Axis Mundi: Jerusalem

"Peregrinatio Pauli" by Jodocus Hondius from a reprint
of "Hakluytus Posthumus" by Samuel Purchas, 1625

Having lived and travelled with Jesus for more than two years, the apostles were disturbed by the prospect of being left on their own, but Jesus assured them that they would not be left alone even though he was leaving them for God would send his Spirit to indwell them.

“You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (Jn 14.4-6)

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.” (Jn 14.19)

“All this I have spoken while still with you; but the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn 14.25-26)

Jesus instructed the apostles that the Spirit would remind them of the things he had taught as well as open their minds to understand how the scriptures proclaimed these very teachings. They would thereby come to understand all things and would receive boldness and wisdom to proclaim these things to the world.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24.45-49)

The apostles remained in Jerusalem, evidently at the home of John Mark’s mother (see Ac 12.12), where they awaited the promised outpouring of the Spirit.

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Ac 1:12-14)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Ac 2.1-4)

Though this outpouring of the Spirit took place in a private home, the accompanying commotion attracted the attention of the surrounding neighborhood, including Jews visiting from as far away as Persia and Rome who heard the gospel preached in their native tongues, thereby signaling the fullness of prophetic time.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. (Ac 2.5-16)

“In the last days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Jl 2.28-32)

The number of believers in Jerusalem swelled by several thousand, many of whom were likely priests who normally resided elsewhere or expatriate Jews who tarried in Jerusalem beyond the 50 days of Passover and Pentecost. The extraordinary generosity of the disciples in Jerusalem enabled these visitors to learn more about Jesus before returning home with the gospel, which is evidently how the gospel first arrived in Rome and many distant places.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Ac 2.41-45)

The believers regularly met by Solomon’s Colonnade on the Temple mount for teaching, fellowship, prayer, and distribution of roasted meat from Fellowship Offerings, breaking into smaller groups each night to observe the Lord's Supper in private homes. The growing numbers soon made it expedient for the apostles to delegate routine administrative tasks to trusted men nominated by the body of believers while retaining responsibility for teaching and discipline. This division of labor was later formalized in the unpaid offices of elder and deacon.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Ac 2.46-47)

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. (Ac 5.12-16)

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Ac 6.1-4)

The rapid growth of this community of disciples also posed a problem for Synagogue and Sanhedrin because the apostles exercised an authority independent of these institutions, whose own authority harkened back to the restoration of Israel in the days of Esra. When verbal argument proved insufficient to justify the status quo, Synagogue and Sanhedrin resorted to violent persecution, which had the unintended effect of dispersing the believers in Jerusalem—and with them the gospel—throughout Judea and beyond.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. (Ac 8.1)

The apostles themselves remained in Jerusalem for two decades.