Historical questions can arise concerning events immediately after what occurred as narrated within the book of Acts. Within the first century after the death and resurrection of Christ, Pentecost occurred to set in motion the growth and spread of Christianity. This post briefly touches on some of the further developments that took place along with a timeline to sketch out what relationships and patterns there were concerning the growth of Christianity and the eventual demise of the Roman empire.
The events narrated through the book of Acts provide the foundation and structure of a fledgling Church around the Mediterranean to include Samaria, upper Mesopotamia, coastal areas, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Rome. The proclamation of the gospel to the Gentile nations made its way to numerous territories where the Church had grown through instruction, discipleship, and spiritual formation. The fellowship of believers continued to increase through the leadership of Paul, Peter, John, Timothy, Luke, and numerous other biblical figures who were appointed to serve in a similar capacity. So, it would appear that the work of the Holy Spirit was just merely beginning within the early Church. From Pentecost to decades later, the number and types of people reached and added to the Kingdom grew where fellowships became larger and more robust as theological, philosophical, and interpersonal disputes were sure to arise. Eventually, to an extent where a need for eligible and qualified leaders was necessary for selection and placement within the Church. People with suitable character having Spirit-filled and doctrinally sound qualities.
The travel the apostles underwent beyond Jerusalem and Samaria demonstrated their commitment to fulfill the interests of Jesus to reach the Gentiles. The farther they went, and the more people they engaged, the more people learned of their way to God through the gospel. Very many people turned to Christ and were converted to a life of faith. With the travels, status, and position entrusted to the apostles, they together took on individual and corporate responsibilities around the Church as a whole. This involved direct and secondary mentorship of people who would, in turn, guide others by way of doctrine, traditions, worship, instruction, and so forth. People developed Christ-centered relationships with one another who would carry out a living faith in love as a body of believers, the Church.
Inevitable internal strife and false teachings came about from within the Church. Physical and harmful persecutions were on the rise. Gnostic influences on top of pagan and Hellenistic cultural norms became further pronounced within the first century. Attempts to impose erroneous social and philosophical interests were unwanted and called out in Scripture as warnings directed to existing and susceptible believers. Errors and contradictions to the truth of earlier principal teachings accompanied sinful and corrupt lifestyles of antagonistic people who were addressed in Romans, the Prison letters, 1 John, 2 Peter, Jude, and elsewhere.
Over time, apostolic leadership rigorously defended the truth of Christ and His teachings. Specifically, contention and division that drew out Paul, Peter, and John’s attention were historically directed to some error and disunity within the Church. They specifically addressed incidents with warnings concerning specific matters of objection and the individuals or groups responsible. What earlier involved instruction, discipleship, and spiritual formation now involved a defense from people or ideas that ran counter to authoritative apostolic teachings for the Church’s growth and health.
For a broader perspective of what occurred overall from 30 AD to 100 AD (the first century since Pentecost), the following timeline presents a context by which the growth of the early Church occurred under the corrupt and evil Roman empire.
First Century Timeline
30 – 40 AD
Pentecost, 30 AD
Stephen Martyred & Diaspora, 32 AD
Paul Converted, 37 AD
Caiaphas, High Priest, 18-36 AD
Pontus Pilate, Governor of Judea, 26-36 AD
Caligula becomes Roman Emperor and declares himself god, 37 AD
40 – 50 AD
Gospel preached to the Gentiles Beginning, 40 AD
Centurion Cornelius Converted – 41 AD
Claudius becomes emperor – 41 AD
Herod Agrippa I, King of Judea – 41-44 AD
James the Apostle, brother of John, martyred – 44 AD
Peter Imprisoned – 44 AD
Antioch becomes center of Church activity – 46 AD
Paul travels to Jerusalem to confer with Peter – 47 AD
Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas – 47-49 AD
Jews, Pricilla, and Aquila were expelled from Rome – 49 AD
Council of Jerusalem held; Gentiles not required to follow Jewish law – 49 AD
50 – 60 AD
Paul’s second missionary journey– 49–51 AD
Felix becomes Governor of Judea – 52-57 AD
Paul’s third missionary journey – 52-57 AD
Roman Emperor Claudius’ wife poisons him – 54 AD
Nero becomes emperor – 54 AD
Letters to the Corinthians written by Paul – 56 AD
Paul visits Jerusalem the final time – 57 AD
Paul was arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea – 57 AD
Paul goes to Rome – 57 AD
60 – 65 AD
Apostle Paul imprisoned in Rome – 60 AD
Scripture gospels of Matthew and Luke written – 62 AD
James, brother of Jesus, martyred – 62 AD
Paul and Peter martyred in Rome – 64 AD
Rome burns, Nero blames Christians – 64 AD
65 – 70 AD
Emperor Nero commits suicide – 68 AD
Four emperors in one year (Galba, Otho, Villius, Vespasian 69-79 AD) – 69 AD
The Jewish revolt against Romans – 70 AD
Emperor Titus captures and destroys Jerusalem – 70 AD
Christians further scattered throughout the Roman empire – 70 AD
Antioch becomes center of Christianity – 70 AD
70 – 90 AD
Colosseum in Rome started by Vespasian – 72 AD
Colosseum in Rome finished by Titus – 80 AD
Christians thrown to beasts in Colosseum – 71-81 AD
Gospel according to John written – 85 AD
Writings of Church fathers (Barnabas, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp) – 85-150 AD
Emperor Titus 79 – 81 AD
Emperor Domitian 81-96 AD
90 – 100 AD
Rise of Gnostic heresies within the Church – 90
Emperor Nerva 96-98 AD
Emperor Trajan 98-117AD
Death of John the Apostle – 100 AD
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