The Apostle Paul: Acts 8-12

Summary

This video from the Bible Project explores the origins of the Christian movement in the first century. It begins in Jerusalem, where followers of Jesus, after witnessing his resurrection, start spreading his teachings. Despite opposition and persecution, the movement grows, reaching non-Jewish communities. Key figures like Peter and Saul (later Paul) play pivotal roles in expanding the message beyond Jewish borders, forming a diverse and international community. The video highlights the transformative power of the movement, which challenges societal norms and spreads globally, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy to reach 'the ends of the earth.'

Takeaways

• 🌍 A grassroots countercultural movement began in the eastern part of the Roman Empire during the first century, originating among the Jewish people.
• 🕊️ The movement gained momentum during the Jewish feast of Pentecost, where followers of Jesus spoke in various dialects, spreading stories of his resurrection.
• 👑 Jesus was proclaimed as the true king of Israel and the world, calling people to adopt his values and live under the kingdom of God.
• ✝️ The movement faced opposition from the Jerusalem temple leaders, resulting in the execution of one of its leaders, Stephen, and the scattering of followers to Judea.
• 🌱 Despite adversity, the movement spread beyond Jerusalem, reaching surprising places like Samaria, and gained followers from diverse backgrounds.
• 👤 Saul of Tarsus, initially an opponent of the movement, encountered the risen Jesus on his way to Damascus and was transformed into a proponent of the faith.
• 📜 The movement began to include non-Jewish people, as exemplified by the story of Peter's encounter with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, challenging traditional Jewish customs.
• 🌐 The Jesus movement spread to the port city of Caesarea, where Peter realized that non-Jewish people were also part of the family of Abraham.
• 🏛️ The church in Antioch became the first international Jesus community, where followers were first called Christians, indicating the multi-ethnic nature of the movement.
• 🚀 The movement was rapidly expanding beyond its Jewish roots, aiming to reach the 'ends of the earth,' fulfilling Jesus' prophecy.

Q & A

What was the grassroots countercultural movement mentioned in the video?

The grassroots countercultural movement was the early Christian movement, which began in the eastern part of the Roman Empire among the Jewish people.

What event marked the beginning of this movement's spread outside Jerusalem?

The movement began to spread outside Jerusalem after the execution of Stephen, one of its leaders, and the subsequent persecution of followers. This forced them to flee to places like Judea and Samaria.

How did the Jewish people maintain their identity despite being scattered throughout the Roman Empire?

The Jewish people maintained their identity as the family of Abraham, remaining devoted to the one true God and continuing their traditions, such as traveling to Jerusalem for sacred festivals.

What happened during the feast of Pentecost that helped the movement grow?

During the feast of Pentecost, a group of Jews miraculously spoke in various native dialects, telling stories about Jesus' resurrection and his kingship. This event led thousands of Jews to stay in Jerusalem and join the movement.

What was Saul of Tarsus' role before his encounter with Jesus?

Saul of Tarsus was a member of the religious elite, actively opposing the Christian movement by finding and arresting Jesus' followers, believing he was protecting Israel and God's honor.

How did Saul's encounter with Jesus change his life?

Saul had a sudden encounter with the risen Jesus on the way to Damascus, where Jesus asked why Saul was persecuting him. After this, Saul was commissioned to represent Jesus to Israel and the nations, transforming from an enemy of the movement to a major proponent.

Why was Peter's interaction with the Roman centurion Cornelius significant?

Peter's interaction with Cornelius was significant because it marked a major turning point in the movement. Despite Jewish customs that forbade entering non-Jewish homes, Peter realized through a vision that God had made all people clean, signifying the inclusion of non-Jews in the movement.

What was the first international Christian community, and where was it located?

The first international Christian community was located in Antioch, a diverse trade city. It was there that followers of Jesus were first called Christians.

How did the early Christian movement expand beyond a Jewish sect?

The movement expanded beyond a Jewish sect by including non-Jews, such as the Ethiopian delegate and the Roman centurion Cornelius, who joined the movement after hearing about Jesus. This shift transformed the movement into a multi-ethnic community.

What were the challenges the early Christian movement faced as it grew?

The early Christian movement faced opposition from religious leaders in Jerusalem, who saw it as a dangerous sect. Additionally, as it spread to non-Jews, the movement's message and values confused and sometimes threatened the average Roman citizen.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Birth of a Countercultural Movement in the Roman Empire

In the first century, under Roman rule, a grassroots movement emerged among the Jewish people scattered across the known world. Despite their dispersion, Jews maintained their devotion to the one true God. During the Pentecost festival in Jerusalem, they encountered a group of Jews speaking in different dialects, sharing the story of Jesus, who had been crucified and raised from the dead. This Jesus was proclaimed as the true king, calling people to live by his values in the 'kingdom of God.' Thousands of Jews stayed in Jerusalem, joining the movement, but this gained hostility from the temple leaders, resulting in the execution of Stephen. Persecution forced many followers to flee to Judea, but this tragedy spread the movement further into unexpected regions like Samaria, where surprising individuals, including a sorcerer and an Ethiopian, embraced Jesus' teachings.

05:04

👑 Saul's Radical Transformation and the Expansion of the Jesus Movement

Back in Jerusalem, Saul of Tarsus, a staunch opponent of the Jesus movement, sought to arrest its followers. On his way to Damascus, Saul had a life-changing encounter with the risen Jesus, who commissioned him to represent him to both Israel and the nations. Saul, stunned, began preaching the good news in Damascus, which shocked many. Meanwhile, in Caesarea, a Roman centurion named Cornelius, representing Roman oppression, received a vision to summon Peter. Peter, despite Jewish customs, visited Cornelius and his household, recognizing that God had opened the doors to include non-Israelites in the movement. The Holy Spirit descended on Cornelius' family, signaling the expansion of the movement to non-Jews.

🌏 The First International Christian Community and Saul's New Mission

In Jerusalem, Peter recounted his experience with Cornelius to the apostles, while reports surfaced of non-Jews following Jesus in Antioch. Barnabas was sent to investigate and found a flourishing movement, bringing Saul to help teach and grow the community. This marked the birth of the first international Christian community in Antioch, where followers were first called Christians. The Jesus movement had transformed from a group of Messianic Jews in Jerusalem into a multi-ethnic community, spreading across the world. Despite this expansion, their faith remained centered on Jesus, the crucified king of all nations.

🌐 The Confusion and Conflict of the Expanding Jesus Movement

Although the Jesus movement was spreading globally, its message and way of life were confusing and threatening to many Roman citizens. This tension and resulting conflict will be explored in the next part as the movement continues to grow, fulfilling Jesus' words to spread 'to the ends of the earth.' The video concludes with a thank-you to supporters and a reminder of the broader goal of The Bible Project: to explore the Bible as one unified story leading to Jesus. Viewers are encouraged to visit thebibleproject.com for more content and to continue supporting the initiative.

Keywords

💡Pentecost

Pentecost is a Jewish festival celebrated 50 days after Passover, significant in this video as the time when visitors to Jerusalem encountered Jesus’ followers. The event became pivotal as the followers were able to speak in different languages, sharing the message of Jesus. This moment marks the beginning of the spread of Christianity.

💡Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God refers to the spiritual realm over which God reigns, a central theme in Jesus’ teachings. In the video, Jesus calls people to live by his 'upside down' set of values under this kingdom, which contrasts with the values of the Roman Empire and other worldly systems. It emphasizes selflessness and serving others.

💡Messianic Jews

Messianic Jews were Jewish followers who believed that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in Jewish scriptures. In the video, the early Jesus movement began among these Jews in Jerusalem, but later expanded to include non-Jews. This shift represents the opening of the movement to a broader, multi-ethnic group.

💡Saul of Tarsus

Saul of Tarsus was a prominent Jewish leader who initially persecuted followers of Jesus, believing they were leading Israel astray. His dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed his mission, and he became a key figure in spreading Christianity. Saul later becomes Paul, a central figure in the New Testament.

💡Gentiles

Gentiles, in the context of the video, refers to non-Jewish people. The movement of Jesus was initially among Jews, but it expanded to include Gentiles, symbolized by the Roman centurion Cornelius. This inclusion marked a significant shift in early Christianity, as it broke traditional Jewish boundaries regarding ritual purity.

💡Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the epicenter of Jewish religious life and the early Christian movement. Many Jews traveled here for festivals, such as Pentecost, and it was where the Jesus movement first gained traction. However, persecution from religious leaders led to the scattering of Jesus’ followers, which further spread the movement.

💡Stephen

Stephen was an early Christian leader who was executed by the Jewish religious authorities for his beliefs, becoming the first martyr of the Christian faith. His death is mentioned in the video as a catalyst for the scattering of Jesus’ followers, which ironically helped spread the message beyond Jerusalem.

💡Cornelius

Cornelius was a Roman centurion who became one of the first Gentiles to convert to Christianity, after receiving a vision to call Peter. His conversion is significant because it symbolizes the breaking down of barriers between Jews and non-Jews, as Peter realized that God’s message was for all people, not just Israelites.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a central role in the spread of the Jesus movement, often appearing to guide and empower believers. In the video, the Holy Spirit descends on the followers during Pentecost and again at the house of Cornelius, demonstrating that God’s presence is with both Jews and Gentiles alike.

💡Antioch

Antioch was a major trade city where the early Christian movement took root among people from various ethnic backgrounds. The video highlights Antioch as the first place where followers of Jesus were called 'Christians,' symbolizing the transformation of the movement into a multi-ethnic, global faith community.

Highlights

A grassroots countercultural movement began among the Jewish people in the eastern part of the Roman Empire during the first century.

During the feast of Pentecost, Jews who spoke different languages encountered followers of Jesus who could speak in their native dialects.

Jesus' followers claimed he was resurrected and was the true king of Israel and the world, calling people to adopt his values and join the kingdom of God.

The movement grew in size and influence in Jerusalem but was opposed by the temple leaders, who saw it as a dangerous sect.

After the execution of Stephen, one of the movement's leaders, many followers fled Jerusalem, which led to the spread of the movement.

Unexpected people, including ancient enemies like Samaritans, a sorcerer, and an Ethiopian delegate, began following Jesus as the movement spread.

Saul of Tarsus, a fierce opponent of the movement, has a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and becomes a key advocate.

In Caesarea, Peter has a vision that teaches him not to call impure what God has made pure, leading him to share the message of Jesus with non-Jews.

Peter's encounter with the Roman centurion Cornelius marks a pivotal moment as the Holy Spirit descends on non-Jewish followers, expanding the movement.

Reports of non-Jewish people following Jesus reached Jerusalem, prompting the apostles to send Barnabas to investigate the growing community in Antioch.

The church in Antioch became the first international Jesus community, with followers from all over the world, and it was there that they were first called Christians.

The movement transformed from a group of Messianic Jews in Jerusalem into a multi-ethnic movement spreading globally, centered on Jesus as the king of all nations.

The new way of life and message of Jesus were confusing and threatening to the average Roman citizen, leading to growing conflict.

The movement's growth and the resulting conflicts as it spread to the ends of the earth will be explored in future parts of the series.

The video is part of The Bible Project, which aims to explore the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus, supported by its community of followers.

Transcripts

During the first century when the Romans ruled the known world,

a grassroots countercultural movement was born in the eastern end of the empire.

Yeah. It started among the Jewish people who for centuries now have been scattered around the known world.

But no matter where they lived or what language they spoke,

they kept their identity as the family of Abraham, devoted to the one true God.

Every year they would travel to Jerusalem for sacred festivals.

During one of these, the feast of Pentecost,

the visitors encountered a group of Jews who could somehow speak in everyone's native dialect.

Yeah, they were telling stories about a man named Jesus who had been executed by the Romans.

They claimed he had risen from the dead and was now exalted as the true king of Israel and the whole world.

This Jesus was now calling people to adopt his upside down set of values and live under his rule, called the kingdom of God.

Thousands of Jews decided to stay in Jerusalem and join the movement.

It grew in size and in influence and gained favor with people.

But not with the Jerusalem temple leaders.

They viewed this whole thing as a dangerous religious sect and they even executed one of its leaders named Stephen.

It is no longer safe in Jerusalem.

So most of the followers flee for the outlying land called Judea.

You might think that is the end of the story.

But actually this tragedy became the way the movement spread outside Jerusalem.

That is where the second part of the book of Acts begins.

The scattered followers end up in surprising places like Samaria where their ancient enemies live.

Yeah, and Luke shows us how all of these unexpected people start following Jesus.

Like a sorcerer from Samaria who has to learn that the way of Jesus isn't about gaining power but giving it up to serve others.

There is also a story about an Ethiopian delegate who, after discussing the scroll of the prophet Isaiah with Philip, decides to join the movement.

Yeah, Jesus is expanding his movement out into Judea and Samaria just like he said he would.

Which is great.

But back in Jerusalem, we meet Saul of Tarsus.

He is part of the religious elite who opposed the new movement.

He is finding and arresting Jesus' followers anywhere he can.

This is a cruel guy.

But think about it from his perspective.

In the past, Israel had turned away to other gods and a false prophet, leading to disaster.

He believed he was protecting Israel and God's honor by getting rid of these people.

Then Saul hears that the movement has spread north to Damascus.

So he sets out there to find and arrest more followers

On the way, Saul has this sudden encounter with the risen Jesus himself

Jesus asks Saul why he is fighting against him.

Then Jesus commissions Saul to now represent him to Israel and to the nations.

Saul is stunned and speechless

So he ends up in Damascus.

But now he is announcing the good news about the Jesus he had just been attacking.

No one saw this coming.

Totally. The same goes for what happened next.

Over in the port city of Caesarea, there was a Roman centurion named Cornelius.

He represents everything the Jewish people would hate about the Roman occupation.

An angel appears to him he tells him to call for a man named Peter

So Peter comes and he finds Cornelius and his friends and his family all gathered together in his home.

Yeah. This is scandalous.

Jewish people don't enter a non-Jewish home, to avoid ritual impurity.

So what is Peter going to do?

Well, right before this, Peter had a vision.

God brought to him a collection of animals that his people were forbidden to eat.

Then God said to Peter, "Eat this."

This is shocking to Peter.

He says, "I've never eaten anything impure."

God responds, "Don't call impure what I have may pure."

Then that is it. The vision was over.

So, Peter is going to start a new diet?

No, he is an Israelite and he has honored these customary food laws his entire life.

The vision was preparing him for this moment of him standing among impure non-Israelites.

He realizes that God is declaring these people are a part of the family of Abraham.

So Peter decides to stay and tell them about Jesus.

The Holy Spirit shows up, just as he did at Pentecost.

But now it is for a Roman centurion and his non-Jewish family.

The movement is broken out.

Back in Jerusalem, Peter is now telling the other apostles about what happened.

They start getting reports about even more non-Jewish people following Jesus up in the big trade city north called Antioch.

So they send a man there named Barnabas to check things out.

Barnabas finds the Jesus movement alive and well in Antioch.

And, he finds it is made up of people from all over the world.

So Barnabas recruits Saul to come and work with him in Antioch for a year.

They are teaching, living among the people there, watching the movement grow.

The church in Antioch was the first International Jesus community.

It is where Jesus' followers were first called Christians, the Christ ones.

So the way of Jesus was transformed from a group of Messianic Jews in Jerusalem

into the multi-ethnic Jesus movement spreading through the world.

Their faith was the same.

It was centered on the good news about the crucified Jesus, who is the king of all nations.

But that message and their new way of life was confusing, even threatening,

to the average Roman citizen living around them.

The resulting conflict is what we will explore next as this movement goes global.

Or, as Jesus said, "To the ends of the earth."

¡Hey guys, thanks for watching this video on the book of acts!

This is part 2 and we have two more videos coming and

a lot of videos coming and other videos on different kind of series. All the videos from the Bible Project

are about exploring the Bible as one unified story that lead to Jesus.

And we can make these videos because we have an incredible group of supporters.

Probably even you watching ¡Thank you

for being a part of this with us! You can find everything at: thebibleproject.com ¡Thank you guys!