First, the passages we've got:
Matthew 28:
[sup]16[/sup] Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [sup]17[/sup] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [sup]18[/sup] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [sup]19[/sup] 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, [sup]20[/sup] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:
[sup]14[/sup] Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. [sup]15[/sup] He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. [sup]16[/sup] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. [sup]17[/sup] And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [sup]18[/sup] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Luke 24:
[sup]45[/sup] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [sup]46[/sup] He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [sup]47[/sup] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [sup]48[/sup] You are witnesses of these things. [sup]49[/sup] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
<Who is "them"? v33, "There they found the Eleven and those with them">
Acts 1:
[sup]7[/sup] He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. [sup]8[/sup] 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.”
<Who is "them"? v2, "to the apostles he had chosen.">
John 20:
[sup]19[/sup] On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” [sup]20[/sup] After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. [sup]21[/sup] Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” [sup]22[/sup] And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [sup]23[/sup] If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Now, we know from Acts he appeared to them on multiple occasions. And indeed we know from the above, there are at least two different instances being spoken of. (one in Galilee and one in Jerusalem). But who is the audience? In all but one instance it appears to be the 11. In that one instance there's actually no command given other than "wait in the city".
Thoughts?
Matthew 28:
[sup]16[/sup] Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [sup]17[/sup] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [sup]18[/sup] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [sup]19[/sup] 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, [sup]20[/sup] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:
[sup]14[/sup] Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. [sup]15[/sup] He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. [sup]16[/sup] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. [sup]17[/sup] And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [sup]18[/sup] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Luke 24:
[sup]45[/sup] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [sup]46[/sup] He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [sup]47[/sup] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [sup]48[/sup] You are witnesses of these things. [sup]49[/sup] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
<Who is "them"? v33, "There they found the Eleven and those with them">
Acts 1:
[sup]7[/sup] He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. [sup]8[/sup] 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.”
<Who is "them"? v2, "to the apostles he had chosen.">
John 20:
[sup]19[/sup] On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” [sup]20[/sup] After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. [sup]21[/sup] Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” [sup]22[/sup] And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [sup]23[/sup] If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Now, we know from Acts he appeared to them on multiple occasions. And indeed we know from the above, there are at least two different instances being spoken of. (one in Galilee and one in Jerusalem). But who is the audience? In all but one instance it appears to be the 11. In that one instance there's actually no command given other than "wait in the city".
Thoughts?
