Having inherited a name above every name, Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach and teach in all the world,
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy [Spirit]: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt 28:18-20).
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).
“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy [Spirit] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The practice
This last verse, Acts 1:8, foreshadows the fourfold structure of the book of Acts:
- Acts 1-5: The twelve apostles, led by Peter and John, preach to Jews in Jerusalem.
- Acts 6:1-9:31: The seven deacons (table servants), led by Stephen and Philip, preach to Jews, including those in Samaria.
- Acts 9:32-12:24: Peter, now without the other apostles, preaches to Jews and the Gentile Cornelius and his household, all in Judaea.
- Paul’s Mission to the Gentiles (Acts 12:25-28:31), which also has a fourfold structure:
(a) Acts 12:25-15:25: First Missionary Journey, to Asia Minor with Barnabas.
(b) Acts 15:36-18:22: Second Missionary Journey, to Greece with Silas.
(c) Acts 18:23-26:32: Third Missionary Journey, to Ephesus, etc., and trials after arriving back in Jerusalem.
(d) Acts 27-28: To Rome, “the uttermost parts of the earth”.
Paul explains the division of labor between himself and Peter,
“And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles… when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Gal 2:2, 7-9).
Following the pattern set by Jesus, preachers in the first century were sent out “two by two” (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1; Acts 11:30; 12:25; 13:2-4; 15:39-40; cf. Eccl 4:9-12).1
The Message
The message was simple; they preached the gospel, “the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12; 28:30-31). Depending on circumstances, the emphasis might be on one or the other of these essential topics: for example, during his ministry, Jesus “preached the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt 4:23; 9:35; 11:5; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:16-21); and when discussing the resurrection, Paul reminded the Corinthians that he had preached to them the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, according to the scriptures (1Cor 15:1-4).
Their preaching was based on the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. During the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus instructed the apostles:
“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved 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 among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49).
Fundamental ideas were foretold in the law (Acts 3:22-26; 7:2-44; etc.), the prophets (Acts 2:16-21; 7:48-50; 8:26-40; 13:34; etc.; cf. Luke 7:22-23), and the Psalms (Acts 2:25-28, 34-35; 4:25-28; 13:33, 35; etc.).
The Audience
They tailored the message to their audiences. Peter’s Pentecost speech was directed precisely at his Jewish hearers (Acts 2:14-36); as a result, “they were pricked in their hearts… then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day were added unto them about 3,000 souls” (Acts 2:37-41). In Athens, Paul’s approach was ideal for the philosophizing Greek idolaters he was addressing (Acts 17:14-31). The reaction: some mocked, others wanted to hear more, and some believed (Acts 17:32-34). Paul summarizes his practice of adapting, of becoming all things to all people, in order to make the gospel most suitable to each, most likely to win them over:
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you” (1Cor 9:19-23).
The results
Throughout the book of Acts, we are told that some people believed the gospel message and were baptized, becoming members of the fast-growing first century ecclesia. Others, on the other hand, rejected the message, mocked the preachers, and persecuted the ecclesias. Ironically, this persecution enabled the gospel to spread ever further throughout the rest of the world.
At the end of the first century, John recaps the success of the Jewish and Gentile missions. Concerning Jewish believers, he writes:
“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel… [twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes]” (Rev 7:4-8; cf. 14:1-5).
And concerning Gentile believers, he writes:
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands… And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Rev 7:9; 14:6-7; cf. Psa 96-98).
The lessons for us
These first century practices provide a model for our preaching today:
- We are commissioned to preach the gospel, as a community and as individuals. We are called to shine as lights in the world.
- We must preach to everyone everywhere, sowing the seed on all types of soil.
- Our message must focus on the Glad Tidings of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
- We must be instructed in the Scriptures, prepared with a ready answer.
- We must adapt to the varying situations that arise, tailoring the message to our audience to maximize the possibility of winning them over, for the gospel’s sake.
- We must take advantage of whatever circumstances we find ourselves in to preach to those around us.
- We must diligently plant and water; God will give the increase.
As we eagerly await our Lord’s return from Heaven to bring the promised blessings of God’s rule to the earth, we must continue in the work assigned to us, to love our neighbors by preaching the gospel, that at least some of them may be saved. As long as Christ remains away, we must redeem the time, for “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Pet 3:9).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One