1. Ch.24: The Birth of the Church
New Testament

2. Meditation Monday
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out. (Acts 14:11)
Picture today’s scene. A man who had never walked before in his life had jumped up and was standing right in front of the crowd. It was an amazing miracle! No wonder the people couldn’t contain their excitement. So Barnabas and Paul seized this opportunity to tell them about the One who had healed this man.
In the midst of our own uncertainties and unresolved questions, today should be a day of rejoicing as well. Why? Because God is at work. Because we are surrounded by miracles all day, every day. Our heavenly Father is reaching out to us this very moment. We may not know it all the time, but that doesn’t mean that God is passive. Miracles come in many different forms, and God wants to open our eyes to see them. He wants to help us recognize that he is with us, reaching out to us and offering us his grace.
What kinds of miracles does God want to help us see? Well, think of the times when you have received some kind of inner healing or strength. Or think of a time when you knew for sure that God had forgiven you, or when you were able to forgive someone else. Think of those moments, perhaps at Mass, when you were convinced that God was with you in a special way. Or maybe you have prayed for a loved one with a serious illness, and then seen him recover without any medical explanation. Each of these is a miracle just as awe inspiring as the miracle Paul and Barnabas performed in today’s first reading.
Behind all these miracles is the promise in today’s Gospel: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). No matter what you are facing today, or any day, you can hold on to this truth. God himself has chosen to live in your heart. He is with you in every circumstance, offering you his grace, peace, and hope. Your Father is always walking ahead of you, beside you, and behind you. What could possibly be more miraculous than that?
“Father, thank you for living in my heart. I can’t wait to see what miracles you will work in my life today!”

3. Book of Acts Written by Luke the evangelist
Emphasizes Jesus’ universality (for everyone)
Writes to gentiles

4. Restoring the Kingdom
John the Baptist stated, “ I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of those sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”
Where was baptism with Holy Spirit and fire?
40 days after Resurrection, Christ speaks about the kingdom of God
Jesus spent 40 days in desert preparing for ministry 40 days prepare apostles for ministry

5. Restoring the Kingdom
Apostles stay in Jerusalem until Holy Spirit comes
Jerusalem:
-David’s capital; OT prophets promised it would be capital kingdom once again
- Acts 1:6-8 – Jesus gave map of kingdom = Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all Gentile nations
Christ’s Ascension
JC leaves apostles to take care of earthly affairs of the kingdom
Restore Israel
Extend kingdom to rest of world

6. Election of Matthias Acts 1:12-26 - two requirements:
1.present with apostles during Christ’s public ministry
2. Witnessed the Resurrected Christ
- two possibilities = Joseph/Barsabbas & Matthias
- Matthias chosen
- “office of the bishop = “episcopacy”
 Apostolic Succession

7. Pentecost Acts 2 Greek word for “fifty”
50 days after Christ’s Resurrection
Located in Upper Room
This is the “baptism of Holy Spirit and fire”
All speaking in tongues; Gospel is proclaimed in all languages,
Peter’s speech telling apostles aren’t drunk but fulfillment of prophet Joel “the spirit of the Lord would be poured out to everyone”
HS given to apostles to establish Christ’s Church

9. Teambuilding Tuesday Compliment each person in your group.
Be sincere and genuine.
Don’t be immature.

10. Read Acts 4:23-37 Acts 5:1-11 Acts 6-7 Acts 9:1-19 Acts 15:1-12 Comprehension quiz tomorrow. Then you can study hall

11. Peter’s Authority
Peter had primacy over the other apostles, he was the leader, made important decisions
he inherited power to teach and heal from Christ
3,000 were baptized after Peter’s speech

13. Martyrdom of Stephen Feast December 26; first saint
Popular deacon whose death marked the first wave of persecution against Christians
Accused of blasphemy
after arguing against
authorities in a public debate
Defended himself (Acts 7)
Stoned to death
Saul was a leading
figure in persecuting Christians

14. Early Christian Practice
Christians lived in community, listened to apostles’ teachings, shared everything, worshipped in Temple, celebrated the Eucharist
Considered themselves part of the Jewish religion
Synagogue on the Sabbath
Sundays said Mass privately in homes for the baptized only

15. Saul to Paul – in the time it takes to fall off a horse!

18. “Why are you persecuting Me?”
Saul of Tarsus -Roman Citizen -Ardent Jew -Persecutor of Christians Saul is temporarily blinded and fasts within Damascus after witnessing a bright light and hearing the voice of Jesus. -note Jesus says why are you persecuting “me” not “my Church.” Jesus = Church

19. Conversion! Prompted by Jesus the disciple Ananias goes to Saul.
Saul regains his sight and is immediately baptized.
Saul begins preaching the “Good news” and everyone is astounded at this dramatic and radical change of heart.

21. Gentiles Christ died for the salvation of ALL.
Holy Spirit is poured into Gentiles thus showing that they too are to be saved. (Acts 10:45-49).
“What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.”

22. Council of Jerusalem First Ecumenical Council- 48 or 50 A.D.
All the Bishops were present including Peter (the Pope).
Topic: Do Gentiles have to become Jews in order to become Christians.
Circumcision: covenant sign between Abraham and God.
Peter ends the discussion- “executive order”- Gentiles do not have to become Jewish in order to be baptized! (Gentiles were probably happy to hear that)

23. The Dispersion of the Apostles

25. Peter Peter (Cephas, Simon)
Bishop of Jerusalem AD (James ben Alpheus, his successor)
Missionary journeys AD
Antioch, AD (Establishment of Evodius as Bishop; his successor, St. Ignatius)
Rome, late 42-49, (Jewish section, Trastevere, 14 district near Vatican Hill)
Martyrdom: Crucifixion upside down, c. 67 AD in the Circus of Nero, buried in Vatican necropolis
Wrote the Letter of Peter

27. James the Greater Mission in Spain
Martyrdom by Herod Agrippa in 42 A.D.
First Apostle martyred

28. John the Beloved John ben Zebedee James the Greater’s little brother
Known at the “beloved apostle”
Missionary in Ephesus, Asia Minor. (Cared for Virgin Mary until she was assumed into heaven in 49 A.D.)
Exiled to Patmos, died in 99 A.D. Only Apostle not to be Martryed.
Wrote the Gospel of John, 3 letters of John, Revelation.

29. James the Lesser Bishop of Jerusalem
Wrote the letter of James in the Bible.
Martyred by Annas in 62 A.D.

30. Andrew and Bartholomew
Mission to Scythia (Ukraine today)
Crucified on an X cross
Mission to South Arabia and possibly India
Flayed/skinned alive.

31. Matthias and Phillip
No information on Matthias except that he replaced Judas.
Mission to Asia Minor (Phrygia)
Crucified upside down.

32. Jude and Matthew Mission to Mesopotamia (Armenia, Iran, Turkey)
Wrote the Letter of Jude
Crucified
Mission to Ethiopia
Wrote the Gospel of Matthew
Stoned to death

33. Simon the Zealot and Thomas
Mission to Iran
Crucified
“Unbelieving Thomas”
Mission to Parthia 42 A.D.
Mission to India 52 A.D.
Speared by the Brahmans of Kali (Hindu Preists)

34. St. Paul’s Missions
Preached in Greece, Asia Minor, Rome and potentially Spain.
Wrote many of the Epistles.
Beheaded along the Ostian Way in Rome 67 A.D. by Nero.