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Matthew 28:19-20 contains what has come to be called the Great
Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end
of the age.” Jesus gave this command to the apostles shortly
before He ascended into heaven, and it essentially outlines what
Jesus expected the apostles, and those who followed them, to do
in His absence.

It is interesting that in the original Greek, the only specific
command in Matthew 28:19-20 is “make disciples.” The Great
Commission instructs us to make disciples while we are going
throughout the world and while we are going about our daily
activities. How are we to make disciples? By baptizing them and
teaching them all that Jesus commanded. “Make disciples” is the
command of the Great Commission. “As you are going,”
“baptizing,” and “teaching” are the means by which we fulfill the
command to “make disciples.”

Many understand Acts 1:8 as part of the Great Commission as
well, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Great Commission
is enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to be Christ's
witnesses, fulfilling the Great Commission in our cities
(Jerusalem), in our states and countries (Judea and Samaria), and
anywhere else God sends us (to the ends of the earth).