Anabaptist Church History
Language: English

First-century Christian community · place

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the setting of the Pentecost preaching and the gathered community described in Acts. The first-century source passages connect baptism with teaching, fellowship, prayer, and the care of believers for one another.

Stephen’s service and testimony place a named witness in that community. This date range identifies the first-century accounts, not the founding of the city.

Sources for this history: [1] [2]

References

  1. Stephen, one of the seven deacons of the church at jerusalem, stoned without the gate of that city, by the libertines, a. d. 34, shortly after the death of christ.
  2. How the apostles executed this command of christ to teach and baptize, after the ascension of christ.

Read the source accounts

Stephen, One Of The Seven Deacons Of The Church At Jerusalem, Stoned Without The Gate Of That City, By The Libertines, A. D. 34, Shortly After The Death Of Christ.How The Apostles Executed This Command Of Christ To Teach And Baptize, After The Ascension Of Christ.

Continue exploring

Acts and the first centuryevent

Christian beginnings: baptism, fellowship, and witness

Acts begins this history with the preaching of Christ, repentance, baptism, fellowship, prayer, and care for one another. Martyrs’ Mirror’s first-century account brings together the baptisms at Pentecost, in Samaria, of the Ethiopian, of Saul, and in other households and communities.

Read the story
34person

Stephen of Jerusalem

Stephen was one of the seven chosen to serve the church at Jerusalem. Martyrs’ Mirror follows Acts 6–7: his wisdom in dispute, the accusations against him, and his testimony before the council about God’s dealings with his people.

Read the story
69person

Simon Peter

Peter appears in the first-century baptism passages as a preacher at Pentecost and as a witness to the reception of the gospel in the household of Cornelius. The account joins repentance and baptism with the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gathered life of believers.

Read the story
33 (supplied overview)person

Jesus Christ: the cross and resurrection

The history begins with Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. The supplied opening overview places Calvary and the empty tomb at the heart of the story, with the risen Christ presented as Lord and Savior.

Read the story