The Holy Spirit, Early Church, and the Spread of Christianity
Coming of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost
After the ascension of Jesus, a small community gathered in the Cenacle, together with the mother of Jesus and the twelve apostles. There were about 120 people gathered when Apostle Matthias was chosen to replace Judas. The group constituted the first church in Jerusalem. The coming happened in Jerusalem on the day of the Jewish feast of Pentecost. This event celebrates the anniversary of the covenant of Mount Sinai between God and his people. They did not understand the meaning of everything they had seen and heard during those three years with Jesus. In their hearts, the desire to preach what happened was a key event in the church.
Early Christian Communities
The Acts of the Apostles tells all about the life of the first Christian community, which was the school of Jerusalem. At the head of the twelve, from the first texts, was Peter. Two are particularly important in the Acts of the Apostles:
- Unity (Acts 2:42-47)
- Fraternity (Acts 4:32-35)
“Holy” was used even before “Christians.” They recognized men and women called by God to holiness.
Expansion of the Church
First Deacons and Martyrdom of Saint Stephen
As the number of Christians increased, so did the need for services to poor widows. The apostles raised the issue and chose seven men called deacons (servants). Later, they were to receive new tasks and ministries as collaborators of the bishops and priests.
The martyrdom of one of the deacons, Saint Stephen, gave rise to a persecution against Christians. In 36, Jews accused Stephen of preaching against the law of Moses and the temple. Stephen defended himself by arguing that salvation comes not from the law but from Jesus Christ alone. He is the Messiah and the Lord. Hearing this, the Jews were filled with hate, took him out of the city, and stoned him. That day, a persecution was unleashed against the Church of Jerusalem.
Conversion of the Roman Cornelius
Christianity was born in Israel within the Jewish people. The first communities were formed in Palestine. Two momentous events were the conversion of the Roman Cornelius and Paul of Tarsus.
The Acts of the Apostles tells in detail: There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, pious and God-fearing, with all his house, who gave much alms to the people and prayed to God continually. In a vision, an angel of the Lord told him to send for Peter, who was in Joppa. Peter received the emissaries and went to Cornelius. Cornelius told him the vision, and Peter said they were now in the presence of God and ready to hear what he ordered. Peter said it is clear that God makes no distinctions. Peter spoke the word of Jesus Christ to Cornelius and his household, and they were baptized. From that time, the apostles began to preach to the Gentiles also.
Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
Tarsus was a city south of Asia Minor. There, Saul, the future Saint Paul, was born in the year 10. He was Jewish by birth and a disciple of Rabbi Gamaliel, of the sect of the Pharisees. Because of his formation, he hated Christians. Full of fury against the disciples, he asked for letters of recommendation to go to Damascus to take Christians as prisoners and lead them chained to Jerusalem. On the journey to Damascus, Saul was surrounded by a light from heaven, saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked who he was, and he said that he was Jesus. Coming into the city, he was told what to do. He went blind after this. He arrived in Damascus and spent three days without eating or drinking. In these days, his mission was completely changed, and he was chosen to be a great apostle.
Travels
- Cyprus: Evangelization and several cities in Asia Minor. He preached, baptized, and organized the communities of believers.
- Europe: Following a vision, he arrived in Europe for the first time, evangelizing Greece. He met Macedonian, Greek, and Corinthian people. He stayed for one year.
- Ephesus: He announced the gospel in Ephesus for more than two years. In Jerusalem, he was taken prisoner to Rome (trip in captivity).