The Message: The Apostles’ Missionary Proclamation to Non-Christians

The Apostolic Missionary Sermons

The book of Acts records nine missionary sermons—six to Jews and three to Gentiles: (1) Acts 2:14–36, 38–40; (2) 3:12–26; (3) 4:8–12; (4) 5:29–32; (5) 10:28–29, 34–43; (6) 13:16–41, 46–47; (7) 14:15–17; (8) 17:3; (9) 17:22–31.[1] These sermons give us the clearest record of how the apostles proclaimed the gospel. They reveal what it means to call people to repentance and faith in the living God—how to speak rightly of who He is, what He has done through Jesus Christ, and what He requires of all people everywhere.

Why is it so important to study them in every generation?

  1. Salvation – To understand how God makes people right with him.
    The apostles proclaimed that forgiveness, justification, and new life come through Jesus’s death and bodily resurrection—events witnessed by them and confirmed by God’s exaltation of him as Lord and Christ. They summoned their hearers to repent and believe, promising the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who respond in faith (Acts 2:23–24, 32, 36–39; 5:31–32; 10:39–43; 13:38–39).

  2. Continuity – To preserve the apostolic pattern of proclamation in every generation.
    These sermons provide the Spirit-inspired blueprint for gospel communication: beginning with God as Creator and Judge, unfolding the fulfillment of Scripture in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, declaring his exaltation and the gift of the Spirit, and concluding with the universal call to repent and believe. Studying this pattern protects both message and method from distortion (Acts 2:22–36, 38–39; 10:36–43; 13:16–41; 14:15–17; 17:24–31).

  3. Accountability – To prepare for Jesus’s evaluation of our ministry.
    Every Christian—and especially every gospel messenger—will one day give an account to the risen Christ for how faithfully we have proclaimed his message. The apostles preached under that same awareness of divine judgment and reward, modeling what it means to handle the gospel with integrity and fear of God rather than the approval of people (Acts 17:31; 20:26–27; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Tim 4:1–2).

  4. Discernment – To test modern evangelism by the biblical standard.
    Much contemporary preaching begins with human need or the promise of purpose while minimizing God’s role as Creator and Judge, the seriousness of sin, or the historical resurrection. The sermons in Acts correct this drift by centering on God’s actions and the risen Christ. A message that begins, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan,” but never names the Creator who “made the heaven, the earth, and the sea” or the day he “has set...to judge,” omits the foundation of apostolic truth (Acts 2:32; 10:40–41; 14:15–17; 17:30–31).

  5. Formation – To strengthen the church through Christ-centered preaching.
    The same gospel that converted unbelievers—Jesus crucified, raised, and exalted—also nourished and unified believers. By keeping the cross and resurrection central, churches remain rooted in grace, renewed in worship, and steadfast in witness (Acts 2:32–36, 42; 13:32–39).

  6. Confidence – To rekindle boldness in God’s mission.
    The advance of the gospel in Acts is God’s own work: he raised Jesus, exalted him, poured out the Spirit, opened doors to the nations, and commands all people everywhere to repent. Seeing his sovereign initiative strengthens our courage to proclaim the same message, trusting him to save through the power of his Word (Acts 2:33, 39; 10:44–48; 13:47; 17:26–27, 30–31).

The Main Themes of the Apostles’ Missionary Sermons

The apostles’ missionary sermons in Acts reveal the core message they proclaimed to both Jews and Gentiles. These sermons present a unified pattern of gospel proclamation centered on God’s actions in history through Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. By studying them carefully, we recover the essential truths that shaped early Christian preaching and continue to define the church’s message.

  1. God Rules as Sovereign Creator and Lord of All

    God is the Creator, Lord, Provider, Lawgiver, and Judge over all creation and every person. He made the world, sustains life, commands obedience, and will judge all people in righteousness. (Acts 10:28–29, 34–35; 14:15–17; 17:22–31; see Gen 1:1; Deut 32:4; Matt 19:4; John 1:17; Rom 1:19–23; 2:2–11; Heb 11:3; Jas 1:17; 4:12; 1 John 5:2–3; Rev 4:11)

  2. God Confronts Humanity’s Rebellion and Guilt

    Humanity has rebelled against God and stands guilty before him. People turn from the living God to idols, reject his truth, and commit sins that bring guilt, corruption, and death. Because of sin, all stand under God’s just judgment and in need of forgiveness and renewal. (Acts 2:23, 36, 38; 3:13–15, 19; 13:38–39; 14:15–16; 17:29–31; see Rom 1:18–32; 3:9–20, 23; 5:12–21; 6:23; Eph 2:1–3; Col 1:21; 1 Thess 1:9)

  3. God Fulfills His Promises through Jesus the Messiah

    God fulfilled his promises through Jesus’s arrival, ministry, death, resurrection, exaltation, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the promised Son of Abraham, the greater Moses, the royal Son of David, and the eternal Son of God through whom God brings salvation. These things happened as foretold by the prophets and confirmed by the Scriptures, which God has now fulfilled in Jesus. (Acts 2:16–21, 25–31, 33–35; 3:18, 21–26; 4:11; 10:43; 13:17–26, 32–37, 40–41, 46–47; 17:3; see Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39, 46; Rom 1:1–4; 3:21; 15:8–9; Heb 1:1–2; 1 Pet 1:10–12)

  4. God Confirms Jesus’s Authority through Mighty Works

    God performed miracles through Jesus that attested to his divine authority and saving mission. These signs confirmed that Jesus was God’s appointed servant and Savior, and they bore witness to the power of the coming kingdom. (Acts 2:22; 3:12–13, 16; 4:9–10; 10:37–39; see Matt 8:8–9, 16–17; John 3:2; 5:36; Heb 2:3–4)

  5. God Executes His Redemptive Plan through the Cross and Resurrection

    According to God’s plan and foreknowledge, Jesus was delivered up to be crucified for sins and raised from the dead to vindicate him and offer forgiveness and life. God raised Jesus bodily from the dead, and the apostles testified as eyewitnesses to this event, declaring him vindicated and exalted by God. (Acts 2:23–24, 31–32; 3:13–15, 17, 26; 4:10; 5:30–32; 10:39–41; 13:27–31; 17:3, 31; see Isa 53:4–6; Luke 24:46–48; John 3:14–16; Rom 3:24–26; 4:25; 10:9; 1 Cor 15:1–8; 1 Pet 1:18–20)

  6. God Exalts Jesus and Pours Out the Holy Spirit

    God exalted Jesus to his right hand as Lord, Christ, and Savior, establishing him as ruler over all nations. Salvation and forgiveness are found in him alone, and he has poured out the Holy Spirit on all who believe, empowering his people to bear witness to the ends of the earth. (Acts 2:33–36, 38–39; 3:20–21; 5:31–32; 10:36, 43; 13:38–39; 17:3; see Rom 10:9–12; Eph 1:20–23; Phil 2:9–11; Col 1:13–20; Heb 1:3; 2:3–4; Rev 5:9–13)

  7. God Will Send Jesus Again to Judge and Renew All Things

    God will send Jesus again to judge all people and restore all things under his reign. He will reward those who belong to him and punish those who reject him, bringing the renewal of creation and the fulfillment of his kingdom promises. (Acts 3:20–21; 10:42; 17:31; see Matt 25:31–34; John 5:27–29; Rom 2:5–8; 8:18–23; 2 Thess 1:5–10; 2 Pet 3:7–13; Rev 19:11–16; 21:1–5)

  8. God Calls All People to Repent, Believe, and Receive the Spirit

    God calls all people to repent and believe in Jesus to receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. Repentance and faith bring forgiveness, are expressed through baptism, and result in turning from idols to serve the living God as part of a new community drawn from all nations. This salvation is offered universally, and the Spirit unites believers into one people of God. (Acts 2:38–40; 3:16, 19–20, 26; 4:12; 5:31–32; 10:43; 13:38–39, 46–47; 14:15; 17:30–31; see Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; John 3:16; Acts 1:8; Rom 3:21–26; 10:9–13; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:8, 14, 28; 1 Thess 1:9–10; Titus 3:4–7)

Different Approaches to Evangelism

The points above summarize the main themes from the apostles’ missionary sermons, but the apostles approached evangelism differently depending on the knowledge of their audience. More specifically, their starting point was different.

  1. When the apostles spoke to those who had a basic knowledge of and commitment to the Bible (the Old Testament), they assumed or quickly reviewed foundational truths about God the Father, including his dealings with Israel. For example, when Paul addressed Bible-believing Jews and Gentiles, he taught, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen! The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm” (Acts 13:16–17). His listeners already understood basic truths about God, his Word, the nature of sin, and the need for forgiveness. Put simply, they had a biblical worldview. But they still needed to know truths about the person, words, and works of Jesus Christ.

  2. When the apostles spoke to those who lacked a basic knowledge of and commitment to the Bible, they began by proclaiming foundational truths about God the Father, with an emphasis on God as the Creator and Lord. For example, when Paul addressed worshipers of false gods, he taught, “We are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them” (Acts 14:15; cf. vv. 16–17; 17:22–31). Paul knew that if people do not understand basic truths about God, then truths about sin and judgment, Jesus’s death and resurrection, and turning from sin and trusting in Jesus will make little sense.

How Modern Evangelism Often Differs from the Apostolic Message

Understanding how the apostles adapted their message clarifies not only what they said but also how far modern presentations sometimes drift from their model. The apostles proclaimed the gospel as the announcement of God’s saving reign in Jesus Christ—rooted in history, centered on Christ’s death and resurrection, and demanding repentance and faith. By contrast, much of today’s evangelism reduces the gospel to a personal invitation or emotional appeal, often disconnected from the larger biblical story of creation, sin, judgment, and redemption.

  1. The apostles began with God, not us. In Acts, every sermon begins with God’s character and authority—his role as Creator, Lord, and Judge (Acts 14:15–17; 17:24–31). This orientation places humanity in its proper position as creatures accountable to their Maker. Modern evangelism often begins instead with human need or desire (“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”), skipping over the reality of divine holiness and human rebellion. Without a biblical view of God, sin and salvation lose their meaning.

  2. The apostles proclaimed Jesus’s identity and work in history. Their message was not abstract theology or moral exhortation but a declaration of what God had actually done in time and space through Jesus: his life, miracles, death, resurrection, and exaltation (Acts 2:22–36; 10:39–43; 13:23–39). Modern presentations sometimes reduce Jesus to a spiritual helper or moral teacher rather than Lord, Christ, and Judge over all creation (Acts 2:36; 17:31).

  3. The apostles emphasized repentance and faith as the response. Every sermon calls hearers to turn from sin and trust in Jesus (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30). Repentance is not merely sorrow for sin but a decisive turning to God in allegiance to Christ. Modern evangelism can obscure this by focusing on quick decisions, emotional experiences, or “praying a prayer,” without addressing repentance, obedience, or baptism as the biblical expression of saving faith.

  4. The apostles proclaimed the church as the context for discipleship. Conversion in Acts always led to incorporation into the body of believers (Acts 2:41–47; 11:21–26). Yet modern evangelism sometimes presents faith as a private, individual experience rather than entry into the new community of the kingdom—Christ’s church—where believers are discipled and sent on mission.

  5. The apostles kept the focus on God’s glory and coming kingdom. They proclaimed the gospel not only for personal salvation but so that people from every nation would worship the risen Christ and live under his reign (Acts 13:47; 15:14–17). Much of today’s evangelism centers on human benefit—peace, happiness, or purpose—rather than God’s glory revealed in Christ.

Recovering the apostles’ evangelistic framework is crucial for our time. Their message combined truth and urgency, grace and repentance, personal appeal and cosmic scope. By aligning our gospel presentations with theirs, we ensure that our message remains the same one “by which you are being saved” (1 Cor. 15:1–2).

The Apostolic Gospel and the Whole Church

The apostles never separated the message of salvation from the formation of a people. The gospel that saves also gathers, strengthens, and sends. Wherever the apostles preached, new believers were gathered, baptized, and instructed to continue in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and mission (Acts 2:41–47; 14:21–23). Evangelism, discipleship, and church formation were inseparable in their ministry. Recovering this vision helps ensure that our evangelistic efforts today produce healthy, multiplying churches rooted in the apostolic gospel.

The Apostolic Gospel and the Nations

The book of Acts shows that the gospel transcends every culture. The apostles adapted their starting points and illustrations but never altered the substance of their message. Whether addressing devout Jews in Jerusalem or philosophers in Athens, they proclaimed the same Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world (Acts 4:12; 17:31). Faithful evangelism today must recover that same balance of contextual sensitivity and theological clarity—communicating one unchanging gospel in diverse cultural contexts.

Conclusion

The apostolic gospel is both timeless and transformative. It announces what God has done through Jesus Christ and calls all people everywhere to repent, believe, and be gathered into his church. When our preaching and witness align with the apostles’ message, we participate in the same mission that first turned the world upside down—and is still doing so today.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. Consider the person or people who led you to become a Christian. How did they explain what you needed to believe and do to become a Christian?

  2. Compare your answer to Question 1 with the key themes in the apostles’ preaching. What was similar? What was different?

  3. What is a worldview? What are some of the basic beliefs and values within a Christian worldview? How would you describe the worldview of one or more of the non-Christians in your life? For example, what do they believe regarding God (or ultimate reality), humanity’s greatest problem, the solution to that problem, and their standard for moral living?

  4. In your own words, explain how the apostles approached evangelism differently depending on whether their audience was knowledgeable about the Bible or not.

  5. Why is it essential to begin gospel conversations with God’s character and authority rather than human need or desire. How does this starting point shape the rest of the message?

  6. How does recovering the apostles’ gospel framework—God, humanity, Christ, response—help keep evangelism and discipleship united? What might change in your own ministry or conversations if you used this framework?

  7. What practical steps could your church or network take to ensure that evangelism leads to the formation of healthy, multiplying churches rather than isolated converts?

[1] See Schnabel, Acts, 127–129; idem., Paul the Missionary, 155–208; Schreiner, Handbook on Acts and Paul’s Letters, 12–15, 23–25, 26–28, 33–35. While Acts 17:3 is a brief summary rather than a full sermon unit, it contains direct recorded speech in which Paul proclaims Jesus as the Messiah who suffered and rose from the dead. Because it captures the core content of Paul’s missionary message, it is included here among the apostles’ missionary sermons.