This weeks subject was one that I had been looking forward to for awhile. The establishment of the church and missionary journeys of the early church is so important for believers to have knowledge of but isn’t something that I had ever studied or even heard much about before this year. Mitch Maher came and spoke to our class again this semester and for three days we went through the book of Acts.
In 28 chapters Luke outlined the establishment of the church and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to the whole world within about 65 years. Peter did a lot of the work establishing the church in Jerusalem and Paul was a major figure in taking the gospel to different parts of the world as far as Rome. The best way to study the book of Acts is to break it up according to the progress reports of the missions that Luke wrote of…
BIRTH OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
Luke started off by recalling Jesus commanding his apostles not to leave Jerusalem until the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. On the day of Pentecost when all the apostles were together “a noise like a violent rushing wind” came from heaven and the Holy Spirit filled them. They began baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ the people who received the word of God.
Progress report: “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
EXPANSION OF CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
As the church expanded a godly community was living and sharing all things together. Peter and the apostles continued to perform healings. The church started facing persecution, moral compromise, and distractions but more and more people were becoming believers.
Progress report: “The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7
Extension of the church to Judea & Samaria
Stephen preached to the Jews but was persecuted to arrest and later death. Persecution was so bad that Philip had to escape Jerusalem and began spreading the gospel outside of Jerusalem to half-breed Samaritans. Saul, a major player in the persecution of Christians, was miraculously converted on his way to Damascus and began preaching the gospel to Gentiles!
Progress report: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” Acts 9:31
Extension of the church to Antioch
The gospel is taken to Antioch to be preached to the Gentiles. It’s there that Peter emphasizes the message that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all people. God does not show partiality toward Jews or Gentiles.
Progress report: “But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.” Acts 12:24
Extension of the church to Asia Minor
Paul took a missionary journey to Asia Minor where he preached the gospel and gave encouragement to the disciples to persevere through a lot of tribulations. At the end of his journey he returned to Antioch.
Progress report: “So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.” Acts 16:5
Extension of the church to Aegean Area
Paul took another missionary journey and in the middle of it he got a vision to go even further west and spread the gospel to Macedonia. He then also went to Greece and Ephesus before returning again to Antioch.
Progress report: “So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” Acts 19:20
Extension of the church to Rome
Paul felt like he was being called to spread the gospel all the way in Rome. He journeyed there and was hit with persecution harder than ever before. He was imprisoned twice in Rome and in 62 AD was beheaded in Rome. But with all the persecution he knew his mission and purpose and made an incredible impact for the kingdom of God!
As we studied Acts I kept being amazed at how quickly the gospel spread. Another thing that struck me was how effective the missionary journeys were. Even with imprisonment, martyrs, and harsh persecution the apostles never strayed from their mission. Peter gave a sermon in Jerusalem and 3,000 people became believers that day! Paul is one of my favorite people written about in the Bible. His story of conversion and powerful advance of the gospel in his lifetime is both inspiring and convicting. Jesus commanded His people to make disciples and that is still our command today.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
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