BellringerBellringer

Could you live in a communal Could you live in a communal society? What would be the society? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of advantages and disadvantages of living in one?living in one?

The Church GrowsThe Church Grows

Persecution of the ChurchPersecution of the Church

After the death of Stephen, Jewish After the death of Stephen, Jewish persecution of the church intensifiedpersecution of the church intensified

Christians had to flee Jerusalem Christians had to flee Jerusalem Taught the gospel as they ranTaught the gospel as they ran Helped the church to grow faster and Helped the church to grow faster and

larger than it had before the larger than it had before the persecutionpersecution

PhilipPhilip

One of the deaconsOne of the deacons Fled to SamariaFled to Samaria Preached the gospel to the Preached the gospel to the

SamaritansSamaritans Many Samarians became ChristiansMany Samarians became Christians

Simon the Sorcerer Simon the Sorcerer

Converted by PhilipConverted by Philip Peter and John came Peter and John came

to lay hands on the to lay hands on the convertsconverts

Simon saw their Simon saw their power and tried to power and tried to buy itbuy it

Condemned by Peter Condemned by Peter for trying to buy the for trying to buy the gifts of Godgifts of God

Ethiopian EunuchEthiopian Eunuch

Phillip met an Ethiopian Eunuch Phillip met an Ethiopian Eunuch returning from a visit to Jerusalemreturning from a visit to Jerusalem

The eunuch was an apostate (Jewish The eunuch was an apostate (Jewish convert)convert)

Eunuch was studying from IsaiahEunuch was studying from Isaiah Philip talked to him and converted Philip talked to him and converted

him him

Conversion of SaulConversion of Saul

Saul was the main Saul was the main persecutor of the persecutor of the early churchearly church

Had a vision of Had a vision of Jesus one day on Jesus one day on his way to arrest his way to arrest Christians in Christians in DamascusDamascus

Saul was left blind Saul was left blind

PaulPaul

Saul converts and Saul converts and regains his sightregains his sight

Saul is known as Paul Saul is known as Paul from this point from this point forwardforward

Saul is HebrewSaul is Hebrew Paul is GreekPaul is Greek Jews saw him as a Jews saw him as a

traitor and became traitor and became angry at Paul angry at Paul

Escape from DamascusEscape from Damascus

Damascus Jews planned to kill PaulDamascus Jews planned to kill Paul Paul had to escape Damascus from in Paul had to escape Damascus from in

a basket lowered over the wall at a basket lowered over the wall at nightnight

Paul went to met the apostles and Paul went to met the apostles and other disciples in Jerusalemother disciples in Jerusalem

Apostles did not trust PaulApostles did not trust Paul Barnabas defended Paul Barnabas defended Paul

CorneliusCornelius

A Roman CenturionA Roman Centurion Had a vision to send for PeterHad a vision to send for Peter Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius during Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius during

Peter’s visitPeter’s visit Cornelius and is family are the first Cornelius and is family are the first

Gentile (non-Jewish) ChristiansGentile (non-Jewish) Christians

Jews vs. GentilesJews vs. Gentiles

Jewish Christians did not like what Jewish Christians did not like what Peter had done Peter had done

Thought the Jews were still God’s Thought the Jews were still God’s chosen peoplechosen people

Peter defended his actionsPeter defended his actions Jewish/Gentile conflicts existed in the Jewish/Gentile conflicts existed in the

church for yearschurch for years

AntiochAntioch

A major city in Asia Minor (Turkey)A major city in Asia Minor (Turkey) Had a large Gentile Christian populationHad a large Gentile Christian population Apostles sent Barnabas to visit them Apostles sent Barnabas to visit them Barnabas sent for Paul after he arrived at Barnabas sent for Paul after he arrived at

AntiochAntioch Followers of Jesus were first called Christians Followers of Jesus were first called Christians

at Antioch at Antioch Antioch became a major city in growing the Antioch became a major city in growing the

churchchurch

Herod’s PersecutionHerod’s Persecution

Herod Agrippa I started a persecution of Herod Agrippa I started a persecution of the church to make his Jewish subjects the church to make his Jewish subjects happyhappy

First government sponsored persecutionFirst government sponsored persecution Beheaded the Apostle James, imprisoned Beheaded the Apostle James, imprisoned

PeterPeter Herod died after calling himself God and Herod died after calling himself God and

was eaten by worms immediately on his was eaten by worms immediately on his deathdeath

Acts QuizActs Quiz During which Jewish festival did the church start?During which Jewish festival did the church start? Who gave the first gospel sermon?Who gave the first gospel sermon? What type of society can the first century church be What type of society can the first century church be

classified as?classified as? Who was the first Christian martyr?Who was the first Christian martyr? What did Simon the sorcerer do wrong according to Peter?What did Simon the sorcerer do wrong according to Peter? Describe the conversion of Saul.Describe the conversion of Saul. Who was the first Gentile convert to Christianity?Who was the first Gentile convert to Christianity? What city did the word Christian originate in?What city did the word Christian originate in? Who sponsored the first government persecution of the Who sponsored the first government persecution of the

church, and which apostle was killed during this church, and which apostle was killed during this persecution?persecution?