Hola Como Estas

Acts of the Apostles



Summary



This study started with the Ascension and the election of St. Matthias to complete the number of twelve Apostles. The Church at this point did not really exist. There were approximately one hundred and twenty disciples lamenting the second time Jesus was taken from them. They huddled behind closed doors in fear of further persecution by the leaders ofthe temple.



We then recounted the Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Ghost and the birth of the Church. Immediately we see a change in all the Apostles. Peter started healing and preaching in the temple. We see them start to share their resources and they began to lead a communal life. The Apostles were imprisoned and rescued by an Angel. When they returned to the temple they were warned toquit preaching in the Name of Jesus. When they refused, the leaders of the temple plotted to kill the Apostles but were restrained by Gamaliel who said, "If they are of God we could not stop them. If they are not of God, their efforts will come to naught."



We saw the beginning of the spread of Christianity and the creation of the Order of Deacons. Stephen’s martyrdom was recounted andPhilip’s mission to Samaria was described. It was interesting to note that the Apostles came to review Philip’s work and to perform the confirmations. We heard of Saul’s approval of the stoning of Stephen and his intent to persecute the Christians at Damascus. We read of Peter’s missionary efforts around Jerusalem, Samaria and Damascus. He was the first to contend with the Apostles about whethercircumcision was required of the Gentiles before they could be admitted to Christianity.



The description of St. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was repeated several times throughout this book as Paul explained why he was so dedicated to preaching Christ crucified throughout the world. Initially the Apostles at Jerusalem were not willing to meet with Paul because of his reputation. Paul wasforced to return to Tarsus where Barnabus found him and brought him back to the church at Antioch. Only at the insistence of Barnabus was he allowed to meet the Apostles and tell his story. Barnabus and Paul were selected to deliver relief to those suffering the famine in Palestine.



Herod killed James and when he saw it pleased the leaders of the temple, he put Peter in prison with theintent of killing him as soon as the feast of Unleavened Bread was past. Peter was rescued by an Angel and departed from Jerusalem for some time. Barnabus and Paul were sent from the Church in Antioch to spread the word to Cyprus and their efforts were directed to the Jews who understood the prophecies of the Old Testament. At this point, Barnabus was the primary spokesman with Paul as an assistant.When Paul and Barnabus moved on to Pamphylia, Pisidia and Lycaonia, Paul began taking a more assertive role. They always started preaching in the temple and among the Jews but the number of converts were minimal. For the most part, the Jews not only rejected their message but refused to allow them to speak at all. Thus the mission to the Gentiles became the most productive field. Graduallythe resistance of the Jews to Paul’s message grew into full persecution. They followed them from town to town to drive them out repeatedly. Paul was actually stoned in Lystra but survived and they moved on to Derbe.



When Paul and Barnabus returned to Antioch, they were opposed by the Jews who favored circumcision for all Christians. They came from Jerusalem to Antioch just to oppose Paul’smission to the Gentiles. They really wanted to keep Christianity as a subset or sect of Judaism. Paul and Barnabas were compelled to go to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and Elders to decide the controversy. Peter pointed out that the Gentiles he converted received the Holy Spirit just as did the Jews. James announced the decision of the Apostles as a compromise. The Gentiles would not...