Been thinking about 'the last words of Jesus' before His accession.
The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 is often referred to in this context ... with the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) stepping in to feed a guilt trip about not 'doing enough'.
Luke has a different ending ... 'command to wait for power followed by a blessing' Luke 24:49-50.
In Acts 1:8 Luke reminds us that they were waiting for power.
He also speaks of you will be witnesses ... to ends of the earth - statement of fact, not a command to witness!
Luke then records that nothing much happened about the going until the church at Jerusalem was scattered by persecution Acts 8:1-4.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
I picture this as conversations in market places when answering the question 'What brings you to town?'.
Lets go back to Matthew 28:19. A couple of things come to mind ...
Beware of making a pretext by taking a verse out of context and when you see a therefore ask 'what is it therefore?'!
So back to Matthew 28:18
Jesus declares All authority - so going in His name I am carrying His authority.
I fear hearing the challenge of " Who gave you the authority to ..." - same challenge Jesus received Matthew 21:23
Go back to Matthew 28:17
We read some doubted - Jesus standing with them, yet still ...
This was the 11 not the 500 or so who saw Him after the resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
What was the doubt? ... "How is this all going to work out, how are we going to get rid of the Romans?" Acts 1:6
Was this a new command to go or a reminder of Genesis 1:28?
Be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it.
This reminds me of John 15:1-8 where Jesus speaks of Himself as being the vine and us the branches bearing fruit. The branches do not have to struggle and strive to bear fruit, they bear fruit simply by being connected to the vine. Back to my earlier comment about market place conversations.
That passage in John 15 is preceded by Jesus promising the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-30.
Which takes us back to Luke who wrote about 'waiting for power' before the witnessing could start.
How long to wait for? ... no record that Jesus gave them any indication that they would be waiting until the day of Pentecost.
Acts 1:7 and experience would suggest not.
Again no indication that anyone figured out from Old Testament prophecy that power would come at Pentecost!
But on the day of Pentecost Peter could stand up and boldy proclaim "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel ..."!
Making disciples?
Jesus spoke of making discples of nations not disciples in nations.
Jesus not speaking of national political entities but ethnic groups.
This is discipling which affects the whole nation - politics, culture, commerce, family, religion, education, entertainment
See https://www.generals.org/the-seven-mountains
Not a few (or thousands) here and there, or even everyone - but the nation changed by the gospel.
I live in a country (the UK) with a history of persecution where by the mercy of God working through many people (some well known like Wesley, Wilberforce *) has been discipled to some degree, a heritage which is now slowly being dismantled (oh, they won't repeal the ban on slavery ... but!). Reminded of the cry of Gideon in a similar climate "where are all His wonders" Judges 6:13. If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and seek my face ... 2 Chronicles 7:14
Or are we of those who have a form of religion without power 2 Timothy 3:5?
Those who call on the Lord but as Psalm 139:20-21 (CSV) puts it "refuse to obey and rebel'.
* Interesting reading the books of Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles - we have the big name prophets like Elijah and Elisha but lots of other briefly mentioned prophets (many unnamed) who spoke the word of the Lord ... and He confirmed with signs following!