Biblical Studies (9484) | The origins and expansion of the early Church

Welcome to Paper 2: The Development of Christianity!

This chapter, The Origins and Expansion of the Early Church, is absolutely vital. It answers the question: How did a small group of Jesus' followers in Jerusalem grow into a worldwide religion?
Think of the early Church like a start-up company: it needed a launch (Pentecost), internal structure, facing initial competition (conflict), and then a massive expansion plan (missionary journeys).

We focus primarily on the Book of Acts of the Apostles, which acts as the historical bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles (letters). Ready to dive into the beginning?

2.1.1 The Christian Community in Jerusalem

The Foundation: Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)

The Church didn't start until Pentecost. This event, fifty days after the Passover/Resurrection, is often called the Birth of the Church.

• The Setting: The disciples were gathered, waiting (as Jesus instructed, Acts 1:4).
• The Event: They were filled with the Holy Spirit (a key concept!), manifesting as a sound like rushing wind and visible "tongues, as of fire," resting on each person.
• The Result: They began speaking in other languages (glossolalia) that visitors from all over the Roman world understood, confusing and astounding the crowds (Acts 2:6-8).

Analogy Aid: If the death and resurrection of Jesus were the *creation* of the software, Pentecost was the moment the software was *installed* and *powered on*—the Holy Spirit giving the believers the ability to operate and communicate immediately.

Proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 2:14-40; 10:34-43)

Peter steps up immediately after Pentecost and gives a powerful sermon. This is the first official proclamation of the gospel, often called the Kerygma.

• Content of Peter’s Preaching (Acts 2:14-40):
  1. Explains Pentecost: It fulfills Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2).
  2. Proclaims Jesus: He was the promised Messiah (Christ).
  3. The Accusation: You crucified him!
  4. The Solution: God raised him from the dead and made him Lord.
  5. The Call: Repent and be baptized!
• Peter’s Later Sermon (Acts 10:34-43): This sermon, delivered to the Gentile Cornelius, is crucial because Peter stresses that God shows no partiality. The message of Jesus (his life, death, resurrection, and mission) is for everyone, not just Jews.

Key Takeaway: Peter established the basic message: Jesus is Lord, the Spirit is here, and you must repent. 3,000 people were converted on that first day (Acts 2:41)!

Key Features of Life and Worship in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32–37)

The early community lived simply, dedicating themselves to several core practices:

1. Communal Living and Sharing (Acts 4:32-37):

• They practiced sharing of wealth. They didn't view possessions as strictly their own.
• They sold property and distributed funds to those in need. Example: Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) sold a field and gave the money to the apostles—a positive example of generosity.

2. Worship and Fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46):

• They met regularly for the "apostles’ teaching and fellowship" (koinonia).
• They participated in the Breaking of Bread (often seen as an early form of the Eucharist/Communion).
• They continued to worship in the Temple (as they were still observant Jews) and met in private houses.

3. Service and Ministry (Acts 3:1-10; 6:1-7):

• A Healing ministry was active (e.g., Peter healing the lame man at the Temple gate, Acts 3:1-10), demonstrating God's power.
• The appointment of the Seven Chosen to Serve (Acts 6:1-7): When tensions arose between Hebrew-speaking and Greek-speaking Jewish Christians over food distribution (sharing of service), seven men were appointed to manage the practical needs, freeing the Apostles to focus on prayer and teaching.

The Beginnings of Conflict and Persecution

As the Church grew, conflicts arose—both external (with Jewish authorities) and internal.

• External Conflict (Acts 4:1-22): Peter and John were arrested after healing the lame man. They were brought before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish council), but they refused to stop preaching.
• Stephen's Ministry and Martyrdom (Acts 6:8–15; 7:54–60): Stephen, one of the seven appointed to serve, was a powerful Greek-speaking Jewish Christian. He was accused of blasphemy and was stoned to death, becoming the first martyr.
• Persecution and Scattering (Acts 8:1–3): Stephen’s death led to widespread persecution of Greek-speaking Jewish Christians (known as Hellenists). This was a terrible event, but it had an unexpected result: it pushed believers out of Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria, unintentionally fulfilling Jesus' command to spread the message (Acts 1:8).

The Appearance of Saul (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-19): Before his conversion, Saul (later Paul) was a dedicated persecutor of the Christians. The persecution he initiated inadvertently helped spread the Church, and his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) ensured that the Church would soon gain its most energetic missionary.

Quick Review: The Jerusalem community was characterized by unity, sharing, and Temple worship, but persecution forced it to expand beyond its Jewish roots.

2.1.2 The Early Expansion of Christianity

The Ministry of Philip (Acts 8:4-13; 8:26-40)

Philip, another of the seven appointed deacons, became a crucial figure in the first wave of expansion outside Jerusalem.

• In Samaria (Acts 8:4-13): Philip preached in Samaria (a group long disliked by the Jews) with great success, performing signs and wonders. This showed Christianity was already moving beyond ethnic Jewish borders.
• The Ethiopian Official (Acts 8:26-40): Philip was divinely guided to meet an important Ethiopian court official (a Gentile proselyte/God-fearer). Philip explained the prophet Isaiah to him, and the official was converted and baptized. This event shows the message moving into Africa and reaching a high-status individual, further breaking geographical and social barriers.

The Conversion of Cornelius: The Gentile Breakthrough (Acts 10:1-11:18)

This is perhaps the most significant event in the expansion narrative, as it officially opens the Church to Gentiles (non-Jews) without requiring them to become Jews first.

• Peter's Vision (Acts 10:9-16): Peter had a vision of a sheet descending, filled with all kinds of animals considered "unclean" under Jewish law. God commanded him to eat, saying, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." This was God preparing Peter to accept Gentiles.
• Cornelius’ Conversion: Cornelius, a Roman Centurion (a Gentile soldier), was pious and God-fearing. Peter preached to him, and the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his entire household before they were baptized (Acts 10:44-48).
• Reaction of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 11:1-18): Peter was initially criticized by the Jewish believers in Jerusalem for associating with Gentiles. However, once Peter explained that the Spirit had fallen on them just as it had on the original disciples, the Jerusalem church accepted that "God has granted even to the Gentiles repentance that leads to life."

Why is Cornelius Important? Up until this point, Gentiles had to adopt Jewish practices (like circumcision and Mosaic Law) to join the community. Cornelius’ conversion proves that salvation is accessible by faith alone, setting the stage for Paul's global ministry.

The Church in Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:19-30; 15:1-35)

Antioch became the first major, multi-ethnic Christian hub—the first 'mixed' community of Jews and Gentiles.

• It was here that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26).
• Ministry of Barnabas and Saul: Barnabas, sent by Jerusalem to check out the activity, saw that it was authentic and recruited Saul (Paul) to teach.
• Relationships with Jerusalem: Antioch became the base for Gentile mission, but its existence caused tensions. This led to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35), where leaders debated whether Gentiles needed circumcision.

The Outcome of the Jerusalem Council: The council (led by Peter, Paul, and James) agreed that Gentiles did *not* need to follow the Mosaic Law, only to abstain from a few practices (like eating blood or food offered to idols). This decision legally recognized Christianity as a distinctive faith separate from Judaism's ritual requirements.

2.1.3 Further Expansion of Christianity in the Acts of the Apostles

The final expansion is defined by the three major missionary journeys of Paul (accompanied by various partners like Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy). The success of Paul is evaluated based on the sheer number of cities visited and churches established across the Roman Empire.

First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:13-14:23)

(Primarily Paul and Barnabas)

• Route: Cyprus, then to modern-day Turkey (Galatia region).
• Key Stops:
  • Pisidian Antioch: Paul preached in the synagogue; rejection by Jews led Paul to declare they would now turn exclusively to the Gentiles.
  • Iconium, Lystra, Derbe: They faced intense opposition, including being stoned in Lystra, but established small communities.
• Overall Success: Established the first major set of Gentile churches and proved the strategy of preaching in the synagogues first, then to the Gentiles upon rejection.

Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16:11-18:17)

(Paul and Silas, joined by Timothy and Luke)

This journey is critical as it marks the move from Asia Minor (Turkey) into Europe.

• Key Stops (In Europe):
  • Philippi (Acts 16:11-40): First European city reached. Paul and Silas were arrested and imprisoned after casting out a spirit from a slave girl (Acts 16:16-40). They converted the jailer.
  • Thessalonica & Beroea: Faced conflict from hostile Jews but left behind strong communities.
  • Athens (Acts 17:16-34): Paul debated philosophers on Mars Hill, adapting his message to Greek culture (talking about their "unknown god"). Conversion rate was small, highlighting the difficulty of converting highly intellectual Greeks.
  • Corinth (Acts 18:1-17): Paul stayed here for 18 months, indicating significant success. He preached, worked as a tentmaker, and established the church that would later receive the challenging letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians.

Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:1-41)

(Focus on solidifying and strengthening existing churches, using Ephesus as a major base)

• Key Stop:
  • Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41): Paul spent over two years here, resulting in the whole province hearing the word (Acts 19:10). His ministry here was so effective that it caused economic disruption: the silversmiths, led by Demetrius, who made idols for the cult of Artemis, feared losing income and incited a massive riot (Acts 19:23-41).
• Overall Success: The massive success in Ephesus demonstrated Christianity’s widespread influence and its direct threat to traditional pagan worship and livelihoods.

Key Takeaway: Evaluating Paul’s Success

The extent to which Paul was successful in his three missionary journeys was profound:

Paul was highly successful geographically (crossing Asia Minor into Europe) and theologically (establishing Gentile Christianity). However, his success often came at the cost of personal danger (imprisonment, stoning, riots) and continuous internal tensions with those who insisted Gentiles must adhere to Jewish law (the Judaizers).