The first seven chapters of the Book of Acts covers the phenomenal growth of the church at Jerusalem. This section covers the witness of the Church in Transition.
Acts 1:8 was the blueprint for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Acts 7:58 introduces a young Pharisee called Saul of Tarsus in the province of Cilicia. He was also a Roman citizen. He became the best known persecutor of the early Christian Church. Stephen became the first Christian martyr. The Christian Church in Jerusalem scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the word.
Philip took the gospel message to Samaria. In 722 B.C. the ten northern tribes of Israel were deported by the Assyrians. Peoples of countries conquered by Assyria were imported to intermarry with the Israelites remaining behind. The descendants of the mixed people became the Samaritans. They were detested and avoided by the Jews even to Jesus’ day (John 4:9).
The Apostles Peter and John came from Jerusalem to lay their hands on the Christian Samaritans. This act accepted them as fellow Christians of the same Church of Jesus Christ.
Prompted by the angel of the Lord, Philip went to Gaza. An official of the Ethiopia was returning to Ethiopia after having been to Jerusalem to worship. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah 53. Philip explained the meaning and the eunuch believed and was baptised. This Ethiopian eunuch may have been the first missionary in Africa!
