The Bible Book

277

after Judas’s betrayal and suicide—

have become “Apostles,” from the

Greek word meaning “sent.” For

three years, Jesus has drawn them

closer to Him, demonstrating the

reality of God’s kingdom through

stories, teaching, and miracles.

Now, His “inner circle” can no longer

stay by His side, but must go and

announce the good news of Jesus

and His resurrection to all the world.

A blessing for all

The Great Commission must have

been both daunting and exciting

for a group of ordinary men from

Galilee and Judea. For a long time,

the Jewish people had thought

that the appeal of their God would

bring people of all nations streaming

to the Temple of Jerusalem. Converts,

or proselytes, would then have to

commit to Jewish customs of life

and faith. The Great Commission

subverts this idea. Rather than

people converging on Jerusalem,

the apostles must go from the city

to the four corners of the world,

even to those Gentiles who have

no regard for Jewish faith at all.

Baptism in the name of the Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit becomes the

initiation ritual for new believers.

Those who are baptized must

center their lives, not on the Temple

in Jerusalem, but on Jesus and His

presence in their lives through the

Holy Spirit. The Great Commission

thus fulfills an older promise given

to Abraham that through his

descendants “all people on earth

will be blessed”.

After two millennia, the Great

Commission remains a regular

impetus of the Christian faith. The

teachings of Jesus reached the

THE GOSPELS

Spread of early Christianity

Key:

1. Londinium


2. Lutetia


3. Colonia


4. Massalia


5. Rome


6. Syracuse


7. Athens


8. Pergamum


9. Ephesus


10. Sirmium


11. Byzantium


12. Sinope


13. Antioch


14. Damascus


15. Jerusalem


16. Alexandria


17. Memphis


18. Cyrene


19. Carthage


20. Caesarea


21. Tingis


22. Gades


23. Corduba


24. Carthago Nova


25. Tarraoo


26. Burdigala

ends of the known earth within

the first two centuries ce. Today, the

mission is as focused on sharing

the message of the resurrection as

it is about journeying to the other

side of the world. ■

AFRICA

EUROPE

ASIA

Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea

Caspian Sea

North

Sea

Red Sea

Atlantic

Ocean

Area mostly Christian

by 325 ACE

Area mostly Christian

by 600 ACE

Spread of Christianity

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

14

13

12

15

16

17

20

19

18

21

22

23

26

25

24

Therefore I want you

to know that God’s

salvation has been

sent to the Gentiles,

and they will listen!

Acts 28:28

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