1. The New Testament Church
Church History
The New Testament Church
© John Stevenson, 2016

2. What Factors Caused Christianity to Spread?

3. How did Christians seek to accommodate themselves to their audience?

4. How did Christians seek to accommodate themselves to their audience?
Paul’s attitude in 1 Cor. 9:19-27
Paul in Athens (Acts 17)
Paul’s vow (Acts 18:18)
Timothy’s circumcision (Acts 16:3)

5. They love everyone, but are persecuted by all
They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. (Anonymous Letter to Diognetus, 150).

6. Timeline
Fall of
Jerusalem
Peter
Paul
John

7. The Pentecost Incident
The Jewish Feast of Pentecost
The Filling of the Spirit
Tongues
Peter’s Address

8. Acts 2:17
‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;

9. Acts 2:18-19 Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 And I will grant wonders in the sky above,
And signs on the earth beneath,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.

10. Acts 2:20-21 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

11. Giving of the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19)
Filling of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)
Sons of Israel came together at Mount Sinai
Believers were gathered in an upper room
Loud trumpet sound (19:16)
Noise like a violent, rushing wind
Smoke of a furnace
Tongues of fire
3000 killed by Levites for engaging in idolatry (32:28)
3000 made spiritually alive through faith in Christ

12. Partiality between Hebrew versus Greek speaking widows
Acts 3-6
Chapter
3:1 - 4:22
5:1-11
5:12-42
6:1-7
Distress in the Church
External problem
Internal problem
External problem
Internal problem
Peter & John
Arrested
Tried
Released
Sin within the church
Apostles
Jailed
Tried
Released
Partiality between Hebrew versus Greek speaking widows
Growth in the Church
Number of men rises to 5,000
Many added
They kept on teaching

14.  Damascus 
Joppa 
Jerusalem

15. for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to 
Tarsus
 Antioch 
Seleucia
25 And he left for Tarsus to look
for Saul; 26 and when he had
found him, he brought him to
Antioch. And it came about that
for an entire year they met with
the church, and taught considerable
numbers; and the disciples were
first called Christians in Antioch.
(Acts 11:25-26)
 Salamis

16. 
Tarsus
Syrian
Antioch  
Seleucia
 Salamis 
Paphos

17. Syrian Syrian Tarsus Antioch Seleucia Paphos  Antioch  Perga   
 Salamis 
Paphos

18. Antioch in
Psidia
Temple of Augustus

19. Pisidian Lystra  Syrian Tarsus Antioch Seleucia Paphos  Antioch
 Iconium
Lystra 
 Derbe
 Perga 
Tarsus
Syrian
Antioch  
Seleucia
 Salamis 
Paphos

20. Pisidian Lystra  Syrian Tarsus Antioch Seleucia Paphos  Antioch
 Iconium
Lystra 
 Derbe
 Perga 
Tarsus
Syrian
Antioch  
Seleucia
 Salamis 
Paphos

21. Must Christians be circumcised in order to be saved?
Acts 15
Must Christians be circumcised in order to be saved?
What forms does this question take in today’s church?

22. Second Missionary Journey

23. Bythinia 
Troas
Mysia
Asia
Galatia
Pisidia 
Syrian
Antioch

24.  Philippi 
Troas
 Athens

27. Forum
Forum Shops

29. Krenides River

31.  Philippi 
Berea
 Thessalonica 
Troas 
Corinth
 Athens

32.  Philippi 
Berea
 Thessalonica 
Troas 
Corinth
 Athens

34.  Philippi 
Berea
 Thessalonica 
Troas 
Corinth
 Athens

35. Acts 17:11-12
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.
12 Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

36.  Philippi 
Berea
 Thessalonica 
Troas 
Corinth
 Athens

38. Areopagus

39. Areopagus

40. “To the Unknown God” Famine in Athens Epimenedes
Flock of sheep turned loose on the Aereopagus
Altar erected when one would lie down and not eat

41.  Philippi 
Berea
 Thessalonica 
Troas 
Corinth
 Athens

45. Bema Seat

46. Main Street

48. Shops by Forum

50. Acts 18:2-3
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all
The Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers.

51. Crispus (Synagogue leader)
Christianity on Trial
Crispus (Synagogue leader)
Paul

52. Sosthenes (Synagogue leader)
Christianity on Trial
Gallio (Proconsul)
Sosthenes (Synagogue leader)
Paul
Crispus

53.  Ephesus
Syrian
Antioch 
 Caesarea

54. Paul’s First Visit to Ephesus
19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20 And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but taking leave of them and saying, "I will return to you again if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus. (Acts 18:19-21).

55.  Ephesus
Syrian
Antioch 
 Caesarea

58. Odium

59. Baths

62. Sidewalk
Mosaic

65. In the house of Titius Justus
Bible
Studies
In the Synagogue

66. A certain man named Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen…
(Acts 19:24)

71. Syrian Antioch Jerusalem Be on guard for yourselves
 Ephesus
Syrian
Antioch 
Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among which
the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the
church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.
(Acts 20:28)
 Caesarea 
Jerusalem

74. Caesarea

75. Caesarea

76. Caesarea

78. Acts 28:30-31
30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.