune Participation: • Father, Son, and Spirit named in Matthew. • Spirit specifically empowered in Acts. – Promise of Presence: • “I am with you” (Matthew 28:20). • “Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8). Together, Christ’s abiding presence and the Spirit’s indwelling guarantee success. Scriptural Echoes That Reinforce the Connection • Mark 16:15—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” • Luke 24:46-49—repentance and forgiveness preached “to all nations… power from on high.” • John 20:21—“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” • Acts 2:4-41—Pentecost shows the first wave of Spirit-empowered witness leading to baptism and teaching. • Colossians 1:6—“the gospel… is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world.” Practical Implications for Today • Embrace the global vision—every believer shares responsibility for the unreached. • Depend on the Holy Spirit—prayer and obedience unlock His power (Ephesians 6:18-20). • Start where you are—Jerusalem first, but refuse to stop there. • Make disciples, not mere converts—baptize and teach so that new believers obey Christ’s commands. • Trust Christ’s presence—He remains with His church until “the end of the age.” Conclusion: One Commission, One Mission Matthew 28:19 gives the marching orders; Acts 1:8 provides the power and pattern. Together they form a seamless Great Commission that still propels the church—from living rooms to the last language group—until the Lord returns. |
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