The challenge given by Christ to His followers just before His ascension has sparked missionary activity all over the world ever since the present age began.
He commanded the eleven to go, teach and baptize all nations, Matt. 28:18-20. The RV changes the word teach to “make disciples of.” His words as they were given on another occasion, recorded in Mark 16:15, called for preaching the gospel to every creature. Preaching in His name among all nations is the theme of Luke 24:47.
Our Lord’s last words are recorded in Acts 1:8. Perhaps the most famous missionary text in the Bible, they are a command to bear witness in the power of the Holy Spirit unto the uttermost part of the earth. The orderly progress of this testimony was to be in Jerusalem where the apostles were at the time, then in the surrounding area and the adjoining region, and finally to the far places.
The most comprehensive commission is found in Acts 26:16-18. Christ appeared to Paul for the purpose of making him a minister and a witness among the Gentiles. He was made responsible to open their eyes, 2 Cor. 4:3, 4; to turn them from darkness to light, Col. 1:13; and from the power of Satan to God, Heb. 2:14, 15, so that they could receive forgiveness, Eph. 1:7 and an inheritance, 1 Pet. 1:3, 4.
William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, (Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Assoc., 1912), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 295-296.
AMEN & AMEN.