THE GREAT COMMISSION

THE GREAT COMMISSION The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)

THE GREAT COMMISSION The author of the book of Acts here refers to his earlier work, which is known to us as “the gospel according to Luke.” The commandments are known collectively as “the Great Commission.” Let us examine the commission, that we may see why it is great, and what its commandments are.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." They were to make disciples of all nations. They were to baptize them. They were to teach them to observe all commands.

Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." They were to preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned.

Luke 24:46-48 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things." Repentance and remission of sins were to be preached, beginning at Jerusalem. Apostles were to testify of the gospel facts.

John 20:21-23 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." If the apostles have forgiven your sins they are forgiven. Otherwise they are retained (You still have them).

COMPOSITE ACCOUNT The apostles were to make disciples by preaching, teaching and testifying concerning the facts of the gospel (primarily, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection), the commands of the gospel (belief, repentance and baptism) and the promise of the gospel (the remission of sins; salvation). Those who believed the facts and obeyed the commands would receive the promise. Those who did not believe the facts or did not obey the commands would not receive the promise.

Acts 2:22-24 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

Acts 2:25-28 "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'

Acts 2:29-31 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

Acts 2:32-35 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

Acts 2:36-37 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Acts 2:40-42 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

ANALYSIS Peter testified regarding the facts of the gospel. (22- 36) Some of the people believed the facts and asked about the commands - they became disciples. (37) Peter preached repentance and remission of sins. (38) Peter put baptism between repentance and remission of sins. (38) 3,000 obeyed the commands. (39-41) The apostles continued to teach them. (42)

COMPOSITE ACCOUNT The apostles were to make disciples by preaching, teaching and testifying concerning the facts of the gospel [primarily, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection], the commands of the gospel (belief, repentance and baptism) and the promise of the gospel (the remission of sins; salvation). Those who believed the facts and obeyed the commands would receive the promise. Those who did not believe the facts or did not obey the commands would not receive the promise.