Key Text: Acts 6:7, Acts 8:1, 4-7, Acts 9:37, Acts 11:19-26,
Summery:
The church is born at Pentecost and tensions quickly form between the Jewish leadership and the young church. The young church stalls in Jerusalem until Steven is killed and a persecution forces all but the apostles to scatter into Palestine. Many Churches are formed throughout Palestine, revival fires burn as the persecution subsides. The new communities are young and immature and need instruction. A second wave of persecution coupled with a famine hits Judea hard causing brewing immaturity and ignorance about the way of Christ to erupt into serious conflict within the new churches. In response to the persecution from outside the church and the fracturing from within, James, Jesus' half-brother and leader in Jerusalem pick up his pen and writes the Epistle of James.
The Story: Persecution, Expansion and the Epistle of James
Jerusalem Period - Acts 1-7
God came suddenly and the church was born. The excitement over the Spirit's coming at Pentecost and the church's growth was only matched by the growing tension the young church has with the Jewish authorities. It is not long before leaders are persecuted. The words still echoed in their ear, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." They had receive power and were doing much good in Jerusalem but as a gospel movement there was little "movement". Almost a year had past and except for those original converts at Pentecost who returned to their distaint native lands (Acts 2:10-11)
Such was true until One day, one man, and His single act of defiance set in motion what God had ordained from the beginning. Stephen, an "up and coming" leader in the church was serving a Hellenist Jew, a plate of hush mouth, with a side of gospel, when some Jews surrounded him and dragged him before the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Stephen was falsely accused of speaking against the temple and the law (6:8-15). He was stone to death but not before displaying forgiveness and declaring the Gospel. Stephen’s radical witness inspirited the Christians but also sparked opposition to the young Christian movement.
Persecution and Expansion Period - Acts 8-12
Stephen's death became a catalyst for more persecution. The fires of persecution explode sending the church out from Jerusalem, that is "except the apostles” (Acts 8:1-3). The believers dispersed throughout Palestine and beyond, begin to share the gospel in their new communities. This is the first time that the gospel is being preached just outside of Jerusalem. In this way, God allowed a great persecution to make the church missional and expand the gospel into all of Palestine. As believers were scattered from Jerusalem, churches are planted all over the countryside (Acts 8:1-2; 4).
The church is exploding because of lay people preaching the Gospel all over Israel. It is a grass roots movement of no name, faceless fire breathing preachers of truth. God's People are scattered from Jerusalem and evangelizing, planting church's and experiencing revival. The gospel is spreading across economic lines, rich and poor are coming to Christ. New churches are transplanted all over Palestine as a result. Beyond Jerusalem much of the church is growing fast among Jewish communities. Whole synagogues were turning to The Lord and becoming centers of worship for the new believers (Jas. 2:2).
When the Ring leader of the persecution is converted, the persecution cooled. A season of peace settles over Palestine (Acts 9:31). The church is growing bigger but not growing up. It was becoming anemic and immature because of a deep need for seasoned leaders and practical sound teaching. The people needed guidance on how to build strong communities. They do not know what a community that images Christ should look like their only reference point is the Jewish community sick with Pharisaical dialogue (about the Word) without personal action (based on the Word) or religious rhetoric void of communal integrity.
Second wave of persecution under Agrippa Acts 12
A second round of persecution erupted. Agrippa, Herod the Great's grandson, comes to power in Palestine, to please the Jewish hard-liners, begins to persecute the Christians. Agrippa begins by killing, James the brother of John (Acts 12:2) and imprisons Peter (Acts 12:3). Simultaneous with Agrippa’s persecution was a worldwide famine, which seemed particularly acute in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). The resulting poverty was doubly bad for Jewish Christians living in Palestine, for the wealthy landowners and religious aristocracy were siding with Agrippa’s attitude toward Christians.
God has plans for Peter and helps him escape Agrippa's grip. Peter escapes by the help of your friendly neighborhood, Angel of The Lord. After his "Houdini act", Peter contacts James then skips town. (Acts 12:1-19). Peter knows James is wise and can navigate the clicks already forming in the church. So James takes a more prominent role in the leadership of the early church, particularly in Jerusalem as Peter continues his work of encouraging and evangelizing the community at large.
The Jewish Christian communities may have been established due to the first persecution, but they were tested by the second through both scarcity of resources and social oppression (Jas 1:2-1:18). These troubles tested the church, escalated the festering problems of immaturity in the churches. When troubles shake us what is in us comes out. Many pockets of immaturity began to surface because of the persecution and famine, certainly some had already been evident beforehand but now all was coming to a head. The church was much like a teenager, longing for direction and identity but selfish and impulsive, quick to say things it did not mean even quicker to confusing knowledge for wisdom. So in this persecution the church's deep sin issues rise to the surface.
After this time, believers from around Palestine came to Jerusalem and word reached James about the state of the church outside Jerusalem. Testimonies of God's provision and goodness are followed by footnotes about some believers failure to “practice what they preach” and the tendency toward Roman thinking (confidence in self rather than confidence in God). He heard stories of the immaturity, how believers are hurting one another with uncontrolled and critical speech, discriminating against the poor, and giving preferential treatment to the rich. Due to the oppression and famine, tempers were short and compassion shorter. Christian began acting out of survival mode and so selfishness was justified. The door was open and conflict entered the churches. Many church's had splintered into fighting factions. Others, weary from persecution were wavering in their commitment.
The reports still ringing in the ear of James (the Lord’s half-brother), and he is burdened to address it. Overshadowed by the Spirit, James goes to his study to write down what the church needs to hear.
In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell
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