The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion I. The Founding of the Church (Acts 1:1-8:3) Preliminary questions: only in Acts Preliminary questions: only in Acts 1. How did Jesus’ disciples, mostly uneducated Galileans, influence the entire Roman world? 2. What changed these men, who fled in fear at the arrest who fled in fear at the arrest and death of Jesus, into fearless and death of Jesus, into fearless advocates for worshiping Jesus advocates for worshiping Jesus as Lord and God? as Lord and God?

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 3. How could these men set in motion ideas that changed the culture of the Western world? 3. How could these men set in motion ideas that changed the culture of the Western world? 4. How did the original teachings of the Christians take shape? 4. How did the original teachings of the Christians take shape? 5. What is the relationship of the letters of the NT to the Gospels? 5. What is the relationship of the letters of the NT to the Gospels? 6. How did an entirely Jewish group become a mostly Gentile movement? 6. How did an entirely Jewish group become a mostly Gentile movement? > The book of Acts, the only > The book of Acts, the only existing link between the existing link between the ministry of Christ and the ministry of Christ and the Christianity of NT. Christianity of NT.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion B. The Record: Acts (“volume two” to Luke) 1. Introduction— 1. Introduction— a. Theophilus as patron, just as Luke. b. V. 1, “all that Jesus began to do and to teach,” description do and to teach,” description of the contents of Luke. of the contents of Luke. c. Acts, same purpose as Luke— ”to give confidence about the historical accuracy of the events involving the accuracy of the events involving the followers of Jesus in the years after his followers of Jesus in the years after his death and resurrection”. death and resurrection”.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion C. Outline: three methods of organization. 1. Geographical outline suggested in Jesus’ directive to his apostles: 1. Geographical outline suggested in Jesus’ directive to his apostles: 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 (1:8). I. Beginnings: Jerusalem (1:12-8:3) II. Transition: Samaria (8:4-11:18) III. Expansion to Gentiles: Paul (11:1-21:16) IV. Paul in Prison in Rome (21:17-28:31)

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 2. Record of growth of the church. a. beginning--about 120 members in Jerusalem (1:15) b. about 3,000 in one day (2:41); c. 5,000 men (4:4); continued to grow (5:14); d. grew rapidly in Jerusalem, priests (6:7), etc. 3. Key individuals— 3. Key individuals— a. Peter in chapters 1-5, first public preaching b. Stephen in 6 and 7, first Christian martyr c. Barnabas and Philip (and Saul) in 8-12, firsts d. Paul through the end of the book: missionary expansion.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion >At every point in which modern archeology has provided information to test the accuracy of Luke’s information, he has been upheld. C. Content: theme--the growth of the church—geographically and numerically--especially from Judaism to the Gentile world C. Content: theme--the growth of the church—geographically and numerically--especially from Judaism to the Gentile world 1. Geographic: not exhaustive 1. Geographic: not exhaustive a. Luke’s own experience a. Luke’s own experience (“we” sections). (“we” sections). b. Jerusalem (Antioch, Ephesus, Macedonia Ephesus, Macedonia and Greece), eventually and Greece), eventually to Rome. to Rome.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 2.Historic: Paul, leader of the mission to the 2.Historic: Paul, leader of the mission to the Gentiles. Gentiles. a. time period--ascension of Jesus, AD 29, to a. time period--ascension of Jesus, AD 29, to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, AD 60. b. The proconsulship of Gallio (Acts 18:12) has been definitely dated at AD 52-53, and the rest of the events are determined in relationship to that information b. The proconsulship of Gallio (Acts 18:12) has been definitely dated at AD 52-53, and the rest of the events are determined in relationship to that information

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 3. Ethnic: the first Gentile church was at Antioch, a. Disciples were first called “Christians.” b. Barnabas went there, enlisted the help of Saul, who had returned to his home in Tarsus. c. From Antioch the first preaching mission to the Gentile world set out mission to the Gentile world set out d. All activities were guided by the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 4. The book also has an apologetic character: a. shows the relationship between the church a. shows the relationship between the church and local government in a positive light. and local government in a positive light. b. Whenever civil unrest occurred, it was not b. Whenever civil unrest occurred, it was not the Christian community at fault, c. Numerous Roman officials acknowledged. c. Numerous Roman officials acknowledged. d. Luke shows that the new revelation of God’s d. Luke shows that the new revelation of God’s will was for all people. will was for all people.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion 5. Answers the question, “What must I do to be saved?” 5. Answers the question, “What must I do to be saved?” a. Eight specific case studies of groups and individuals, Jews and Gentiles, men and women: a. Eight specific case studies of groups and individuals, Jews and Gentiles, men and women: *Jews on Pentecost *Samaritans *Ethiopian eunuch *Saul of Tarsus *Cornelius *Lydia *jailor *disciples of John b. teaching in the earliest days of the church. b. teaching in the earliest days of the church.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation II. The Foundation (1:1-8:3) A. No sharp break from Judaism A. No sharp break from Judaism 1. Frequented synagogues, temple for prayer 2. Studied the OT Scriptures as their Bible. 3. Early controversy--accepting Gentiles into membership, required to be circumcised. membership, required to be circumcised. 4. Yet, the foundation of Christian teaching (eventually led to separation) (eventually led to separation) --the resurrection of Jesus --the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as the final from the dead as the final proof that he was the Son of God. proof that he was the Son of God.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation B. Pentecost is “the birthday of the church.” disciples, chose Matthias, waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed them disciples, chose Matthias, waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed them. 2. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, as Jesus had promised. 2. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, as Jesus had promised. 3. Spoke human languages they had not studied, (everyone could hear in their native language) 3. Spoke human languages they had not studied, (everyone could hear in their native language) 4. Peter and the other apostles explained 4. Peter and the other apostles explained a. these events were fulfilling OT prophecy (Joel) a. these events were fulfilling OT prophecy (Joel) b. gave proof of the resurrection of Jesus b. gave proof of the resurrection of Jesus c. proclaiming Jesus to be Lord and Christ. c. proclaiming Jesus to be Lord and Christ.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation 5. 3,000 were baptized in the name of Jesus, 5. 3,000 were baptized in the name of Jesus, C. Early Preaching in Jerusalem. 1. The teachings and actions of Jesus. 1. The teachings and actions of Jesus. 2. His resurrection as proof--the Son of God. 2. His resurrection as proof--the Son of God. 3. Repentance and faith, baptism in water. 3. Repentance and faith, baptism in water. 4. OT quotations foundation of Christian beliefs 4. OT quotations foundation of Christian beliefs 5. The promise of the Holy Spirit as God’s gift. 5. The promise of the Holy Spirit as God’s gift. 6. United fellowship, common worship, property 6. United fellowship, common worship, property in common to provide for the needy. in common to provide for the needy.

The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation The Records of the Early Church: The Period of Expansion--The Foundation D. Organization and Leaders 1. The apostles were the earliest leaders. 2. Democratic approach, voluntary sharing. 3. Worship, in homes--teaching, “breaking of bread” (Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist), prayer (Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist), prayer 4. Sunday, 1st day of the week, in recognition of “resurrection day.” “resurrection day.” 5. Early leaders: Peter, John, James (brother of Jesus); Stephen became the first Christian martyr.

III. Early Threats to the Church A. From outside the church: Persecution. 1. Peter, John to the temple for prayer. 2. Healed a lame beggar “in the name of Jesus.” 3. Opposition from priests and Sadducees. 4. Later, all apostles arrested, released by angel. 5. Gamaliel cautioned about “fighting against God.” 6. The church prayed for greater courage.

B. From inside the church: Truthfulness. 1. Barnabas (“son of encouragement”; Joseph, from Cyprus). 2. Sold some property and gave the money to the apostles to care for the needy. 3. Ananias, Sapphira sold land, gave some of the money, but said it was all. 4. They fell dead by the Spirit; fear in the church.

C. From inside the church: Conflict. 1. Two groups: Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews. 2. Distributing food to the widows in each group. 3. Apostles directed church to appoint 7 men, all Greeks, including Stephen and Philip.

D. The first martyr: Stephen. 1. He performed great miracles in Jerusalem. 2. Opposed by men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, Asia). 3. Accused him of blaspheming Moses and God. 4. Connected him to Jesus of Nazareth. 5. He said they were stubborn, just like their ancestors who persecuted the prophets. 6. They stoned him to death. 7. Saul gave approval for his death.

E. First persecution, scattering from Jerusalem. 1. All but the apostles scattered. 2. Spread out to Judea and Samaria. 3. Saul began to destroy the church, going house to house. 4. Would the church be able to survive? 