16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [28:17] And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some were of two minds. [28:18] And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [28:19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [28:20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And look — I am with you all the days, until the end of the age.'
MAT 28:16-20
The Great Commission
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, authority was deeply tied to social hierarchy and divine mandate. Jesus’ claim to “all authority in heaven and on earth” would have been heard as a cosmic assertion of sovereignty, echoing imperial Roman claims but rooted in Jewish apocalyptic expectations of God’s reign. The disciples’ worship reflects the cultural practice of prostration before a superior, whether a king, deity, or divine emissary. The mention of doubt highlights the tension between faith and uncertainty, a common theme in Jewish narratives of divine encounters. Baptizing “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” would have been striking, as baptism was a Jewish ritual of purification, but here it is expanded to include Gentiles , signaling a universal mission. The command to teach observance of Jesus’ words aligns with Jewish emphasis on Torah obedience, now reinterpreted around Jesus’ teachings. The promise of Jesus’ presence “to the end of the age” echoes Jewish covenantal assurances of God’s enduring faithfulness.
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How other translations render this
MAT 28:16
- KJV
- Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
- BSB
- Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.
- Koinōnos
- Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
MAT 28:17
- KJV
- And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
- BSB
- When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
- Koinōnos
- And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some were of two minds.
MAT 28:18
- KJV
- And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
- BSB
- Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
MAT 28:19
- KJV
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- BSB
- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
- Koinōnos
- Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
MAT 28:20
- KJV
- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
- BSB
- and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Koinōnos
- teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And look — I am with you all the days, until the end of the age.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.”
Cited to ground: baptism was a Jewish ritual of purification, but here it is expanded to include Gentiles
Translator's notes
MAT 28:17
- they worshiped:The word translated 'worshiped' here implies prostrating oneself before another, often in homage or reverence, as one would before a king or deity.
- however:The word translated 'however' or 'doubted' suggests a state of being of two minds, wavering between belief and unbelief, rather than outright disbelief.
MAT 28:18
- authority:The word translated 'authority' refers to the right or power to act, often implying a delegated or inherent right to command and control.
MAT 28:19
- nations:The word translated 'nations' often referred to distinct ethnic or cultural groups, including non-Israelite peoples, rather than just political states or countries.