What to do?

The specific actions of those who first believed in Jesus are recorded in several places. A popular scripture taken as a command of Jesus to His disciples is recorded in, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” - Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV). This is usually bolstered by a reference from another disciple, “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld,” – Jn. 20:21-23 (ESV). These linked references tend to focus specifically on the disciples. The Matthew passage can also be interpreted as “as you go,” instead of just, “go.” He would later tell His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (ESV). We can see examples of believers understanding this scripture, just so. This is revealed as Jews left Jerusalem. Luke states, “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” – Acts 8:4 (ESV). While the forgiveness of sins may be limited to the disciples, Jesus' desire for all His disciples to spread the news about His work wherever they went is not. These statements are the ones Jesus wanted His Jewish disciples and proselytes to remember. Later these would be expanded to all believers. Jesus provided a path for salvation and wants all believers to regard others as equals with Him in a relationship to God, one in which the Holy Spirit lives within them. All believers have unique talents and abilities, and each believer is crucial to creating the complete group of people that serve Jesus, the Kingdom. It is then those members who extend grace to other believers and consider unbelievers or uncommitted worthy and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them as they attempt to introduce and lead them to Jesus. This is what Jesus expects His disciples to do.