Era of the Apostles
See also: Acts of the Apostles and Paul of Tarsus
Shortly after the Death of Jesus (Nisan 14 or 15), the Jerusalem church was founded as the first Christian church with about 120 Jews and Jewish Proselytes (Acts 1:15), followed by Pentecost (Sivan 6), the Ananias and Sapphira incident, Pharisee Gamaliel’s defense of the Apostles (5:34-39), the stoning of Saint Stephen (see also Persecution of Christians) and the subsequent dispersal of the church (7:54-8:8) which led to the baptism of Simon Magus in Samaria (8:9-24), and also an Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40). Paul’s “Road to Damascus” conversion to “Apostle to the Gentiles” is first recorded in (9:13-16, cf. Gal 1:11-24). Peter baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius, who is traditionally considered the first Gentile convert to Christianity (10). The Antioch church was founded, it was there that the term Christian was first used (11:26). Saint James the Great was executed by Herod Agrippa I (ruled 39-44) during a Passover (Nisan 15) (12:1-3).
44 Death of Herod Agrippa I (JA19.8.2, Acts 12:20-23)
44-46? Theudas beheaded by Procurator Cuspius Fadus for saying he would part the Jordan river (like Moses and the Red Sea) (JA20.5.1, Acts 5:36-37 places it before the Census of Quirinius)
45-49? Paul’s 1st mission, (Acts 13:1-14:28), with Barnabas, to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (there they were called “gods … in human form”), then return to Syrian Antioch
47? The Church of the East is created by Saint Thomas
48-100 Herod Agrippa II appointed King of the Jews by Claudius, seventh and last of the Herodians
49 “Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus,[2] he
50 Passover riot in Jerusalem, 20-30,000 killed (JA20.5.3,JW2.12.1)
50? Council of Jerusalem and the “Apostolic Decree”, Acts 15:1-35, same as Galatians 2:1-10?, which is followed by the “Incident at Antioch”[3] at which Paul publicly accused Peter of “Judaizing” (2:11-21)
50-53? Paul’s 2nd mission, (Acts 15:36-18:22), split with Barnabas, to Phrygia, Galatia, Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, “he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken”, then return to Antioch; 1 Thessalonians, Galatians written?
52? Saint Thomas Christians of India
53-57? Paul’s 3rd mission, (Acts 18:23-22:30), to Galatia, Phrygia, Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Jerusalem where James the Just challenged him about rumor of teaching antinomianism (21:21), he addressed a crowd in their language (most likely Aramaic), Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians written?
55? “Egyptian Prophet” (allusion to Moses) and 30,000 unarmed Jews doing The Exodus reenactment massacred by Procurator Antonius Felix (JW2.13.5, JA20.8.6, Acts 21:38)
58? Paul arrested, accused of being a revolutionary, “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”, teaching resurrection of the dead, imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23-26)
59? Paul shipwrecked on Malta, there he was called a god (Acts 28:6)
60? Paul in Rome: greeted by many “brothers” (NRSV: “believers”), three days later called together the Jewish leaders, who hadn’t received any word from Judea about him, but were curious about “this sect”, which everywhere is spoken against; he tried to convince them from the “Law and Prophets”, with partial success, said the Gentiles would listen and spent two years proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching the “Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:15-31); Epistle to Philemon written?
62 James the Just stoned to death for law transgression by High Priest Ananus ben Artanus, popular opinion against act results in Ananus being deposed by new procurator Clodius Albinus (JA20.9.1)
63-107? Simeon, 2nd Bishop of Jerusalem, crucified under Trajan
63? Glastonbury Abbey founded according to tradition, but date disputed
64-68 after July 18 Great Fire of Rome, Nero blamed and persecuted the Christians, earliest mention of Christians, by that name, in Rome, see also Tacitus on Jesus, Paul beheaded? (Col 1:24,Eph 3:13,2 Tim 4:6-8,1Clem5:5-7), Peter crucified upside down? (Jn 21:18,1 Pet 5:13,Tertullian’s Prescription Against Heretics chapter XXXVI,Eusebius’ Church History Book III chapter I), “…a vast multitude, were convicted, not so much of the crime of incendiarism as of hatred of the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport; for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights.” (Annals (Tacitus) XV.44)
On this day…
- Early Christianity – 2025
- Jeremiah 6 – 2024
- WALK IN THE LIGHT – 2024
- If we find refuge and shelter under the cross of Jesus Christ we have peace – 2012
- Backsliding always begins in the heart – 2012
- Increasing signs of failure – 2012
- Eternal life – 2012
- A NEW PRAYER – 2011
- A Genuine Gift – 2011
- A Blank Page – 2011
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