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What the Bible Says About Missions

Overview

The Bible addresses missions across 60 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Acts, Psalms and Jonah. Closely related themes include Joppa, Vision, Jonah and Nineveh. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Peter, Jonah, Cornelius and Barnabas.

Key Bible verses about missions

Old Testament

Psalms

Psalms 18:49

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. give: or, confess

Psalms 96:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

Psalms 96:2

Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Psalms 96:3

Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

Psalms 96:4

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalms 96:5

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Psalms 96:6

Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalms 96:7

Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Psalms 96:8

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. due: Heb. of his name

Psalms 96:9

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. in the: or, in the glorious sanctuary

Psalms 96:10

Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

Psalms 96:11

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. the fulness: or, all it containeth

Psalms 96:12

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

Psalms 96:13

Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Jonah

Jonah 3:1

And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

Jonah 3:2

Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

Jonah 3:3

So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. exceeding: Heb. of God

Jonah 3:4

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

Jonah 3:5

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Jonah 3:6

For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Jonah 3:7

And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: published: Heb. said nobles: Heb. great men

Jonah 3:8

But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

Jonah 3:9

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

New Testament

Acts

Acts 10:9

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Acts 10:10

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Acts 10:11

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Acts 10:12

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Acts 10:13

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Acts 10:14

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Acts 10:15

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Acts 10:16

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Acts 10:17

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

Acts 10:18

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

Acts 10:19

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Acts 10:20

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Acts 13:3

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:4

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:47

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Acts 26:14

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 26:15

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Acts 26:16

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Acts 26:17

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Acts 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

People in the Bible and missions

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying missions for yourself

  • Begin with 2 Kings 17:27, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Acts, Psalms and Jonah each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Peter, Jonah and Cornelius and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Joppa, Vision, Jonah and Nineveh.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about missions?

The Bible addresses missions across 60 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Acts, Psalms and Jonah. Closely related themes include Joppa, Vision, Jonah and Nineveh. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Peter, Jonah, Cornelius and Barnabas.

How many Bible verses are about missions?

The Bible references missions in 60 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention missions?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Kings 17:27: “Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with missions?

Peter, Jonah, Cornelius, Barnabas and Jesus.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on missions.

Preach a series on Missions