Please skim the first 12 chapters of Acts, then go back and read more carefully one or two chapters. What do you see here that seems to you particularly helpful in explaining the surprisingly rapid growth of the early church? Note also any obstacles to growth you see here.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Acts of the Apostles--Discussion I
Please skim the first 12 chapters of Acts, then go back and read more carefully one or two chapters. What do you see here that seems to you particularly helpful in explaining the surprisingly rapid growth of the early church? Note also any obstacles to growth you see here.
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An obvious reason to me as to why the early church grew so quickly was the relentless work of the apostles. Once they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they would stop at nothing to spread the Good News and teach about Jesus. As a result, more and more people would come out and listen to the apostles teach. The people would then be filled with the Holy Spirit and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The church kept getting bigger and bigger. The major obstacle that I noticed was that of the Council and the High Priest. When Peter and John were brought before the Council, they were told never to speak of the Good News again. This obviously didn't stop Peter and John, but the leaders could potentially pass laws or take matters into their own hands to make sure that people like Peter and John aren't heard from again.
ReplyDeleteI think a reason why the church is still growing is there is still a miracle being performed. In Act 2 the crippled man walks and tells everyone the truth. I think that would attract people. I also think the church is growing because of Peter and John and their messages. Everyone has heard the stories now they are saying and proving it is true. This would make many people believe. One obstacle is that there is people that oppose everything that Peter and John are saying. They even get thrown into jail.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that really sparked the start to the rise of the early church was when the Holy Spirit came and put itself in the disciples. It is seen by all when Peter delivers his sermon in Acts 2:14-36. This event draws over 3,000 people to join them, and they continue to spread the Word of God throughout the region. However, with this comes some obstacles. People who oppose them stone them while giving sermons, and Peter and John are arrested and told to never preach in the name of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteOne of the more obvious reasons that the early church grew so exponentially was the idea of “communal stuff”, if you will. We’ve talked about this in class - but for so many early Christians to be sharing their wealth, food, land, clothing, and possessions with other Christians, it would only enhance the spreading of the gospel. People need all those things to live and thrive and you can’t share the gospel very well if you’re sick, not cared for, or not alive. In Acts 4:32-37 we hear of a man named Barnabas, who sold a field that he had and gave all the money to the apostles. This generous display surely helped the gospel to be spread far and wide. An obstacle that the apostles could have run into is outlined for us quite nicely in Acts chapter 5. Two people promise to give everything they have to the apostles, yet they don’t, and are struck dead. Hopefully this wasn’t the case too often, but I could see the apostles having to deal with people like Ananias and Sappira who would promise to give things, and then didn’t. You can’t run a good organization with people like that as a part of it.
ReplyDeleteAnanias and Sapphira were a couple that sold their farm but kept some of the money. When asked about it they basically lied and both ended up dead. I could see the apostles having to deal with a lot of these people as well. Unfortunately, at this point in my life, I may be one of them. It is very hard to give up everything.
DeleteActs 6 talks about the choosing of the seven. "6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
ReplyDelete5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."
All these new people went out and spread the word of God. Acts 6:7 "The number of disciples increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith". With more people starting to preach, more people would be able to hear.
I also agree with Danny, in the fact that the early church was able to grow so rapidly because of the hard work of the apostles. The first 12 chapters of Acts mainly focuses on the apostle Peter. One of the chapters that stood out to me the most was the second chapter because it discusses the remarkable events of the Pentecost. And what made all of those people decide to become believers was they way that the apostles presented it to them, it was in a new and exciting way. Thats exactly how they were able to get 3,000 to start to follow Jesus after the first day.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the big reason for the rise of the Christian church was the conversion of Saul. To have someone go from asking the high priest for letters to arrest the believers in Damascus to having the Almighty make you his greatest missionary, will make people take notice. I especially like how Saul had suffered for three days being blind and not eating. Then with the help of Ananias and divine influence, Saul regains his eyesight "Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized" (Acts 9:18 NIV)
ReplyDeleteInitially, most people thought that Saul was using his conversion as a ploy since it is human nature. "Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?'" (Acts 9:20-21 NIV) Luckily Barnabas vouched for Saul and he was accepted as a Christian in Jerusalem; "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." (Acts 9:31 NIV)
The reading I picked was Acts 10. I believe that the church rose to prominence because god said through perter that no mater no matter if you have been circumcised or not as long as you have been baptized with water. and have received the Holy Spirit just as we have you have the holy spirit poured on you.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there were many reasons but the greatest of these was simply faith and works. They did not just preach a religious belief but they lived their beliefs. They did not just pray a prayer for the needy but ministered to the needy. They fed the poor, healed the sick, etc.
ReplyDeleteI believe it was James who said that faith without works is dead and that you should not just pray for the needy and not minister to them but that you should clothe them, feed them, etc. The early Church was a church of action.
One thing that we discussed briefly at the end of class today was the nature of the book. During this time period of Roman history, it was extra atrocious. However, Christianity offered itself as an alternative, and much better life, winning people over quickly and efficiently. Also, many of the Apostles were good with works and speech, so from common men this was impressive.
ReplyDelete