The Message: The Apostles’ Missionary Proclamation to Non-Christians

Overview

The book of Acts records eight missionary sermons—five to Jews and three to Gentiles (Acts 2:14–36, 38–40; 3:12–26; 4:8–12, 19–20; 5:29–32; 10:28–29, 34–43, 47; 13:16–41, 46–47; 14:15–17; 17:22–31).[1] Studying these sermons is one of the most effective ways to clarify and preserve the message we proclaim to non-Christians, so they can be reconciled to God. But the apostles also taught these truths to strengthen Christians, and therefore Christ-centered preaching must always remain central in the life of the church (Rom. 1:15; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Thess. 2:2; 1 Pet. 1:18–21; Rev. 1:5).

Detailed Explanation

The Main Themes of the Apostles’ Missionary Sermons

The following statements summarize the main themes in the apostles’ missionary sermons.

  1. God is the Creator, Lord, Provider, Lawgiver, and Judge of all people and things (Acts 10:28, 34–35; 14:15–17; 17:24–31; see Matt. 19:4; Luke 1:46–47; John 1:17; Rom. 1:20, 25; 2:2–11; Heb. 11:3; James 1:17; 4:12; 1 John 5:2–3; Rev. 4:11).

  2. God fulfilled his promises in the Old Testament in Jesus’s arrival on earth, ministry, death, resurrection, and exaltation, and, after Jesus’s ascension to God, in the arrival and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Son of Abraham, the Son of Moses, the Son of David, and, most profoundly, the Son of God (Acts 2:16­–21, 25–31, 33–35; 3:18, 21–26; 4:11; 10:43; 13:17–26, 32–37, 40–41, 47; see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:46; Rom. 1:1–2; 3:21; Heb. 1:1–2; 1 Pet. 1:10–12).

  3. God performed miracles through Jesus that attested to Jesus’s divine identity (Acts 2:22; 3:12–13, 16; 4:9–10; 10:37–39; see Matt. 8:8–9, 16–17; John 3:2; Heb. 2:4).

  4. According to God’s plan and foreknowledge, he delivered up Jesus to be killed on a cross by sinful men to atone for sins, and God raised him from the dead to vindicate him (Acts 2:23–24, 32, 36; 3:13–15, 17, 26; 4:10, 19–20; 5:30, 32; 10:36, 39–41; 13:27–31; 17:31; see Matt. 26:39; John 3:14; Rom. 3:21–26; 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:1–4; 1 Pet. 1:18–20; 1 John 2:1–2).

  5. God exalted Jesus to his right hand as Lord, Christ, and Savior (Acts 2:33, 36; 3:20; 5:31; 10:36; see Matt. 22:41–46; 26:64; John 6:61–62; 20:17; Eph. 1:20–23; Phil. 2:9–11; Heb. 1:3).

  6. God will send Jesus back to earth to judge all people, at which time all things will be restored (Acts 3:20–21; 10:42, 17:31; see Matt. 25:31–34; John 5:27; 14:1–3; 2 Thess. 1:5–10; Rev. 19:11–16).

  7. Those who hear must repent (turn away from sin) and trust in Jesus in order to receive God’s gifts of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. New believers are baptized to express their faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38–40; 3:16, 19–20, 26; 4:12; 5:31–32; 10:43, 47; 13:38–39; 14:15; 17:30; see Mark 1:15; John 3:16; 20:31; Gal. 2:16; 1 Thess. 1:9).

Different Approaches to Evangelism

The points above summarize the main themes from the apostles’ missionary sermons, but the apostles approached evangelism differently depending on the knowledge of their audience. More specifically, their starting point was different.

  1. When the apostles spoke to those who had a basic knowledge of and commitment to the Bible (the Old Testament), he assumed or quickly reviewed foundational truths about God the Father, including his dealings with Israel. For example, when Paul addressed Bible-believing Jews and gentiles, he taught, “16…Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen! 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm” (Acts 13:16–17). His listeners already understood basic truths about God, his Word, the nature of sin, and the need for forgiveness. Put simply, they had a biblical worldview. But they still needed to know truths about the person, words, and works of Jesus Christ.

  2. When the apostles spoke to those who lacked a basic knowledge of and commitment to the Bible, he began by proclaiming foundational truths about God the Father, with an emphasis on God as the Creator and Lord. For example, when Paul addressed worshippers of false gods, he taught, “15…We are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them” (Acts 14:15; cf. vv. 16–17; 17:22–31). Paul knew that if people do not understand basic truths about God, then truths about sin and judgment, Jesus’s death and resurrection, and turning from sin and trusting in Jesus will make little sense.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. Consider the person(s) who led you to become a Christian. How did they explain what you needed to believe and do to become a Christian?

  2. Compare your answer to #1 above with the key themes in the apostles’ preaching. What was similar? What was different?

  3. What is a worldview? What are some of the basic beliefs and values within a Christian worldview? How would you describe the worldview of one or more of the non-Christians in your life? For example, what do they believe regarding God (or the ultimate reality), humanity’s biggest problem, the solution to that problem, and their standard for ethical living?

  4. In your own words, explain how the apostles approached evangelism differently based on whether their audience was knowledgeable about the Bible or not.

[1] See Schnabel, Acts, 127–129; idem., Paul the Missionary, 155–208; Schreiner, Handbook on Acts and Paul’s Letters, 12–15, 23–25, 26–28, 33–35.