The Early Church

Unit 4

Pentecost

After the death of Jesus, the community of Jesus’ followers were terrified.

Jesus promised to send His Spirit to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izKHaDzn5q8

The community was gathered together…

“And there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…

Acts 2: 1-13

It is this experience of the Spirit that sends the apostles out into the world to share the teachings of Jesus

The early church spreads because of the profound love and faith of the first believers.

• Acts 2: 42 - 47

St. Peter and the others of the 12 were acknowledged as the leaders of the early Church in Jerusalem

They saw the Church as a mission to the Jews.

They still worshipped in the temple.

But their faith in Jesus caused problems.

Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned. Saul (Paul) was there to hold the coats of the men who killed him.

Paul is traveling to DamascusAnd is struck to the ground. Jesus speaks to him:Why are you persecuting me?

Paul becomes the missionary to the Gentiles…

The non-Jewish world.

At the Council of Jerusalem

The early community decides that Gentiles do not have to become Jews to follow Jesus.

This is a major transformation in the early Church.

When Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD

The center of the early Church moves from Jerusalem to the Greek world.

Questions

Who was the leader of the apostles?What is Pentecost?Who was missionary to the Gentiles?Who was the first martyr?What did the early Church do with property?What was the first council of the Church?What happened to Jerusalem in 70 AD?