A Case for Christ and the New Testament: Who was involved in the establishment of the “Christian Church” and what was going on at the time?

Last week we looked at the beginnings of the Christian Church, formed in the first century A.D., following Jesus’ giving of the “Great Commission.” The book of Acts is the historical narrative of these first followers through eyewitness accounts of the events recorded by the author, Luke. There are other ancient records that support Luke’s narrative and archeology continues to uncover artifacts that confirm these accounts as well, and this is why Luke is considered by scholars to be one of the greatest historians ever.

Who were these early followers and what else was going on at the time?

The modern world in the first century was under the control of the Roman Empire. Roman Emperors, known as “Caesars,” became increasingly hostile towards Christianity because it was seen as a threat to their authority and growing worship of these Caesars as gods. The following is an overview of the political leadership as the first Christians began to gather in synagogues, eventually moving into underground homes as persecution increased:

The Political Setting—The Caesars of the Roman Empire:

Following Julius Caesar (49-44 BC) and Caesar Augustus (27 BC-AD 14) these Caesars ruled during the spread of early Christianity:

Tiberius (c. AD 14-37)

Was Emperor during the life and ministry of Jesus and the beginning of the early Church, though not directly involved with the events
A bitter man personally because of a tragic youth and the forceful loss of his first wife
He lived a life of conspiracy, suspicion, debauchery and cruelty as a main part of his government

Caligula (c. AD 37-41)

Great nephew of Tiberius who took him in and nurtured his growing deviant habits
A debased tyrant who demanded worship from his subjects
Assassinated by the senate who tried to end the dynasty of Caesars

Claudius (c. AD 41-54)

Uncle of Caligula, he had the support of the Praetorain Guard that allowed him to assume the role of Emperor immediately following Caligula’s death
Ruled well, but hated foreign cults and expelled the Jews from Rome (most likely the time Priscilla and Aquila were expelled)
Like his predecessors, he was paranoid, quick to anger, and did not hesitate to put supposed enemies to death

Nero (AD 54-68)

Nero was the last Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty
He was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius and became Claudius’ heir and successor
Like Claudius, Nero became emperor with the consent of the Praetorian Guard
An oppressive ruler who deliberately set fire to Rome and blamed it on the Christians—this started the real persecution of Christians by the Imperial State of Rome

The end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and the beginning of the Flavian Dynasty:

Vespasian (AD 69-79)

Vespasian lead the besiege of Jerusalem during the Jewish rebellion that began in AD 66
Vespasian’s son, Titus, took over when his father became Emperor and lead the main assault on Jerusalem; by the year 70 AD the assault culminated in the burning and destruction of the Temple that had served as the center of Judaism
The rebellion sputtered on for another three years and was finally extinguished in 73 AD with the fall of the various pockets of resistance including the stronghold at Masada
In victory the Romans slaughtered thousands, and of those spared from death thousands more were enslaved and sent to toil in the mines of Egypt, others were dispersed to arenas throughout the Empire to be butchered for the amusement of the public (Jews and Christians alike)
The Temple’s sacred relics were taken to Rome where they were displayed in celebration of the victory

Note: The Jews would not come together as a Nation again until 1948

Rulers and Governors in Palestine

Herod Agrippa I (c. AD 37-44)

Grandson of Herod the Great
A vassal Jewish ruler over Judea who supported the Roman government
He Arrested John and Peter and beheaded James the Apostle and brother of John
His nephew, Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist and heard Jesus’ case just a few years before

Herod Agrippa II (c. AD 50-70)

Son of Agrippa I
He heard Paul’s case along with Governor Festus

Felix (c. AD 52-59)

Governor or Roman procurator who heard Paul’s case and kept him confined for two years

Festus (c. AD 59-61)

Governor who replaced Felix, revisited Paul’s case and sent him to Rome under house arrest

Key figures in the early Church:

People will not die for a known lie, but people will die for something they know to be true. The disciples of the early Church were willing to go to their deaths for the Gospel message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. None of these early followers ever recanted their testimony and this is powerful evidence for the truth of the Biblical message.

According to Church traditions the Roman government, religious leaders, or mobs martyred all of Jesus’ disciples except John. “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” lists how some of the disciples died, others are based on these traditions passed down through the ages:

The twelve Apostles of Jesus:

Paul (arguably Judas’ replacement as one of the twelve):

Originally Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and persecutor of the early Church
He was confronted by the risen Christ and became the chief Apostle to the Gentiles
Wrote 13, possibly 14, of the New Testament Epistles
Many have considered Paul to be the 12th Apostle chosen by Jesus, not Matthias who was a human choice, to replace Judas Iscariot
Beheaded in Rome in c. AD 66

Peter:

Disciple and chief Apostle of Jesus
Originally named Simon, son of Jonah, Jesus gave him the name Peter (in Aramaic, Cephas, in Greek Petros meaning rock)
He evangelized the first Gentile convert Cornelius, the Roman Centurion
His eyewitness account is written in the Gospel of Mark and he is the author of 1 and 2 Peter
Executed around the same time as Paul, by the order of Nero—Peter requested that he be crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy of being crucified the same way that Jesus was

James:

Brother of the Apostle John
Beheaded in AD 44 by the order of King Herod Agrippa I, first Apostle to be martyred

Thomas:

Often referred to as “doubting Thomas”
Tortured and burned to death by a mob in India

Andrew:

Peter’s brother
Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece – came to be known as St. Andrew’s Cross

Matthew:

Also known as Levi
Wrote the Gospel of Matthew
Beheaded in Ethiopia

Bartholomew:

Also known as Nathanial
Flayed to death by a whip

Philip:

Martyred at Hierapolis, Turkey

James, son of Alpheus:

Also known as James the lesser (not the brother of John, nor Jesus)
Martyred in Egypt

Jude:

Also known as Judas and Thaddeus (not the author of the book of Jude who was Jesus’ half brother)
Was possibly martyred in Persia with Simon the Zealot

Simon The Zealot:

Crucified or hacked to death possibly with Jude in Persia

The only Apostle not martyred…

John:

The only Apostles recorded to have died a natural death having lived into his nineties
However, he had been tortured, stoned, boiled in oil, and exiled to Patmos, yet he survived to write five of the books in the New Testament

Other prominent figures in the early Church:

James the Just:

Half brother of Jesus and leader of the early Church
Author of the book of James
He helped to resolve the problems of Gentile acceptance and their following of the Law
Church history says he was martyred sometime between AD 62-66

Barnabus:

Originally named Joseph, nicknamed Barnabus which means son of encouragement
Missionary companion of Paul on his first journey
Overseer of the church in Syrian Antioch
One legend hold that he was martyred in Cyprus and his reputed tomb is near the Monastery of St. Barnabas at Salamis, whose Christian community Paul and Barnabas founded

Luke:

A companion, co-worker and personal physician of the Apostle Paul
Called the “beloved Physician”
He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts
Considered to be one of the greatest historians of antiquity
Hanged from an olive tree in Athens, Greece in AD 93

John-Mark:

A cousin of Barnabus
Accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey
He was later called back to help Paul near the end of Paul’s ministry
Author of the Gospel of Mark
Dragged to death by a mob in Alexandria, Egypt

Philip:

One of the seven Hellenistic (Greek culturalist) deacons in the early Church (not the same Philip of the 12 original disciples)
He was one of the first to preach the Gospel outside Jerusalem to the Ethiopian eunuch who was a court official of Candice the Queen of Ethiopia

Stephen:

One of the seven Hellenistic deacons in the early Church
He was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his testimony/apologetic while Saul (Paul) watched with approval

Cornelius:

A Roman Centurion who was the first Gentile converted to Christianity along with his whole family
Cornelius called Peter to come and preach to his household in Caesarea

Silas:

Was sent by the Apostles in Jerusalem with the council decree on Gentile acceptance
Accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey following Paul’s split with Barnabus
Tradition relates that he died in Macedonia

Timothy:

A Jew from Lystra and a son from a mixed marriage (Greek father and Jewish mother)
A close companion of Paul, a Church builder and a leader
Recipient of 1 & 2 Timothy written by Paul
Allegedly martyredunder the Roman emperor Nerva; legend holds that he was stoned or clubbed to death by a mob for protesting against the worship of the goddess Artemis

Priscilla and Aquila:

Jewish Christians from Rome
Paul joined them in Corinth and they later pastored a church in Ephesus
Strong supporters of Paul and the “Great Commission”
They became instrumental in the building of the early Church
Tradition reports that both were martyred

Apollos:

Jewish convert from Alexandria, Egypt
Taught by Priscilla and Aquila he then became a force for the “Great Commission” and was encouraged to teach in Corinth

Matthias:

Chosen to replace the traitor Judas (Iscariot) as the twelfth disciple
He was stoned and then beheaded

Watch this short clip by Bob Ryals that provides historical evidence for the martyrdom of some of the early Disciples:

For a great article, with excellent references, on the martyrdom of many of the early Christians click on this link: “Evidence for Early Christian Persecution” by the Christian Apologist

Bible Study:

We have been studying weekly through the Gospel of John (although you can take this week to read through the book of Acts if you have not done so)

Read John chapter 18, then answer the following questions:

How many times did Jesus say “I am HE?” What happened to the guards when he said it? (18:1-11) What Old Testament meaning does the “I am” statement have? (See Exodus 3:14).
Summarize what happened to Peter after Jesus’ arrest (18:12-27). Did Jesus predict this, and if so when?
Why didn’t the Jews put Jesus to death themselves according to their own Law instead of taking Him to Pilate (18:28-40)? What crime or crimes did they want to charge Jesus with (cross-reference with Matthew 26:57-66; Mark 14:55-64; and Luke 22:66-23:2—NOTE pay special attention to Luke 23:2)?
How did Jesus answer Pilate and what was Pilate’s response? (18:37-38) Cross-reference Jesus answer here with His answer to the Jewish Council in Luke 22:69-70. What important things do you find as significant in both answers?

Join us next week as we continue our Case for Christ and the New Testament!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15