Luke 24:47

Ver. 47,48. The few words in Luke 24:47 are comprehensive of the great duty of the apostles:

1. To preach repentance and remission of sins.

2. In Christ's name.

3. To all nations. 4. Beginning at Jerusalem. They were to preach repentance, that is, a turning from sinful courses into a course of life consonant to the will of God; and remission of sins, that is, upon repentance; this they were to preach in his name, which may refer either to their preaching; then our Saviour lets them know that they were to be his ministers, and to preach by his authority, to be ambassadors for Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20, stewards of his mysteries. Or else it may refer to repentance and remission of sins, which are to be preached in his name, for the sake of merits and satisfaction. They were to preach this among all nations. This was prophesied of plentifully, Psalms 2:8 Isaiah 49:6 Daniel 7:14 Hosea 2:23 Joel 2:32. This was a piece of Divine revelation which Christ had till this time concealed in a great measure; when he sent out the twelve, Matthew 5:5, he commanded them not to go to the Gentiles. Beginning at Jerusalem, that is, amongst the Jews. He was prophesied of under the notion of a King, to be set upon the Lord's holy hill of Zion, Psalms 2:6. So Psalms 110:2 Isaiah 2:3, Isaiah 28:16 45:1. In pursuance of this, we shall find the apostles preaching only in Judea, till they had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, then they, turned to the Gentiles, Acts 13:38,46.