The Early Church

Among the New Testament writings, the book of Acts is the only one to chronicle the beginning and expansion of the early church, though eye witnesses' accounts and happenings are recorded selectively.

In contrast to the four gospels which individually focused on a specific aspect of the life of Christ, Acts traced three main transitions of the church since its birth on Pentecost, starting with Peter the chief of the apostles in Jerusalem and Judea, on to Philip the evangelist as the church began to disperse to neighboring Samaria due to persecution, and lastly for the greater half of the book, to Paul and his companions in their three missionary journeys from Antioch to Asia Minor and beyond. Thus, the Great Commission is fulfilled just as Jesus Himself declared to the disciples prior to His ascension:

1:8 But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts is an amazing book, not just because it comes from the pen of Luke, now recognized by Bible scholars as a first-class historian, but also for its rich content and accurate accounts of people and places supported by archeological findings.

The Acts of the Apostles, as the book is formally named, can be rightly called the Acts of the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ who indwells every believers. Under the inspiration of God, Luke intentionally left off writing it in an unfinished state. And so the story of the church continues to this day, and will only end when the real Author of the book determines so.

2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily…