2. The SAME Holy Spirit: The Jewish & Christian Understandings
The OT
The NT
the Trinity had not yet been revealed
the “spirit” is described as a separate Person of the Holy Trinity

3. Pentecost
the apostles gathered in hopes to make sense of preceding weeks
Jesus had been crucified, died, buried, risen from the dead, and ascended into Heaven
Acts 2:2-4
God had sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide them, just as Jesus had promised
their mission: to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ to THE WORLD!!!

4. The Birth of the Church
the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the power to act in Jesus’ name to continue his ministry
example: Peter, the fisherman, speaks in tongues
inspired by the Holy Spirit
preached to the Gentiles of the Roman Empire
3,000 new members were added in a single day to the Church

5. Peter’s Speech @ Pentecost
Directions:
READ Acts 2:14-47.
With the assistance of a partner, ANSWER the following questions in your notebook.
What does St. Peter say of Jesus?
What does St. Peter tell the masses to do?
What do they do?

6. Inspired To Join The Church
“signs and wonders” indicated God at work in the community
the Holy Spirit drawing people to new life
trust in God/the reign of God
a new understanding of freedom, hope, and salvation
personal and social conversions
an intense form of community

7. Reflection: To Join or Not to Join
Would you join?

8. ANY QUESTIONS?

9. New Faces Defending the New Faith
Peter & John were arrested & put in jail
civil disobedience: in this case…
ignored Sanhedrin’s order to stop preaching about JC
an angel opened the gates
P & J went to the Temple to preach about Jesus
were recognized & sentenced to be killed
Gamaliel, a wise respected member of the court, saved their lives…Acts 5:38-39
“…if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourself fighting against God.”

10. Gentiles: Hellenistic Jews
The 1st Christians
Jews: Israeli Jews
Gentiles: Hellenistic Jews
1st followers of Jesus saw themselves as
JEWS
followed all Jewish practices
worshipped in the Temple/obeyed Mosaic Law/remained Kosher
however, they also…
observed Sunday’s as the Lord’s Day by celebrating the Eucharist
bread & wine became the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ
1st century AD: official religion of the empire-a mix b/w emperor worship & polytheistic religion
no satisfaction
Gentiles (non-Jews) were drawn to…
Judaism's monotheistic faith
Jesus’ message

11. Due to conflicts w/in the Church, the Apostles needed help…enter: deacons
St. Stephen
St. Philip
one of the seven 1st deacons
was pronounced a blasphemer after working miracles & was arrested
blamed the Sanhedrin for crucifying Jesus
became the 1st Christian martyr after being stoned to death
Greek for “witness”
another one of the seven 1st deacons
preached to the Samaritans
1st to bring Christianity OUTSIDE of Judea
Peter and John join him to instill the Holy Spirit on the newly baptized
Philip = Deacon/Priest…
Baptism
Peter and John = Bishop…
Confirmation

12. Reflection: Martyrdom
Would you die for your faith?

13. ANY QUESTIONS?

14. Saul/Paul Saul…his Aramaic name The Conversion of Saul Acts 9:1-22
a Jew from Tarsus who persecuted the followers of Jesus
The Conversion of Saul
Acts 9:1-22
Paul…his Latin name
originally feared by all (obviously)
Ananias & Barnabas welcomes him
rest of Apostles realized the Holy Spirit was working through Paul

15. ALL ARE WELCOME Paul’s Conversion Peter’s Vision (Acts 10)
Christians would include Gentiles
Paul would be the missionary to the Gentiles
ANYONE can be Christian and be one with God
Peter’s Vision (Acts 10)
“What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” (Acts 10:15)
Jews (Peter) mixed w/ non-Jews (Cornelius)

16. ALL ARE WELCOME Antioch 1st Church to welcome both Jews & Gentiles
followers of Jesus were known as Christians