16:15 preach the gospel. Christ’s “great commission” appears in one form or another in every gospel and Acts but this is the most succinct, yet comprehensive, statement of it. Christ died for all and He desires that all know it. This is His command to every believer.

16:16 shall be saved. Every true believer should gladly give testimony to his new life in Christ by following Him in baptism. Those who refuse or ignore this command should examine the reality of their professed faith. Baptism is clearly a part of the great commission (Matthew 28:19) and normally is to follow immediately upon true repentance and faith in Christ (e.g., Acts 2:38,41). Nevertheless, it is faith in Christ that saves, not faith plus baptism. As this verse says, “he that believeth not”—not he that is not baptized—is unsaved. This is the clear testimony of many Scriptures (e.g., John 3:18,36), as well as Christ’s promise to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:43).