Early Church in the Book of Acts

Jul 13, 2024

Early Church in the Book of Acts

Ascension and Mandate

  • Mandate of Christ to the Disciples: Return to Jerusalem and wait.
  • Waiting period lasted 10 days.

Return to Jerusalem

  • Trip from Mount of Olives to Jerusalem described (~1.25 miles).
  • Reflective anecdote about listening to Hallelujah Chorus from the Mount of Olives.

Behavior of the Early Church

  • Obedience:
    • Disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to wait in Jerusalem.
  • Unity and Fellowship:
    • Gathered together in the upper room.
    • Included the 11 Apostles, women, Mary (mother of Jesus), and Jesus’ brothers.

Prayer in the Upper Room

  • Focus on Prayer:
    • Continued in prayer and supplication.
    • Important aspect of the early church’s behavior.

Importance of Community

  • Fellowship and Support:
    • Story illustrating the necessity of communal worship versus individual worship.
    • Analogy of a coal losing its heat when separated from the pile.

Role of Mary and Jesus’ Brothers

  • Mary’s presence highlighted, last mention in New Testament.
  • Jesus' brothers, initially skeptics, now believers (emphasizing the impact of the Resurrection).

Apostolic Authority and Selection

  • 120 Disciples:
    • Not just 12, but a larger group of 120.
  • Criteria for Apostleship:
    • Must have been with Jesus from His baptism by John.
    • Must be an eyewitness of the Resurrection.
    • Must be commissioned directly by Christ.

Filling Judas' Position

  • Selection of Mathias:
    • Using lots following Old Testament tradition.
    • John highlights Mathias replaces Judas, no further mention afterward.
  • Clarification on Apostles vs. Disciples.

Paul's Apostleship

  • In-depth discussion on Paul’s apostleship and its controversy due to not meeting traditional criteria.
  • Application of the third criterion: Direct commission by Christ.

Post-Apostolic Authority

  • After the apostolic age, no new Apostles were confirmed.
  • Differentiation between Apostolic authority and roles of teachers, preachers, evangelists.

Conclusion

  • Early Church characterized by:
    • Obedience
    • Unity
    • Prayer
    • Scripture study
    • Submissiveness to Apostolic authority.