1. REACHING OUT TO THE GENTILES

2. PETER AND THE GENTILES Peter at the house of Cornelius (At.10.1-48)
The miracle in Joppa
Peter’s vision – “ What God has cleansed, you must not call common” (At.10.15).
Visit to Caesarea – “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality” (At ).
Report to the church in Jerusalem(At )
Opposition resulting in a division
Acceptance of Gentiles as believers
The church in Antioch (At )
Significant in early church history
Followed Peter’s example in accepting Gentiles
First to be called “Christians” (At.11.26)
Persecution by Herod Agrippa (At )
James martyred (At.12.2)
Peter imprisoned and released (At )
Herod’s gruesome death (AT )

4. THE CHURCH HAS MAIL Letters or epistles? Occasional communications
Epistle – communications of formal or didactic nature
Letters – communications of a more personal nature
Occasional communications
Specific local church or individual
Specific “agenda”
The question of “dual authorship”
God through the Holy Spirit was the originator
God worked with the human writer over a lifetime to produce the letter

5. 1 THESSALONIANS
Specific church “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians . . .” (1.1) Specific agenda “We urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” (4.1-2) “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” (4.13)

6. THE EPISTLE OF JAMES Author Date Recipients (1:1 – 2) Message
James, often believed to be the half-brother of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:55.
Date
Evidence is stronger for the mid-fifth decade—around 46 AD, although some believe it was written as late as 60 AD.
Recipients (1:1 – 2)
Addressed to the “twelve tribes”, usually understood to refer to the Jewish church.  Moreover, the general description may also reflect the fact that it was meant for a wider audience.
Message
Most view James’ content as a form of wisdom literature.  Hence, James begins the book by outlining two areas where divine wisdom could be applied to the Christian life.

7. Written to Jewish believers by the brother of Jesus
The first letter(?)
Written to Jewish believers by the brother of Jesus
Addressed specific concerns:
The persecution following Herod Agrippa’s death
The question of wisdom and how to apply it
Faith and works
The tongue
Prayer
Controversial
Stresses the need for faith demonstrated by works
“ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (1.22)
“ You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (2.24)

8. PAUL’S FIRST JOURNEY Separated with Barnabus (At.13.1-3)
Journey to Cyprus (At )
Barnabus’ home
The gospel already preached to the Jews
Received well by the proconsul Sergius Paulus
Journey to Galatia (At )
Mark decided to return
Visited Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe
Spoke in the synagogue in Antioch
Polemic divided Jews and Gentiles
Took gospel to the Gentiles
Return to Antioch (Syria) (At )
Reported “how God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (At.14.27)