The Early Church and the Spread of the Gospel (Acts and Epistles)
Acts and the Epistles test how the gospel travelled from Jerusalem to Rome and what the apostles taught about salvation and church life.
Acts
- Pentecost (Acts 2): the Spirit is poured out, Peter preaches Christ crucified and risen, and about 3,000 are baptised. The community devotes itself to teaching, fellowship, bread and prayer (2:42-47).
- Persecution scatters the church; Philip reaches Samaria and the Ethiopian official (Acts 8); Peter learns at Cornelius' house that God shows no partiality (Acts 10).
- Antioch becomes the mission base; Paul's journeys plant churches across Asia Minor and Greece.
- The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) decides Gentiles need not be circumcised: salvation is by grace, and one church holds Jew and Greek together.
Epistles
- Romans: justification by faith, Adam and Christ, life in the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians: the body, gifts, love (ch 13), resurrection (ch 15).
- Galatians: freedom from law-keeping, fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23).
- James: faith proven by works; Ephesians: grace, unity, household teaching; Revelation: hope under persecution.
Worked example
'Why was the Jerusalem Council important?' A strong answer states the dispute, the testimony of Peter, Paul and Barnabas, James' scriptural verdict, the terms of the letter, and the consequence: a gospel for all nations with no added conditions.
Traps
- Confusing Paul's conversion with his missionary commissioning.
- Claiming Pentecost abolished baptism or the church.
- Using Romans 3 to prove works-righteousness instead of grace.