Chapter 10: Section 1

The kingdom of Judah, home of the Jews, was taken over by the Romans in 63 B.C under the Roman Emperor Augustus. It was turned into a Roman province called Judaea and was ruled by a Roman governor called a procurator. Some Jews worked with the Romans, others opposed Roman rule and kept their Jewish traditions, and some Jews moved to isolated areas and shared their belongings.

The Jews called Zealots fought the Romans and rebelled. The Romans crushed the rebellion, destroyed the temple, and killed thousands of Jews. The Jews rebelled again in A.D. 132 and were again defeated. This time the Romans forced all Jews to leave Jerusalem and banned them from returning.

By A. D. 700 the Jews had set up communities as far west as Spain and as far east as central Asia. In later centuries they settled in the Americas and throughout Europe. In these scattered communities the Jews managed to keep their faith alive by studying and following their religious laws.

During Roman times, many Jews hoped that God would send a messiah, or deliverer. The Israelite prophets predicted that a messiah would come. A few decades before the first Jewish revolt in Rome, a Jew named Jesus left his home in Nazareth and began preaching. A man who preached love and forgiveness.

Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, the region north of Judaea, preaching his ideas. He soon assembled a band of 12 close followers called disciples.

12 Apostles The 12 Apostles of Jesus: 1. Peter (also known as Simon Peter)Peter (also known as Simon Peter) 2. Andrew (Simon Peter's brother)Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) 3. James son of ZebedeeJames son of Zebedee 4. John (James' brother)John (James' brother) 5. PhilipPhilip 6. BartholomewBartholomew 7. ThomasThomas 8. MatthewMatthew 9. James son of AlphaeusJames son of Alphaeus 10. Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James)Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James) 11. Simon the ZealotSimon the Zealot 12. Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus)Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus) Matthias (who replaced Judas)

What Did Jesus Teach? According to the Christian Bible, Jesus preached that God was coming soon to rule the world. He urged people to turn away from sinful ways. He also told them that following the Jewish religious laws was not as important as having a relationship with God, whom Jesus referred to as Father.

 According to Jesus, God’s command was simple: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness helped shae the values many people in Europe and america hold today.

c. 6 B.C.–A.D. 30 Jesus of Nazareth

Sermon on the Mount The main points of Jesus’ message are given in group of sayings known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said that a person had to love and forgive from the heart. Jesus told his listeners to love and forgive each other because God loves and forgives people.

The 8 Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Note: Reference Matthew 5:3-10.

The Rise of Christianity

Sermon on the Mount

The Parables Jesus often used parables to present his message. Parables are stories that used events and everyday life to express spiritual ideas. Some of his parables include: –The Prodigal Son –The Good Samaritan –The Lost Sheep These stories taught that God forgives and wants people turn away from bad deeds.

The Last Supper In A.D. 33, Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. He was greeted by large cheering crowds. In the event known as the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated the holiday with his 12 disciples. Fearing trouble, leaders in Jerusalem arrested Jesus and he was charged with treason. As punishment Jesus was crucified, or hung from a cross until dead.

Da Vinci’s The Last Supper

The Crucifixion What factors led up to the crucifixion? Jesus and his message drew strong responses from people. Some believed that he could heal the sick and perform miracles. Others believed him to be the long awaited messiah. Judaea’s Roman rulers feared the effects of his preaching and felt that he was a threat to law and order.

The Resurrection After Jesus’ death, his followers made a startling claim. They announced that Jesus had risen from the dead. The disciples pointed to his empty tomb as proof that Jesus was the messiah. The reports of Jesus’ resurrection, or rising from the dead, led to the spread of a new religion called Christianity.

The First Christians Jesus’ disciples began to spread the message of Jesus and his resurrection. Those that accepted Jesus Christ and his teachings became known as Christians. The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos which means messiah. The early Christians formed churches, or communities for worship and teaching. They met in people’s homes to pray and study the Hebrew Bible.

An Early Christian Church

Who Were Peter and Paul? Apostles, or early Christian leaders who helped set up churches and spread the message of Jesus, played an important role in the growth of Christianity. Two of the most important apostles were Peter and Paul. Simon Peter was a Jewish fisherman who had been one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. Peter went to Rome after the death of Jesus and helped set up a church there.

Paul of Tarsus C. A.D. 10–65

Paul of Tarsus Paul of Tarsus was another important religious leader. He was a well-educated Jew and a Roman citizen. Paul at first hated Christianity and persecuted Christians. According to Christian beliefs, Paul saw a great light and heard the voice of Jesus on his way to Damascus. He became a Christian and spent the rest of his life spreading the message of Jesus. He founded many churches throughout the Mediterranean.

Christian Beliefs Christians taught that Jesus is the Son of God and had come to save the people. By accepting Jesus and his teachings, people could achieve salvation, or be saved from sin and allowed to enter heaven. Christians came to believe that God existed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This became known as the Trinity.

What happened to the Jews after they were banished from Jerusalem? The Jews settled in many far-off places, such as Spain and central Asia. However, they still kept their religion alive. The First Christians

Why did Roman rulers punish Jesus with death? They feared his preaching would create a strong reaction among people that would threaten law and order. The First Christians

What are parables, and why did Jesus use them? A parable is a story that uses events from everyday life to express spiritual ideas. The First Christians

What do Christians believe they will gain by accepting Jesus and his teachings? They believe they will gain salvation, be resurrected, and have everlasting life.

Explain Why was Jesus put to death? Roman rulers feared he might threaten law and order. The First Christians