From the Death of Stephen, A. D. 35, to Paul's First Missionary Journey, A. D. 45; 10 Years.

I. THE WORK OF PHILIP (Acts 8:5-40). Philip was one of the seven chosen who had the qualifications not only to serve tables, but, being full of the Holy Spirit, was an able expounder of the words of Jesus.

1. Conversion of Samaritans. The stoning of Stephen was the beginning of a furious persecution of the Christians in which Pharisees and Sadducees alike joined. From this persecution the disciples fled in different directions through Judea and Samaria. And they went as far as Cyprus, Phoenicia and Antioch. The apostles, however, remained at Jerusalem. Philip went down to Samaria and entered one of the towns preaching and performing many miracles, and many Samaritans gave heed to his word. He met a man named Simon, a magician who had great influence over the Samaritans, but in Philip he found one he could not resist. When he saw the people were leaving him, he too accepted Philip's teaching and was baptized. News of these new converts was brought to Jerusalem, and the apostles immediately sent Peter and John to look into the work. Peter and John prayed that they might receive also the power of the Holy Spirit and when they had laid their hands on the converts they received the Holy Spirit. Simon tried to bribe the apostles for the purpose of coming in possession of the same power. Peter, however, sternly denounced his wickedness and told him to pray that the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven.

2. Baptism of the Ethiopian. After this the apostles went into other villages in Samaria, and then returned to Jerusalem. Philip was commanded to go towards the south along the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. He followed the directions that were given him, and he met a man riding in a chariot who was reading aloud as he rode. This was a man of Ethiopia, a chief officer of the queen of Meroe and steward of all her treasures. He was returning from one of the feasts at Jerusalem. Philip joined the man in the chariot and interpreted for him Isaiah 53:6, 7 which the Ethiopian could not understand as he read it. And as Philip preached unto him Jesus, the Ethiopian was ready to embrace the faith, and as they came to a stream of water he demanded baptism. The chariot was stopped and the two went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. The new convert went on his way rejoicing.

3. Missionary Labors about Caesarea. After Philip had baptized the Eunuch, the Spirit suddenly caught him away and he went on to Azotus, opening new mission points along the coast of the Mediterranean to Caesarea. Many years after this we learn that Philip with his family had done great work along the coast. The Apostle Paul meets him and his daughters in their work for the Lord.

II. THE WORK OF SAUL (Acts 9:1-31).

1. His Conversion. When the persecution was so severe at Jerusalem none was more filled with zeal than the young Pharisee. He resolved to make havoc of the church. He received letters from the council that he might not only bring those who lived right by the city to be persecuted, but even go into Damascus and bring the followers of Jesus to Jerusalem. After he and his companions had been on their journey to Damascus a number of days, and as they were about to reach the city, a light brighter than the shining of the sun flashed upon the company. They were struck dumb with fear; they fell to the ground and heard a voice which none understood so well as Saul. The voice spoke in the Hebrew tongue saying: "Saul, Saul, why persecutes! thou me? " And immediately Saul cried out:" Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? " He was directed to rise and go to the city where it would be told him. His companions took him by the hand and led him into the city. They took him into the street which is called Straight to the home of one by the name of Judas, where he remained during three days without eating, being constantly engaged in prayer. The Lord had told Ananias in a vision to go to the home of Judas and inquire for Saul and he would find him praying. Ananias found him praying, and when he put his hands upon him and said, " Brother Saul, the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way sent me unto thee that thou mightst receive thy sight," his eyes were opened and he arose and was baptized.

2. His Early Preaching. After he had taken meat and gained strength the Jews of Damascus were astonished to see the late persecutor enter the synagogue and hear him prove by argument that was convincing to all that Jesus was the Messiah. It became clear within a short time that it was not safe for him to remain in Damascus, so he went into Arabia to prepare more fully for the great work of preaching the Gospel to which he was now called. After being in Arabia for considerable time he returned to Damascus to continue his preaching. He met with very strong opposition and escaped from the city by being let down from a window in a basket with cords.

3. His Visit to Jerusalem. After being released from peril at Damascus he went to Jerusalem. The disciples were afraid of him, as they knew him as the persecutor and not as a defender of Jesus. Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them of his conversion on the way to Damascus. Peter and James received him, and he remained fifteen days in the city. A plot was laid to slay him, and his brethren conveyed him to Caesarea, and from there he went to Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, his home, and preached probably in that region until called by Barnabas to Antioch.

III. THE WORK OF PETER (Acts 9:32- 11:18).

1. His Miracles. After Paul, one of the leading persecutors of the church, was converted and the attention of the Jews was directed to other difficulties, the persecution of the Christians ceased for a time. Peter the Apostle proceeded to visit the different churches in Palestine. He went to Lydda and met a number of Christians there. Æneas had kept his bed for eight years and Peter told him " to arise and make his bed," and he arose immediately. At Lydda and Sharon, through Peter's preaching and healing of the sick man, many turned unto the Lord. While Peter remained at Lydda he received word of the sorrow that had come upon the church at Joppa, about nine miles from Lydda. Dorcas, the woman full of good works and almsdeeds, was dead. Many had received help from her untiring hands working with the needle, and they were now in sorrow and mourning. Peter went with the messengers, and as he arrived he entered into the upper chamber where she lay, and he was shown the coats and garments that she had made. Peter was left alone in the room and knelt down and prayed, and he said:" Tabitha, arise " and she arose and he presented her to her friends. Through his teaching and miracles here many again turned unto the Lord.

2. Conversion of the First Gentiles. While the apostle was staying at Joppa Cornelius at Caesarea had a vision. He was a devout man and had learned to worship the true God. In his vision the angel told him that his prayer and alms were remembered by the Lord, and he should send for Peter who was at Joppa; he would tell him what to do.

The centurion sent three messengers to Joppa, and while they are on the way, Peter at Joppa retired for devotion to the flat housetop at the noon hour for prayer. He fell into a trance, and he saw a great sheet let down, held by its four corners, till it rested upon the ground. It contained all kinds of animals, clean and unclean, and he was commanded to slay and eat. Peter declined, for he had never eaten anything common or unclean. He was then told that what God had cleansed he should not call common. And after the repeating of the scene three times it ascended again into heaven.

At this time the messengers arrived and the Spirit told Peter to accompany them and not doubt anything. The next day he, with a number of his brethren, accompanied the messengers to Caesarea. Quite a company of people had gathered at the house of Cornelius to hear the preacher. Peter told the people that he was only a man, and that he was a Jew, and it was unlawful for one of his nation to enter in to or associate with a heathen. Cornelius told Peter of his vision and that they were there to hear what he had to say. Peter told them that God is no respecter of persons, and preached the glad tidings of the risen Christ. The Holy Spirit now came with power upon these Gentiles and they spoke with new tongues. Peter could not forbid water, and the first Gentiles were now received into the church by baptism.

3. His Defense at Jerusalem. After receiving these Gentiles into the church so contrary to the teaching of the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem, Peter was called to account for his work at Caesarea. He gave them a history of the entire proceeding, of his vision at Joppa, the messengers sent and the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the Gentiles before baptism. He had with him six brethren who were witnesses to his testimony. The whole assembly now glorified God for giving the Gentiles repentance unto life.

IV. THE WORK OF BARNABAS (Acts u:19-30).

1. Organization of First Gentile Church. Since the time that Stephen was put to death the disciples were scattered abroad because of the persecution. Many had traveled to points outside of Palestine, to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the Word only to the Jews. But some from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and preached Jesus to the Grecians, and a great many turned unto the Lord. The work at Antioch was reported at Jerusalem and the church decided to send a responsible brother to take charge of the work. Barnabas was selected, a man fully qualified, being full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. When he arrived he took charge of the work and the church prospered in his hands, and many people were added unto the Lord.

2. Joint Labors of Barnabas and Saul. Barnabas, realizing the need of the church and knowing the qualifications of Saul as a Christian worker, set out at once to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch. The two returned together and for a year or more they continued to labor side by side, and their labors were crowned by a great number being added to the Antioch church. The followers of Jesus, not belonging to any distinct sect of Jews or Gentiles, were here first called Christians.

3. Carrying Alms to Jerusalem. Saul and Barnabas had been busy at the Antioch church; they received word by the prophet Agabus that there was a great famine in Jerusalem. The Antioch church decided to assist the Jerusalem brethren, and every member according to his ability aided in this collection and the church sent the gifts to the elders in Jerusalem by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

V. PERSECUTION BY HEROD (Acts 12:1-25).

1. Beheading of James. When Barnabas and Saul arrived at Jerusalem with their gifts the Christians there were under severe persecution directed by the cruel ruler, Herod Agrippa I. It was at this time that the king desired to please the Jews as a nation, and he took measures to suppress the work of the Christians. It was about A. D. 44 when he seized James the apostle, the brother of John, and put him. to death by the sword.

2. Imprisonment of Peter. Herod saw that he had gained the favor of the Jews by putting James to death; he now proceeded to take Peter also. He had him imprisoned and carefully guarded, intending to put him to death after the Passover. The church became greatly alarmed, knowing the intentions of the king, and held a prayer meeting in behalf of Peter. The night preceding the day when he was to be put to death Peter was sleeping between two soldiers in chains, and the doors were carefully guarded by the keepers. An angel came and touched Peter on the side and raised him up saying, " Rise up quickly." And he asked him to put on his garments and sandals and follow him. And when he had led him out of the prison the angel departed. Peter now recognized that the angel was sent by the Lord and had delivered him. He at once went to the house of Mary, where the disciples were still engaged in prayer. When Peter knocked at the door Rhoda came, and when she heard Peter's voice she immediately went in and told them that Peter stood before the gate; but they would not believe her and said it was his angel; but when they opened the door they were astonished to find it was Peter. Peter now told them how the Lord had delivered him out of the prison and commanded them to inform James and the brethren. Peter left and went to some other place.

In the morning the soldiers and keepers of the prison, as well as Herod, were unable to learn what had become of Peter. The soldiers knew that if they could not give any explanation to Herod the king concerning the prisoner who had been placed under their care for keeping, they would be punished. Herod had them put to death because they were unable to give a satisfactory explanation.

3. The Punishment of Herod. After ordering the soldiers to be put to death the king left Jerusalem for Caesarea. It was not very long, however, until he himself met a terrible death at this place. At the time of a great gathering he entered the theater arrayed in his beautiful kingly garments and while sitting upon his throne he made an oration unto the embassadors that had come there from Tyre and Sidon. And as the people saw him in his gorgeous robe when he rose to speak they shouted that it was the voice of a god and not of man. The king received this flattery from the people, but an angel of the Lord came and smote him because he gave not God the glory. They carried him out of the theater, and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost.

QUESTIONS.

• Give the opening event and date of this period.
• Give the time of the period.
• Who was Philip?
• What qualifications had he as a preacher?
• What caused the Christians to leave Jerusalem?
• What success had Philip in Samaria?
• Whom did Philip meet in Samaria that had influence over the people?
• Who were sent here by the Jerusalem church?
• What did they do?
• What did Simon ask of the apostles?
• How did Peter answer him?
• Where did Philip meet the Ethiopian?
• What Scripture was he reading?
• What was Philip's sermon?
• Why did the Ethiopian desire to be baptized?
• What happened to Philip after the baptism?
• Where did Philip do his missionary work from now on?
• By whose authority did Saul go to bring Christians to be persecuted?
• What happened on the journey to Damascus?
• Where was he told to go after meeting Jesus?
• What did Ananias tell him?
• How long did he pray and fast?
• Where did Saul do his first preaching?
• Where did he go to spend some time in consecration and prayer?
• Why was he opposed at Damascus and how did he escape?
• Why were the disciples at Jerusalem afraid of him?
• How long was he at Jerusalem?
• Who introduced him to the brethren?
• Which of the apostles did he meet?
• Why did he not remain longer?
• Where did he go when he left Jerusalem?

REVIEW

I. The Work of Philip.

1. The conversion of the Samaritans.

2. Baptism of the Ethiopian.

3. Missionary labors about Caesarea.

II. The Work of Saul.

1. His conversion.

2. His early preaching.

3. His visit to Jerusalem.

III. The Work of Peter.

1. His miracles.

2. Conversion of the first Gentiles.

3. His defense at Jerusalem.

IV. The Work of Barnabas.

1. Organization of the first Gentile church.

2. Joint labors of Barnabas and Saul.

3. Carrying alms to Jerusalem.

V. Persecution by Herod.

1. Beheading of James.

2. Second imprisonment of Peter.

3. The punishment of Herod.