Christ’s Commands for the Apostles

Passage: Acts 1:1–2 (NKJV)

¹The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ²until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen

The Commands

• • Commanded to Go (John 20:21) — There is a sending of the apostles just as there were a sending of the Son. The Son, given power and direction, obeyed the command to go. The apostles, given power and a direction, are being sent out. This sending has three chief characteristics:
    • Departure – The Son left heaven and the glory he had into relative poverty, conflict, service, and sacrifice. The apostles, likewise, left family, homes, comforts, and went into service, sacrifice, persecution, exile, and executions.
    • Directions – Jesus was not without clarity on what He was to accomplish. The Father had made it clear that He was to mentor a few, lay down his life, and then take it up again. Even so, the apostles are not without instructions. See the next to commands.
    • Destination – Jesus was sent to earth. He was sent to Capernaum, Nazareth, Samaria, and Jerusalem. He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. The apostles are sent to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and then the ends of the earth… in that order.
  • Commanded to Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19) — Jesus made disciples. And now His disciples are to make disciples unto Him. This is the command for them and to all who become His followers. In one way or another we are to participate in the mandate to make disciples.
  • Commanded to Preach (Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:23; Acts 10:42) — In every place that the disciples go they are to preach. Preach what? The message of God’s offer of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ. Notice that the disciples are not to merely make mention of the message of reconciliation. To preach is to declare with the goal of getting the hearer to make a decision and, if necessary, to change. The command is not to say the gospel; that could be done without conviction, without an earnest goal of compelling someone to commit, or confrontation. Strictly speaking it is possible to say something without an audience. Preaching cannot be performed without people to hear and the possibility of the message being received or rejected.

The Concern for Us

The commands given to the apostles were to be handed down. To who? To the disciples. That is, through them the persons that make a decision to follow Jesus were to learn what Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-19). Ultimately it means that disciples are to make disciples. We are taught what Jesus commanded so that we can teach what Jesus commanded. This raises questions that every Jesus follower should answer:

1. 1. Is there a willingness in me to leave behind comfort in service to Jesus?
   2. Am I being taught what Jesus commanded?
   3. Am I teaching what I was taught? Am I making disciples?