The Beginning of the Church

After Jesus returned to heaven, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem to wait for the Father's promise. So they went to an upper room in Jerusalem. There, Jesus' followers were praying together in unity.

At that time a Jewish festival called Pentecost was happening in Jerusalem. Pentecost was a celebration of thanksgiving where Jews from all over the world would come to Jerusalem to rejoice together.

While the disciples were all together, suddenly they heard a sound like a strong wind that filled the house. Then something like flames of fire appeared over the disciples' heads. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages.

When the people in Jerusalem heard about this, they came to the disciples, wondering what was going on. The people were astonished when they heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages, proclaiming the wonderful works of God.

Some accused the disciples of being drunk, but Peter stood up and said, "Listen to me! These people are not drunk! This is a fulfillment of the prophecy made by Joel which says, 'In those days, I will pour out my Spirit.'

"Men of Israel, Jesus was a man who did many mighty signs and wonders by the power of God, as you have seen and already know. You crucified him!

"But God raised him to life again to fulfill the prophecy which says, 'You will not let your Holy One see decay.' God raised this Jesus from death. We are witnesses.

Jesus was then exalted to the right hand of God the Father. And now the Father has sent the promised Holy Spirit which you are now seeing and hearing.

Know for certain that God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah - the one you crucified!"

The people listening to Peter were deeply moved and asked, "What should we do?"

Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The people gladly received the message of Jesus and about three thousand people were baptized and joined the disciples because of their new faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter and the disciples continued to teach the people, and they enjoyed fellowship with each other. They lived together in unity, worshiping together and sharing what they had with each other. They praised God and were well received by those outside the church. This was the beginning of the Christian church.

One day Peter and John went to the Temple. On their way, they saw a crippled beggar.

Instead of giving him money, Peter looked at him and said, "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, get up and walk!"

The man was immediately healed, and he began walking and jumping around and praising God.

A crowd quickly began to form. Peter said to them, "Why are you amazed that this man is healed? It was not through our own power that he was healed, but by faith in the name of Jesus.

"You asked that Jesus be killed. You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. This is how God fulfilled the prophecies that the Messiah would suffer and die. But now, repent and stop sinning."

When the leaders of the Temple saw the crowd, they arrested Peter and John and threw them in prison.

The next day, they brought the men before the leaders and asked them, "By what power did you do this?"

Peter responded, "It is by the name of Jesus of Nazareth - you crucified him, but God raised Him to life again! You rejected him, but there is no other way to be saved except through the name of Jesus!"

The leaders were shocked because they could see that these men were common men who had not studied the Scriptures, then they noted that these men had been with Jesus. After they had threatened the men, they let them go.