The Commissioning of the Disciples

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.¹⁷When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality,³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.³⁶You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.³⁷That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.³⁹We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;⁴⁰but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,⁴¹not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.⁴⁵The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,⁴⁶for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said,⁴⁷‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’⁴⁸So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.