The Three Commissions.
This Is Appendix 167 From The Companion Bible.
It will be seen from Appendix 166 that
there were three separate Commissions given to the Eleven Apostles, at
different times, on distinctly specified occasions and in varying words.
The first is recorded in Luke
24: 47. This was given
in Jerusalem on the evening of the day of the resurrection.
It was given, not to the Eleven only, but also to "them that were with
them." (verse 33). The commission
was the continuation of His own ministry and that of John the Baptist
(Matthew 22:1
- 10).
They were all to proclaim "repentance and remission of
sins". The New Covenant had been made, in virtue of which this
message of pardon could be declared. (Matthew 26:26 - 29. Mark
14:22 -
25.
Luke 22:14 -
23.
Acts 3:19), first in
Jerusalem, and then to all nations. This was done by Peter (Acts
2:38; 3:19, etc.).
The second is recorded in Mark
16: 15 -
18,
and was given when the Lord appeared to the Eleven as they sat at
meat; and it was carried out by "them that heard
Him", as foretold in Matthew 22:4-7, and fulfilled in
Mark 16:20, as confirmed in
Hebrews 2:3,
4. The
Acts of the Apostles is the inspired history of the fulfillment of this
commission, so far as it is necessary for our instruction. It was given
for the personal ministry of the Apostles, to be fulfilled by them before
the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem.
The third is recorded in Matthew
28: 19,
20,
and was given on a mountain in Galilee (Appendix 169). It
was the proclamation of the King, Who had left Jerusalem, according to the
Parable (Luke 19:12), until He returns
in power to set up His kingdom (26:64). It is the
summons to the Gentile nations to submit to the Lord Jesus, as the king of
Israel, according to Psalm 2:10 - 12. It is the
proclamation of "the Gospel of the Kingdom" (Appendix 140. II)
for a witness to all nations, immediately before the end of the age
(Matthew 24:14. Revelation
14:6). It is still
wholly future in its application, and proclaims the judgment on the
Gentiles for the final deliverance of Israel, according to Psalm
2:9, when verse
6 shall be
fulfilled.
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