DURING THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH

and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem And ye are witnesses of these things,” (Luke 24:44-48). In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus was with his disciples instructing them of the great event that was soon to come. In the second chapter of Acts we find 120 disciples which included Mary, the mother of Jesus, in an upper room in Jerusalem waiting for the promise. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” (Acts 21-4), Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of I-leaven in Matthew 16. in the second chapter of Acts, Peter is seen receiving the Holy Ghost which gave him the authority to preach the first Pentecostal message under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. “Peter standing up with the eleven---For these are not drunken as you suppose---but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” (Acts 2:14-21, Joel 2,28-32; Isaiah 28:9-13). “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call,” (Acts 2:36-39). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,” (Acts 2:41). During the next 70 years the gospel was preached to the then known world, 30-100 A.D.

2. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - APOSTOLIC The Apostolic Church was founded by Jesus Christ (Mt 16:18) and instituted by the Apostles in 30 AD. It continued strong and invincible until the death of Apostle John in 100 A.D. The Acts of the Apostles began with one hundred and twenty (120) disciples in Jerusalem who were waiting for the promise of’ the Father, as instructed by Jesus in Luke, chapter 24, and closes with Paul in Prison in Rome, 63 AD. Luke, the only Gentile writer of the entire Bible, is the author of the book of Acts. Within the life time of the Apostles, the gospel was preached to every nation of the then known world, Colossians 1:23; Acts 1:8. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament were completed by 96 AD.

THE FIRST CENTURY RULERS 3. ROMAN RULERS FROM 46 B.C. TO 117 A.D.

Pompey, Consul--------------------------------------------------------63-48 B.C. Jules Caesar-------------------------------------------------------------46-44 B.C.