Untitled Sermon (24)

Acts 2:41–42 KJV 1900

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

How did it expand so quickly- Overview

The aftermath of the Crucifiction and the Aftermath of the ressurection of Jesus

Comprised of Jews and Pagan Converts

It became a Jewish sect as is started out

Within 2 centuries it became the religion of the Roman Empire

It expanded rapidly in the the face of enormous adversity

By 100 AD all the apostles are gone from the scene

But the church had been planted in Rome, Greece, Siria, Macedonia, Asaia Minor

All of these regions correspond with Pauls Missionary Journeys Noted in Acts 16-20

acedonia, Asaia Minor

Paul Mentioned these cities and wrote epistles to them- Rome, Thessolinacia, Phillippi, Epohesus, Corinth

Roman Governor of Bithnia- Pliney,

Gave His support to Christianity

For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you. especially because the number incvolved. For many persons of every age, rank, and also both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and the farms.

40 AD - 1000 christians in the roman empire

100 AD- 7,500

150 AD- 40,000

300 AD 1.2 Million Christians

350 AD 34 Million Christians in Roman Empire

312- AD Constantine endorses Christianity

Why did it expand so quickly

A small jewish sect to the religion of the Roman Empire

Religious Explanations

Power of the Holy Spirit

The Gospel Message was powerful- It grabbed their attention and they listened

Devoted believers- Apostles died for this message

Other Explanations

Coin A Greek- Common Commercial language- The language in the Roman cities were Greek.

When Paul and peter went to the Roman cities they spoke the language

Pox Romana- A time of peace for around 200 years and the christians could travel the Roman Roads without fear of death to share the gospel

Jewish Dispora- Jews were dispersed all over the country and established synagogues- Pauls first place to preach was in the synagogues

Had compassion for the poor- Had enormous generosity for the poor

Roman Emperor Julius- letter

The impious Galileeans support not only their own poor, but ours as well

The Pagan World Had Never seen anything like the Christisns

A concern for the discarded

Romans Chareteristics- Females were not valued as much as males. Little Girls were taken out to the dung hills and left to die.

Christians would climb through the refuse and Garbage and rescue them and raise them as their own- The compassion for the poor