Ten days had elapsed since the disciples had watched the Lord ascend from the Mount of Olives. Those ten days were spent in continual prayer. The day of Pentecost having come, they were all together in one place, when there came suddenly out of heaven the sound of a mighty, rushing wind which filled all the house where they were sitting. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3434For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Acts 2:34)).
Many Jews had come up to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and these spoke the languages of the lands in which they had been born and bred. The gift of tongues imparted by the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak to these people in their own languages. Many came together to hear, and this gave Peter the opportunity to address the crowd. It was the first preaching of the Christian gospel. The Apostle fearlessly addressed the multitude, showing that the Jesus whom they had so recently crucified was their true Messiah and that God had raised Him from the dead as promised in the prophetic Scriptures. His concluding words, “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:3636Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)), created a profound impression. They asked what they should do. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:3838Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)) was the answer. Three thousand accepted Christian baptism that day and were added to the Church which had been formed by the descent of the Holy Spirit. This was the beginning of the Christian Church. Of those who then formed it it is said, “They persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers” (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42) JND). Many, no doubt, returned to their adopted lands in various parts of the Roman Empire taking with them this joyous news that at last the long-looked-for Messiah had come and, although rejected and crucified, had been raised from the dead, and He was now a living and glorified Man in heaven.
The writer of the Acts of the Apostles tells us of the events which followed in Jerusalem. A lame beggar sitting at one of the gates of the temple, looking for alms from Peter and John, received something far better. Peter said to him, “Silver and gold I have not; but what I have, this give I to thee: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean rise up and walk” (Acts 3:66Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:6) JND). A moment later he was seen, to the amazement of the onlookers, going with them into the temple, “walking, and leaping, and praising God” (vs. 8). Peter then preached a powerful word to the crowd which quickly gathered. The chief priests arriving at this moment on the scene, the two apostles were arrested. There were further conversions and the number of men had already grown to five thousand. Their examination the next day by the rulers and elders afforded a further opportunity for a bold testimony on Peter’s part.
Luke gives us this beautiful description of the Church in its original simplicity and moral beauty:
Numbers further increased — multitudes both of men and women were added to the Lord. Many miracles were performed by the apostles. Sick persons were brought out into the streets in beds and couches in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might cover them. Not only from Jerusalem itself but from the surrounding country came the sick and devil-possessed, and all were healed.
The official priesthood now became desperate and imprisoned the apostles, but they were released by an angel. On being again arrested, they were once more found preaching the gospel. No threats having availed to stop them, the authorities finally listened to the wise advice of Gamaliel — an eminent man among them — who counseled that they should be left alone, saying that if the matter were of men it would fail, and if of God they could not resist it.
Some of the Jews having disputed with Stephen, who, though not an apostle, is described as a man “full of grace and power” (Acts 6:88And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8) JND), and being unable to resist the wisdom and power with which he spoke, falsely accused him of blasphemous words and of speaking against the temple and the law. His powerful defense and martyrdom are recorded in chapter seven of the Acts. He was stoned to death — the first martyr for the Christian faith. His last words, uttered in the spirit of his Master, were, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:6060And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60)).
A fierce persecution ensued, and the Church in Jerusalem, with the exception of the apostles themselves, was scattered throughout the surrounding country. But the scattering spread the gospel all the more. Through the labors of Philip a large number were converted in Samaria. At this time a eunuch from the court of the Ethiopian queen was crossing the desert in a chariot, having been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip was told by the Spirit of God to approach the chariot. Divine providence had timed the meeting, for at that very moment the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, which prophesies so touchingly of the sufferings of Christ. Philip thus had his text already prepared and preached Jesus as the One of whom the prophet wrote. The eunuch believed at once, was baptized in some water close at hand, and went on his way rejoicing. Who can say what results flowed from that first conversation among the sons of Ham?
Present at the stoning of Stephen was Saul of Tarsus, then a young man, who in the energy of Pharisaical zeal soon became a leader in the persecution of Christians. Having obtained a commission from the High Priest, he went to Damascus to discover and apprehend any disciples he might find there.
At noon, as he approached the city, a light, brighter than the meridian brilliance of the eastern sun, shone upon him, and falling to the earth he heard a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”
“Who art Thou, Lord?” he replied.
“I am Jesus,” answered the heavenly Speaker (Acts 9:45).
The arch-persecutor was subdued at once. The greatest enemy of Christ was won by divine grace and was soon to become His most devoted servant.
Another event is then recorded which marked a turning point in the early history of the Church. The Lord had committed to Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (not the keys of the Church, for such a thing is never spoken of). This was a figurative way of saying that to Peter would be given the privilege of opening the door into Christian privileges by the preaching of the gospel. This he did on the day of Pentecost when three thousand Jews were converted. Peter was now to open the door to the Gentiles.
It is evident that up to this time Jewish believers still felt that Christianity was especially for them, and no doubt they regarded Gentile believers as proselytes. God prepared Peter for this important, fresh departure in His ways. A pious centurion named Cornelius had seen an angel in a vision and had been told to send for one named Peter staying then at Joppa with Simon a tanner. Just as the messengers from Cornelius were about to arrive, Peter too had a vision and saw in a great sheet let down from heaven all manner of creatures which to the Jew were unclean. And Peter was told that what God had cleansed he was not to call unclean. When, therefore, the men arrived, he was prepared to go with them to the Gentile house and preach the gospel to Cornelius and a company of friends. When he had done so, in order that no doubt might remain, the Spirit of God came upon the assembled company, giving distinct evidence of His presence. When Peter was questioned as to his going in and eating with Gentiles, he had an unanswerable reply. God had received the Gentiles on the same ground as the Jews — belief on the Lord Jesus Christ. The coming upon them of the Holy Spirit was divine confirmation.
The gospel had now reached Antioch, where it bore much fruit among the Gentiles, and a large company of Christians were gathered. The Church at Jerusalem heard of it and sent Barnabas to help. He in turn went to Tarsus for Saul, whom he brought to Antioch, and they spent a whole year teaching the believers there. Barnabas and Saul then became the bearers of a gift from the wealthier members of the Church in Antioch, a spontaneous expression of Christian love, to their Jewish brethren at Jerusalem to meet their needs in view of a famine which had been divinely foretold. On their return to Antioch, they received a commission from the Holy Spirit and these two men began the first of the great evangelical journeys which were to occupy the life of Saul —soon to be known as Paul, the great Apostle of the Gentiles. They traveled to Cyprus and traversed the whole of the island, doubtless evangelizing on their way. From Cyprus they journeyed to Perga of Pamphylia, thence to another Antioch (in Pisidia) where Paul preached a powerful word in the synagogue and secured many followers. On the following sabbath, we are told, almost all the city was gathered together to hear the Word of God. This roused the envy of Jews who stirred up a persecution and they were driven out of those parts.
Leaving there they came to Iconium. Here a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. Once more persecution followed, and they had to flee to Lycaonia. In Lystra, Paul having healed a man who had been unable to walk from birth, the heathen crowds would have rendered him idolatrous honors and were scarcely restrained from doing so. Ere long Jews from Iconium arrived and poisoned their minds against Paul. He was stoned and taken out of the city apparently dead. While the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. Thence they went to Derbe and from there returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (in Pisidia), where they confirmed the recently converted believers. Then they returned by way of Pisidia and Pamphylia, embarking at Attalia for Antioch, where they relate to the local church all that had happened.
About this time an effort was made by certain teachers from Judea to compel the Gentile Christians at Antioch to conform to the law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas and certain others went to Jerusalem and laid the matter before the apostles and elders there. After much discussion, it was agreed that this was not necessary for Gentile believers. Upon their return Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching and preaching the gospel. After this, Paul, accompanied by Silas, paid a further visit to the places he had previously evangelized with Barnabas, confirming the Christian assemblies which had been formed. They then continued through Phrygia and Galatia.
At this point, following a very distinct guidance from God, being hindered in their first objective by the Spirit of God and then guided by a vision, they proceeded to Macedonia. Having arrived at Philippi they were, after some days, thrown into prison, but God delivered them in a remarkable way by means of an earthquake, as a result of which the jailer of the prison was converted and baptized with his whole household. Here a Christian assembly was quickly formed, to whom Paul later wrote the beautiful Epistle to the Philippians. Paul’s missionary journeys now led him successively to Thessalonica and Athens where he delivered a powerful word to the Athenians on Mars Hill exposing the folly of their idolatry. Corinth was then reached, where a large assembly was formed, Paul remaining there to teach for eighteen months. He returned once more to Antioch, setting out after a time on a third journey. After visiting the companies of Christians already formed in Galatia and Phrygia, he passed on to Ephesus where a great work ensued, the gospel spreading throughout the whole region. There he remained three years. Returning to Greece, he continued his labors and once more visited Jerusalem. It was the last time, for his arrival there was the signal for an angry outburst of hostility from the Jews, which resulted in the intervention of the Roman authorities and his own appearance before the Roman governor and King Agrippa and, finally, his appealing to Caesar. In the hands of the Romans, he then went as a prisoner to Rome. There the inspired historian leaves him spending two years in his own hired house, speaking to all who came to him of the kingdom of God.
The reader is referred to the book of the Acts for many beautiful and instructive details which have been omitted from this brief outline, the purpose of which is to provide a historical link between the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and the later history of Christianity as we find it in the first century and onwards.