The commission of the apostles is a foundational event in the New Testament, marking the formal sending out of Jesus' closest followers to continue His work and spread His teachings. This commission is recorded in several passages, most notably in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

The Great Commission

The most well-known commissioning of the apostles is the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee and declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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" . This passage emphasizes the universal scope of their mission, the Trinitarian formula for baptism, and the promise of Christ's continual presence.

The Sending of the Twelve

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus specifically commissioned the twelve apostles, as recorded in Matthew 10:1-15, Mark 6:7-13, and Luke 9:1-6. In these accounts, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits and the power to heal every disease and sickness. He instructed them to go to the lost sheep of Israel, proclaiming, "The kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 10:7). They were to travel light, relying on the hospitality of those who would receive them, and to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against any town that rejected them.

The Sending of the Seventy-Two

In addition to the twelve, Jesus also sent out seventy-two others, as recorded in Luke 10:1-20. He sent them in pairs to every town and place He was about to visit, instructing them to heal the sick and proclaim, "The kingdom of God has come near to you" (Luke 10:9). This broader commissioning highlights the expanding nature of Jesus' mission and the preparation for His own visits to these areas.

The Empowerment at Pentecost

The commission of the apostles was further empowered by the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, as described in Acts 2. Jesus had instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the "promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4), which was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, enabling them to speak in various tongues and boldly proclaim the gospel. This event marked the beginning of the apostles' public ministry and the rapid spread of Christianity.

The Apostolic Authority

The apostles were given unique authority as the foundational leaders of the early Church. In John 20:21-23, Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld" . This authority was not only spiritual but also organizational, as seen in their role in establishing church doctrine and practice, as well as in the appointment of leaders, such as the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26).

The Mission to the Gentiles

The commission of the apostles also included the expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles. This is exemplified in the ministry of the Apostle Paul, who, though not one of the original twelve, was called by Christ to be the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Galatians 2:8). The Jerusalem Council, recorded in Acts 15, affirmed the inclusion of Gentiles in the Church without the requirement of adhering to the full Mosaic Law, further solidifying the universal nature of the apostolic mission.

The commission of the apostles is a pivotal moment in Christian history, establishing the framework for the spread of the gospel and the growth of the early Church. Through their obedience to Christ's command, the message of salvation reached "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).Matthew 10:1
And when he had called to him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
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Matthew 28:19,20
Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
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Mark 3:14,15
And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
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Mark 6:7-11
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
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Mark 16:15
And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
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Luke 9:1-5
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
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Luke 22:28-30
You are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
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John 20:23
Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.
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John 21:15-19
So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, love you me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs.
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Acts 1:1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
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Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
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Acts 10:42
And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
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652. apostolos -- a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle
... Cognate: 652 (from 649 , "to commission, send forth") -- properly, someone sent ... on
a mission, an apostle NASB Word Usage apostle (19), apostles (52), apostles ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/652.htm - 7k

649. apostello -- to send, send away
... send away, dismiss Definition: I send forth, send (as a messenger, commission, etc.),
send away ... as with John the Baptist (Mk 11:2) and the twelve apostles (Mt 10 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/649.htm - 10k

The Apostles' Commission; Or, the Gospel Attested by Miracles ...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:128. The Apostles' commission; or, The gospel attested
by miracles, Mark 16. 15 &c. Matt. 28. 18 &c. 1 "Go ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 130555556 the apostles commission.htm

The Apostles' Commission. Mark 16:15Ff; Matt. 28:18Ff.
... HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS IN THREE BOOKS. HYMN 128 The apostles' commission. Mark
16:15ff; Matt. ... LM The apostles' commission. Mark 16:15ff; Matt.28:18ff. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 128 the apostles commission.htm

Christ Appears in Galilee for the Last Time. --The Commission of ...
... CHAPTER VIII. THE RESURRECTION Section 304. Christ appears in Galilee
for the last Time."The Commission of the Apostles. In his ...
/.../section 304 christ appears in.htm

The Lord Seen by the Apostles.
... The following facts are manifest: 1. The Savior gave to his apostles his Commission
that they might make known his will.2. He bade them preach "remission of ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lord seen by the.htm

Import of the Great Commission.
... field of the WORLD. The commission to the apostles is the commission to
Christ's ministers in every age. This commission, it is ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter vii import of the.htm

The Great Commission
The Acts of the Apostles. <. ... Lesson 3 The Great Commission. After the death
of Christ the disciples were well-nigh overcome by discouragement. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 3 the great commission.htm

The Indwelling of the Spirit, the Common Privilege of all ...
... three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and
these three are one." And our Lord, when he gave his Apostles commission to go ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the indwelling of the spirit.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... THE GREAT CONFESSION - THE GREAT COMMISSION - THE GREAT INSTRUCTION - THE GREAT ... and,
finally, the withdrawal to Tarich??a, where His Apostles, as fishermen of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

Of the Power and Authoritie Given to Synods.
... to observe more then Christ hath commanded, they go beyond the bounds of their
commission, and a larger commission then that given to the Apostles, nor Elders ...
/.../the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof/chap vi of the power.htm

Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
... [At this point Jesus passes from the first, or temporary, to the second, or final,
commission of the apostles, for all the persecutions enumerated were ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxi third circuit of galilee.htm

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