Study Desk

So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.

The church members were afraid, and so was everyone else who heard what had happened.

Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him. At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All of the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria.

Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.

The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.

News of what was happening reached the church in Jerusalem. Then they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they met with the church for a whole year and taught many of its people. There in Antioch the Lord's followers were first called Christians.

So they had Barnabas and Saul take their gifts to the church leaders in Jerusalem.

At that time King Herod caused terrible suffering for some members of the church.

While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod's close friend, and Saul.

After arriving in Antioch, they called the church together. They told the people what God had helped them do and how he had made it possible for the Gentiles to believe.

This caused trouble, and Paul and Barnabas argued with them about this teaching. So it was decided to send Paul and Barnabas and a few others to Jerusalem to discuss this problem with the apostles and the church leaders.

The men who were sent by the church went through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made the Lord's followers very happy.

When the men arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, including the apostles and the leaders. They told them everything God had helped them do.

The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles.

The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas, who were two leaders of the Lord's followers.

The four men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. Then they called the church members together and gave them the letter.

Paul sailed to Caesarea, where he greeted the church. Then he went on to Antioch.