Key:

  • Events happening with Christians in Jerusalem = bold print
  • Events happening with Christians in Antioch = italicized print
  • Jerusalem church interacting with Antioch = bold and italic
  • ANTIOCH CHURCH INTERACTING WITH JERUSALEM = BOLD, ITALIC, CAPITALIZED

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In Jerusalem, the disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit.  “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you,” Jesus said, “you will be witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” 

120 of them constantly prayed and met together.  During this time, before the Spirit fell on them, Peter led the charge in choosing a replacement for Judas.  They made their decision based on the Scriptures, the people’s qualifications (i.e. they had been with the disciples all along and witnessed Christ’s resurrection), prayer, and casting lots.

10 days after Jesus left, the festival of Pentecost brought Jews together in Jerusalem from all nations. The Holy Spirit descended on the 120 and they were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues.  Crowds drew near to them amazed and perplexed (some said they were drunk).  Peter led the charge in preaching to them what the Scriptures say, which brought conviction on the crowd.  They asked how they could be saved and Peter said: “1. Repent, 2. Be baptized, 3. Receive Holy Spirit.”  That day, 3,000 people were baptized into Christ and added to their number.  This group of people devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings, fellowship, breaking bread together, and prayer.  As a result, the world was in awe of them, wonders and signs happened by the apostles, there was unity and community, as well as generosity.

Every day this group of people met together in the temple courts, but they also broke bread in homes.  They ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and being loved and respected by everyone, and God continued to add to their number daily.

One day, Peter and John went to the temple at the time of prayer and healed a lame man.  This man went with them into the temple and was walking, jumping, and praising God so that people were filled with wonder and amazement.  This led the people to run to Peter and John, and Peter preached the Scriptures and told them they need to repent and turn to Christ.  The priests and captain, however, were disturbed because the apostles taught and preached Christ’s resurrection.  They put Peter and John in jail for the evening, though many believed the message they heard and the number of disciples grew to 5,000.  The next day, Peter and John were questioned by the authorities.  Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, responded with the Scriptures, and the authorities, seeing the courage of Peter and John, were astonished because they knew they were untrained, ordinary men who had been with Jesus.  In conclusion, the authorities commanded them not to speak in Jesus’ name anymore, but Peter and John said they couldn’t do that.  Since they didn’t know how to punish them, and all the people were praising God because of them and the miracle through their hands, they let them go.  After leaving the authorities, Peter and John told the other disciples what happened, which prompted them to pray.  They used the Scriptures in their prayer and asked for boldness and miracles from God.  After the prayer, the place shook and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word boldly!

The believers were unified in heart and mind.  They shared everything they had, and there were no needy people among them.  The apostles testified with great power concerning Jesus’ resurrection.  They all had much grace upon them.  The apostles held the money people contributed from selling land and houses (Barnabas was one of those), and distributed it as people had need.  However, Ananias and Sapphira claimed they gave everything, but actually held some back.  Therefore, God struck both of them dead, just as Peter prophesied.  Great fear seized them all on account of this.  

The apostles were doing many signs and wonders and they and the rest of the believers regularly met in Solomon’s Colonnade.  No one dared join their ranks, because they were so highly regarded by the people, but more men and women believed and were added to their number.  The diseased and demonized were brought to apostles and they were ALL healed.  This caused the high priest, Sadducees, and others to be filled with jealousy.  So they arrested the apostles and put them in jail.  But an angel came at night to free them and said, “Go and tell the full message of this new life.”  Therefore, the apostles taught people at the temple at daybreak, which caused the captain and his officers to bring them before the Sanhedrin where they were questioned by the high priest.  In response to their questioning, Peter said, “We have to obey God rather than men, since Jesus resurrected.”  This caused those assembled to want to kill the apostles, but Gamaliel counseled otherwise.  Therefore, the apostles were only flogged and ordered not to preach Jesus.  They left rejoicing for the chance to suffer for Christ.

Daily, in the temple and houses, the apostles always taught that Jesus is the Christ.

The number of disciples increased.  However, the Grecian Jewish believers complained against the Hebraic Jewish believers because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.  The apostles said that they could not neglect ministry of the word and prayer for the sake of waiting on tables.  So they chose 7 deacons from among them.  They said the criteria for deacons was that they were known to be: full of Spirit, full of wisdom (which pleased the group).  The responsibility of food distribution was given to them.  After choosing 7, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them.

God’s word spread.  The number of disciples increased rapidly.  Even many priests became obedient to faith.  

Stephen (one of the 7) did great wonders and signs, but the Jews opposed it and stirred up people and elders and argued with Stephen.  As a result, Stephen was brought to the Sanhedrin for accusation.  For his defense, Stephen preaches the Scriptures and accuses the Jews of rejecting God.  They stoned him and he died (Saul was party to this), and Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

After Stephen’s killing, persecution broke against the church at Jerusalem, so all the believers except the apostles scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  

The scattered believers preached the word wherever they went.  For instance, Philip (one of the seven) preached to Samaria.  After the Samaritans received the word, the apostles from Jerusalem sent Peter and John to pray and lay hands on Samaritan believers that they would receive the Holy Spirit.  On their trip back to Jerusalem, Peter and John preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages.  Meanwhile, after ministry in Samaria, Philip was told by the Spirit to go to desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza where he brought conversion to an Ethiopian eunuch and baptized him. 

At this time, Saul had been a zealous Jew who began to destroy the church, going house to house to drag men and women and put them in prison.  But after Christ appeared to him, and he spent time in Arabia and Damascus (see Galatians 1:17), he came to Jerusalem.  While in Jerusalem, Paul tried to join the disciples there, but they were afraid and didn’t believe him.  Barnabas was the one who bridged the gap so Paul could stay with the disciples there.  During Paul’s stay, he got acquainted with Peter and stayed with him for 15 days and he also saw James, but none of the other apostles (Gal. 1:18-19).  He spoke boldly and moved freely.  He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him, which prompted the brothers to send him to Tarsus.  He also went to the temple and fell into a trance, at which point the Lord said, “Leave Jerusalem.  They won’t accept you.  Go to the Gentiles,” (see Acts 22). 

Around this time, Peter was told by God to preach the word to Gentiles, which he begrudgingly did and saw them miraculously come to know Christ too!  When Jerusalem church heard that Gentiles received God’s word, they criticized Peter for eating with the uncircumcised.  But Peter explained all that happened, and the Jerusalem Christians accepted the testimony and praised God.

The Christians scattered by the persecution that arose after Stephen’s death went all over, including Antioch, and they told the message only to the Jews.  Some of them (from Cyprus and Cyrene) went to Antioch and spoke to Greeks also about Jesus.  God’s hand was on them and a great number believed and turned to Christ.

Jerusalem heard about Antioch, and sent Barnabas (a good man, full of the Spirit and faith) there, and when he came he saw evidence of the grace of God.  This made him glad and encourage them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  As a result, a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas then brought Saul (who was in Tarsus) to Antioch.  For 1 year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.  At Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.

Then, some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.  One named Agabus stood up and predicted a severe famine would spread over all of Rome (which happened).  The disciples according to their ability gave help to the brothers in Judea and SENT THEIR GIFT TO THE ELDERS BY BARNABAS AND SAUL.

Meanwhile, King Herod started arresting Christians with intentions of persecuting.  He killed James, and this pleased the people, so he seized Peter too.  Peter was put in prison, but the church earnestly prayed for him.  As a result of their prayers, an angel appeared to Peter, struck him on the side, woke him up, and led him out of the prison.  Peter ran to Mary’s house where people were gathered to pray for his release, and he told them about his escape and said that they need to report this to the other brothers.  Then Peter left for another place.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch with John Mark after finishing their mission.  At Antioch, there were prophets and teachers (5 total) gathered together, worshiping God and fasting.  While gathered, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for My work.”  Therefore, they fasted, prayed, and laid hands to send them off.

After Paul and Barnabas’ journey, they returned to Antioch and strengthened the disciples there, and encouraged them to remain true to the faith.  Then, they continued travelling, now appointing elders to the churches established by prayer, fasting, and committing them to the Lord.

After this 2nd round of journeying, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch again, where they gathered the church together and reported what God did in and through them, how He had opened the door for the Gentiles.  And Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time with the disciples in Antioch.

Men from Judea came to Antioch to teach.  They taught that people need circumcision in order to be saved, but Paul and Barnabas sharply disputed and debated the men.  AS A RESULT, PAUL AND BARNABAS AND OTHERS (INCLUDING TITUS, SEE GAL. 2:1) WERE SENT BY THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO SEE THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS ON THIS QUESTION.

In Jerusalem, the church, apostles and elders welcomed them.  Paul and Barnabas reported what “God had done through them,” but the Pharisee believers stood up and said that the Gentiles needed the law to be saved.  So the apostles and elders met together to consider this question.  There was discussion, followed by Peter’s testimony, followed by Paul and Barnabas’ testimony, followed by James speaking and quoting from Amos, and the church concluded that Gentiles only need to eat kosher and abstain from sex without additional demands placed on them from Judaizers.  As a result of this, the apostles, elders, and church of Jerusalem decided to send their own men (included Judas and Silas, leaders among the brethren and prophets) with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch.  They sent a letter with these men and told them they need to continue remembering the poor as well (Gal. 2:10).

Upon reaching Antioch, they gathered the church together to deliver the letter, and the people heard it and were glad.  JUDAS AND SILAS ALSO ENCOURAGED AND STRENGTHENED THE BRETHREN, AND WERE SENT OFF BY THE BROTHERS WITH BLESSING OF PEACE TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, and they, along with many others, taught and preached the word of God.  After awhile, Paul suggested to Barnabas that they check on the other churches.  They both decided to do this, but disagreed over taking John Mark with them (Barnabas wanted him, but Paul did not).  As a result, Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, while Paul and Silas were commended by the brothers to the grace of God for the strengthening of the churches.

On their journeying, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

After they completed their journey (years later?), Paul returned to Antioch and spent time there.

Then, Paul took off from Antioch and went place to place to strengthen the disciples.

At a point in his journey, Paul hurried to reach Jerusalem, “if possible,” by Pentecost, so he sailed past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia.  However, from Miletus he spoke to the Ephesian elders and said that he was “compelled by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem, though he didn’t know what would happen to him there.

Paul later went to Tyre where he stayed 7 days and had disciples “by the Spirit” urge him not to go to Jerusalem.  

After this, Paul reached Caesarea and stayed with Philip.  While there, Agabus came from Judea and warned of trouble in Jerusalem by the Holy Spirit.

Paul came to Jerusalem (he was also carrying money from Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints of Jerusalem, see Rom. 15:25).

He was received warmly by the brothers of Jerusalem.  The next day, Paul and others saw James, and all the elders were present as well.  Here, Paul gave details of God’s work with the Gentiles.  They praised God, but warned Paul that Jews hated his teachings.  They told Paul that he needed to join 4 men in purification rites and pay their expenses, so that the Jews wouldn’t be upset with him.  Paul did this, but some Jews saw him at the temple and they incited the masses against him.  Many in the city dragged him from the temple and shut the gates.  Then, they beat him until the commander came in with soldiers, at which point, the beating stopped.  However, the commander arrested Paul, though Paul was able to tell the crowd about his conversion, and the crowd, in return, wanted to kill Paul.  The commander ordered the Jewish assembly to assemble with Paul.  At this meeting, Paul caused the Pharisees and Sadducees to argue with each other, and later went to the barracks.  When he was back at the barracks, the Lord stood near to him and said that he would testify in Rome like he did in Jerusalem.  Next, Paul was taken to Felix (in Caesarea), because the Jews had plotted to kill him (he stayed in Caesarea for 2 years).  While at Caesarea, Festus replaced Felix and went on a journey to Jerusalem.  While there, the Jews asked him to bring Paul to Jerusalem, because they wanted to kill him.  Instead, though, Festus and the Jews went back to Paul in Caesarea to hold a trial.  At the trial, Paul appealed to Caesar, and was thus sent to Rome (even as Jesus told him he would be a witness for Him there).

Addendum:

1 other event that happened in Antioch, though not sure where/how it fits with narrative above:

  1. Peter came to Antioch and Paul opposed him to his face, because he was hypocritical concerning who he ate and fellowshipped with (Gal. 2)