(Thanks, Ivan, for the inspiration for this)
Last night at our midweek service it was pointed out how often the word “proclaim” shows up in the book of Acts. The point was made that sharing our faith is more than just inviting someone to church. So I thought it would be worthwhile to look at exactly what the earliest disciples were proclaiming. For this I’m using the Holman Christian Standard Bible.
- But Peter stood up… and proclaimed to them… this Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. (Acts 2:14, 36)
- …they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus. (4:2)
- Every day… they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Messiah is Jesus. (5:42)
- So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news. (8:4)
- …Philip…proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (8:12)
- Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.” (9:20)
- He sent the message to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all. (10:36)
- But there were some of them… who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. (11:20)
- …they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues… (13:5)
- And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our forefathers. (13:32)
- Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you (13:38)
- …we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God… (14:15)
- But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord. (15:35)
- “These men are the slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” (16:17)
- “This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you.” (17:3)
- …God’s message had been proclaimed by Paul… (17:13)
- …Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you… When they heard about the resurrection of the dead… (17:23,32)
- …I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable… (20:20)
- …the Messiah…would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles. (26:23)
- proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance. (28:31)
A couple things I find interesting here. One, how often proclaiming was accompanied with teaching. And two, how often what was being proclaimed was Jesus, period.
Evangelism doesn’t have to be complicated. We only have to proclaim our savior, Jesus Christ. And we need to do so, as that last verse attests, with full boldness and without hindrance. It is good news. Share it.