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Mat 28:19. [1232] Πορευθέντες οὖν, κτλ., go ye therefore, etc.) This injunction, to go forth, presupposes the waiting for the Paraclete mentioned in Luk 24:49. It is the sum of the Acts, which may with that view be profitably compared with the Gospels, the sum of which is “all things whatsoever I have commanded.”-μαθητεύσατε-βαπτίζοντες, discipulize-baptizing) The verb, μαθητεύειν, signifies to make disciples; it includes baptism and teaching; cf. Joh 4:1, with the present passage.-αὐτούς, them) sc. τὰ ἔθνη, the nations, a synthesis[1233] of frequent occurrence; see ch. Mat 25:32, etc. The Jews who had been already brought into covenant with God by circumcision, were to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; see Act 2:38. It is plainly commanded by these words of Institution, that the Gentiles should be baptized “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;” they had been altogether aliens from God; see Gnomon on Eph 3:6, and cf. Gnomon on Act 11:21. The Gentiles, mentioned in Acts 10 were not altogether ignorant of the God of Israel, nor altogether aliens from Him. The Jews, who had once acknowledged Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, could not but by that very act acknowledge the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of the Son.-εἰς τὸ ὄνομα, κ.τ.λ., into the name, etc.[1234]) This formula of Baptism is most solemn and important; in fact it embraces the sum of all piety.[1235] After our Lord’s resurrection, the mystery of the Holy Trinity was most clearly revealed, together with the relations of the Divine Persons to each other and to us (see Gnomon on Rom 8:9); and since the confession of the Holy Trinity was so closely interwoven with Baptism, it is not to be wondered at, that it is not frequently put thus expressly in the Scriptures of the New Testament.
[1232] The Saviour, when brought back from the dead, very frequently enjoined upon His Apostles the office of preaching the Gospel (Joh 20:21; Joh 21:15). The Evangelists, therefore, might present a summary of such injunctions, according as this or that opportunity presented itself. Matthew connects this summary with His appearance in Galilee; Luke records it after that appearing, ch. Mat 24:49, nay, at Jerusalem, up to and upon the day of His ascension. Comp. Act 1:2, etc. And we may conjecture the same as to Mark, from ch. Mat 16:15; Mat 16:19.-Harm., p. 612.
[1233] The word synthesis is not used here in its logical or mathematical sense, but as a technico-grammatical term, representing the figure otherwise called synesis; i.e. a joining together of words with respect to the idea conveyed, and not to the word by which it is expressed: see Riddle in vocc. In the present passage τὰ ἔθνη, the nations, are neuter and aggregate; αὐτούς, them, masculine and individual. This is Bengel’s meaning.-(I. B.)
[1234] Engl. Vers. “In the name.-(I. B.)
[1235] At the baptism of Christ Jesus Himself, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost manifested themselves [cf. Gnomon on ch. Mat 3:16-17]. The entire Sum of Saving knowledge and doctrine is bound up with Baptism: and all the Ancient Creeds and Confessions of Faith are, in fact, a Periphrasis and Working-out [Ausführung, rendered by E. B. ἐξεργασία] of this incomparably momentous Formula of Baptism.-B. G. V.