Early Christianity in Jerusalem

1. Early Christianity in Jerusalem

2. The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) • Pentecost • One of three major festivals of the Jews (Lev. 23:15-22) • Also known as the Festival of Weeks • A Harvest Festival • Special cereal offering • Two loaves of bread

3. The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) • Tongues of Fire • Tongues: Real Languages or Ecstatic Speech? • Here actual languages • Luke lists 14 different nationalities • Pentecost a reverse of Babel

4. The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) • Peter’s Sermon • “New wine”: Cheap, but took a lot to get drunk on • Peter’s sermon shows the Spirit’s power • Peter’s sermon points to Jesus • The result: 3,000 baptized • Are the numbers credible? • Jerusalem’s population swelled during major festivals • Nero said there were a “vast multitude” about thirty years later

5. Problems with the Sanhedrin (Acts 3-5) • The charges • The response: prayer for boldness! • Rabbi Gamaliel

6. The First Church Argument (Acts 6) • It’s over…money! • Hellenists—Jews who spoke only Greek, possibly Gentiles who became Jews • Aramaic Jews—Jews who grew up in Jerusalem • The Answer: Elect seven to do the job • Suggested, the church decided • All Seven had Greek names and were probably Greek speaking Jews.

7. Stephen (Acts 7) • Argued with Hellenistic Jews in their synagogues • One synagogue consisted of Jews from Cilicia • Could Saul/Paul have been among them? • Stephen’s argument: The Jews have consistently rejected God’s plan, right up to that day • This led to the first general persecution—but the Church grew!

8. The First Non-Jewish Christians (Acts 8-11) • The Samaritans • A major step in the Church • Why the delay in the Holy Spirit?

9. The First Non-Jewish Christians (Acts 8-11) • The Ethiopian Eunuch • Would not have been allowed in the OT people: Deuteronomy 23:1

10. The First Non-Jewish Christians (Acts 8-11) • Cornelius and the Romans • A Gentile God-fearer—not a Jew • Peter’s Vision • Peter’s Sermon • The gift of the Spirit • Water baptism • Report back to the Jewish Christians

11. Peter’s Arrest (Acts 12) • Herod = Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great • Ruler over his grandfather’s kingdom • Deferred to the Jewish rulers, so he killed James and wanted to kill Peter • Peter’s release • Agrippa’s death—Recorded by Josephus

12. Life and Ministry of St. Paul

13. Introducing St. Paul • Various clues to Paul’s life are spread throughout the Epistles and Acts • Hebrew born of Hebrews (Philippians 3:6) • Member of the tribe of Benjamin. Named after Israel’s first king, Saul. • Father was a Pharisee • Had at least one sister (Acts 23:16) • Born in Tarsus, raised in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3)

14. Introducing St. Paul • Trained by Gamaliel • Candor and honesty in judgment • A willingness to study and use Greek authors • A keen enthusiasm for Jewish law

15. Introducing St. Paul • A Roman citizen • Born a Citizen • In the year 171 B.C. Jews were promised Roman citizenship if they moved to Tarsus. • This could be where his citizenship originated • Had the right to: • A fair trial • Exemption from certain forms of punishment (e.g. crucifixion) • Protection against summary execution • Not to be beaten without trial

16. Introducing St. Paul • Was Paul Married? • Bachelorhood was very rare among Jews; even rarer among Pharisees like Paul. But did happen. • Divorced for becoming Christian? (Drane’s theory; cf. 1 Cor. 7) • Widowed?

17. Paul’s Conversion • Recorded three times: • Acts 9:1-9; 22:3-16; 26:9-18 • Each retelling is slightly different; focused on different audiences • Took place at mid-day. • Struck down, heard a loud voice • Spent three days in fasting and prayer

18. Paul’s Conversion • Critical views • Sunstroke • Hallucination • Epileptic fit

19. Paul’s Conversion • Sanhedrin claimed absolute religious power over all Jews • Ananais a heroic person • Left with eye troubles? Gal. 4:15; 6:11 • Jesus’ appearance made Paul an apostle

20. Paul’s Next 13 Years • Leaves Damascus for Arabia for three years (Gal. 1:17) • Returns to Damascus and preaches. Escapes by basket (Acts 9:25; 2 Cor. 11:32 ff.) • Goes to Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18) • Barnabas intercedes • Meets Peter and James, the Lord’s brother

21. Paul’s Next 13 Years • Went to Tarsus and preached (Gal. 1:21-23, Acts 9:30) • Barnabas recruits him to teach in Antioch (Acts 11:25ff.). • Agabus announces the famine. • Sent to Jerusalem with a gift (Acts 11:30; Gal. 2:1-10)

22. Paul's First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)

23. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) • Barnabas and Saul called during a time of worship • Took with them John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas

24. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) • Cyprus • Home of Barnabas • Conversion of Sergius Paulus • Governor of the island • Formerly in charge of flood control in Rome • Had a Jewish sorcerer, Bar-Jesus, for an advisor • Name is now changed from Saul to Paul • Most likely had two names: a Jewish name and a Roman name

25. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) • Phrygia • Mark leaves them there • Weak or scared? • Young and homesick? • Time of Paul’s illness? (Gal. 4:13-14) • Jealousy for his Uncle Barnabas?

26. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) • Pisidian Antioch • 100 miles from the shore over a mountain range • Paul begins with the Jews • His sermon skims the OT to point to Jesus. • Uses the word “justified” (Acts 13:39) • God-fearers were especially touched by this message

27. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) • Iconium • Lystra • Home of Timothy. Probably converted on this journey. • “The gods have come down in human form!” • Paul’s response: Worship the Creator! • No OT references. • Almost gets killed for his trouble • Returns to the city • Returns to Antioch

28. The Letter of James

29. The Letter of James • “Spoken against” in the early Church • Very Jewish understanding of Christianity (uses the word “synagogue” for worship) • Date: 45 - 46 AD by many. • Probably written to the Jewish Christians scattered in Acts 8 • James is a letter on practical Christianity

30. The Letter of James • Author: “James” • James, son of Zebedee, who was killed by Herod Agrippa II • James, the brother of Jesus • Would be one of the few who would be known throughout the churches • Paul usually refers to him simply as James.

31. The Letter of James • Author: “James” • Arguments against authorship: • Greek is too good • Doesn’t state that he’s the Lord’s brother • Takes an ethical view of faith • If not James, the Lord’s brother, then who?

32. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

33. Galatians • Author: Paul • Date and destination are debated • Northern Galatian theory (later date; 53 – 57 A.D.) • “Galatia” is a northern province; named for the Gauls had invaded and settled in the 3rd Century B.C. • Luke uses accurate terms in other places, why not here? • Paul did not visit this area until his second missionary journey; this would be written on his 3rd journey

34. Galatians • Date and destination are debated • Southern Galatian theory (earlier date; 48 A.D.) • Both a province and a broader area was popularly known by that name • Paul was ill when he visited, it seems odd that he would travel to a remote area over many mountains • Galatians mentions Barnabas three times, it is apparent that the people knew him • If this was written after the Jerusalem Council why doesn’t the letter refer to it or to the letter the Council sent out which Paul took with him? (Acts 16:4) • Northern Galatian theory is older. • Since Galatians deals with the same issues as Acts 15, it would be a natural date.

35. Galatians • Features • This letter is intensely personal and very passionate • The Judaizers argued that they did not come to stop Paul’s work but to complete it • Judaizers had three arguments: • Paul was not a true apostle • Paul was omitting things that God has said • Paul’s proclamation of grace alone would bring moral laxity • Galatians was Martin Luther’s favorite letter in the NT

36. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)

37. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) • This is one of the most important issues in the church’s history and life. • The issue: Acts 15:1. Possibly the same group who had caused problems with Peter (Gal. 2:11-14). • The result: no circumcision, no complete obedience to the laws of Moses. • Three requests for the sake of peace: • No fornication • No meat sacrificed to idols • No meat strangled or with blood in it

38. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22)

39. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • The Battle over John Mark • Result: two missions, not one: Paul took Silas (a/k/a Silvanus); Barnabas took Mark • Silas a pastor in Jerusalem • One of those sent to give credence to the letter from the Council • Paul and Mark did reconcile (Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11)

40. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Lystra • Decide to take Timothy with them • Timothy a Jew; born of a Jewish mother • In order to witness to Jews, Paul circumcises Timothy • If Timothy was not circumcised, the Jews would have rejected him

41. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Paul not allowed to go to Asia and Bithynia • Goes to Troas; has Macedonian vision • First of “we” passages

42. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Philippi • Not enough Jewish men for a synagogue • Go to a “place of prayer”: women would meet to recite the appointed synagogue prayers and thanksgivings on the Sabbath. • Leader was Lydia, a God-fearer who was the seller of purple cloth. • Became the first Christian in Paul’s ministry to Europe

43. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Philippi • The Jailer • Fortune telling girl • Beaten and jailed via a racist argument • The earthquake • Jailer’s repentance • Death was the punishment for letting people escape • By committing suicide, his family would have been able to keep their property. • The entire “household” is baptized.

44. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Philippi • Magistrates tell them to go • They have beaten a Roman citizen! • They come to apologize • Paul clears his name of the sake of the Gospel • This congregation became very special to Paul

45. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Berea • Desire to study the Scriptures is legendary • Repeat of Thessalonica • Paul leaves Timothy and Silas. Sends Timothy to Thessalonica (1 Thess. 3:1)

46. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Athens • A free and allied city within the Roman empire • Philosophical and cultural center • Paul’s “distress”

47. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Athens • Paul at the Areopagus • The “Areopagus” was an Athenian institution • Considered themselves to be the custodians of teachings that introduced new religions and other gods • Paul molds his message to the audience • Point of contact: “To an Unknown God” • Does not quote the Old Testament; quotes Greek poets and authors • Three points: • God the creator • God sustains today • God will judge • Some small success

48. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Corinth • Spends 18 months; his longest stay to date • The town • Located on an isthmus • Had log railroad to transport boats • Cult center of Aphrodite • Known for sexual laxity

49. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Corinth • Aquila and Priscilla • Jews expelled from Rome by Claudius • Roman historian Suestonis says that the expulsion order was given because the Jews were constantly in fights that were started by a man named Chrestus. • Paul worked with them making tents • Paul began his preaching in the synagogue. • One of the first men who believed was Crispus, the synagogue ruler • Started preaching in house of Titius Justus

50. Paul's Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18:22) • Corinth • “Trial” before Lucius Junius Gallio • Brother of the philosopher Seneca • Admired as a man of justice and fairness • Only in this position for a year, from 51-52 AD, so we know when Paul was in Corinth.