When you ask people where did the church begin, some will say Antioch. It was here where the term Christian was first coined due to the believers of this city who emulated the life of Christ and his teachings. Others will say the church began after Pentecost, specifically in Acts 2:42-47, where Luke, the author of Acts, describes the blue print for the first century church. Meanwhile, many will suggest the church began with Peter and the 12 disciples, relying on Jesus’ own words in Matthew 16:17-18. However, after a rhema today, a word of knowledge from God, the church began in Acts 1:14.
Most historians of the first 3 centuries of the church, believe the Gospel of Luke and Acts are one continuous book . Both are addressed to the same patron, Theophilus, whom was likely responsible for copying and distributing Luke and Acts once they were complete by Luke. Since the gospel of Luke never mentions the great commission of Jesus, the only synoptic gospel not to mention this vital event, Acts mentions this right away in 1:8. Except for Luke 24:50-53, the last few verses of Luke, there is a natural progression between Luke’s gospel and Acts. This leads me to where the first church members are mentioned in Acts 1:14-15.
Luke suggests that there were approximately 120 core believers immediately following Jesus’ ascension into heaven. The 11 disciples are obvious, followed by Mary the mother of Jesus along with his earthly brothers and the women whom discovered the empty tomb in Luke 24:22-23. Luke 24:24 suggests companions of the disciples, Luke 10:1 suggests 72 others who were appointed by the Lord and John 19:38-39 suggests Pharisees like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had become followers of Jesus. If you add spouses of these men, you begin to get close to 120 people.
The first century church began with the 11 remaining disciples, coming together regularly to pray, joining other followers of Jesus as a corporate body of believers. According to Acts 1, there were 2 main items on their prayer agenda, raising up a new disciple to replace Judas Iscariot and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. Like the parable of the persistent widow, Luke 18:1-8, these men and women continue praying until God answered their prayers. Pentecost, beginning in Acts 2:1, was not a fluke, happening by a random act of choice. No! Pentecost occurred, just like the first and second great awakenings, God’s people came together every day to pray as a corporate body in a concert of united prayer. This is where it all began, by never giving up and claiming words like Matthew 15:25-28 in prayer.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 