With the letter from the Jerusalem counsel in hand, Paul and Barnabas along with Judas and Silas return to Antioch. After deciding to return to the towns visited in their first journey, Paul and Barnabas have a sharp disagreement over John Mark and split. Paul takes Silas and heads back to Asia Minor. Along the…

Barnabas and Paul complete their first apostolic journey in spite of facing intense opposition in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Then some of the brothers who were of the Pharisees stir up trouble by saying that the new Gentile believers needed to be circumsized and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. A…

Paul gives his first sermon/speech in the synagogue at Psidian Antioch. Building on what Peter and Stephen have already preached, Paul argues that Jesus brings justification/freedom from even the things that the Law of Moses could not deal with.

Herod Agrippa attacks the church, killing James (John’s brother) and imprisons Peter with the plan to kill him. The Lord intervenes and releases Peter and smites Herod dead. In the meantime, the church at Antioch is established and the Holy Spirit sets Barnabas and Paul apart for a ministry to the Nations.

Through a series of visions, Peter is directed to the house of Cornelius – a Roman Centurion Gentile. There, Peter proclaims the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit falls on all who are there. In this great turning point, the Lord opens the Gospel to the Gentiles/Nations and begins the fulfillment of the promise to…

The Lord Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus. At this critical turning point, the Lord takes His greatest enemy and transforms him into His great ally. In the days to come, Saul – also to be called Paul- will take the message of the Gospel to the Nations and before Kings. The…

Philip – one of the Seven – is sent to Samaria and they welcome the Good News of the Messiah. Then Philip teaches an Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus from Isaiah. Jesus purposes are being fulfilled and we get a preview of the Good News heading to the “ends of the earth.” .

Gives gives his testimony to the Sanhedrin. Reciting a history of Israel, Stephen makes the case that those with “stiff necks” and “uncircumcised hearts” have always rejected God’s purposes. Incensed, they drag Stephen outside the city and stone him to death. And so Stephen becomes the first disciple to follow Jesus through death.

As fear and amazement grip the people of Jerusalem, internal problems and external threats hit the early Church. Stephen is introduced – the disciple who would be the first to give his life for his witness to Jesus.

In the aftermath of the healing of the lame man, many come to faith. But the jealousy of the Sadducees is stirred up and the leaders try to compel the Apostles to shut up by they are only made more bold. As the Spirit is working to knit all the believers together in one heart…