Unbelievable! (Week 1) Eras of the Bible Era #1 Creation Era #2 Patriarchs Era #3 Exodus Era #4 Conquest Era #5 Judges Era #6 Kingdom Era #7 Divided Kingdom Era #8 Captivity 600 BC Babylon Defeats Judah 530 BC Persia Defeats Babylon Era #9 Return 460 BC Group Returns with Ezra 445 BC Group Returns with Nehemiah Era #10 Silent Era 334 BC Greeks Defeat Persia 171 BC Antiochus Epiphanes 165 BC Revolt of the Maccabees ? Civil War 63 BC Rome Conquers Judea & Jerusalem 37 BC Herod the Great Appointed King of the Jews Era #11 Gospels Era #12 Church Era #13 Missions Era #14 End & New Beginning Saul’s Background Acts 21:39 (NIV) 39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people." • Tarsus • Family • Culture • School • Returns to Tarsus • Returns to Jerusalem Jerusalem – Events Following Jesus’ Crucifixion & Resurrection Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." • Baptism • Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 (NIV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." • Power Acts 1:12-14 (NIV) 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13 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. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. • “The Room” • Prayer Acts 2:1 (NIV) 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. • Pentecost Acts 2:2-4 (NIV) 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. • Wind • Tongues of Fire • Other Tongues Acts 2:16-21 (NIV) 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "'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. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Joel 2:28-29 (NIV) 28 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Acts 2:37 (NIV) 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Acts 2:38 (NIV) 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1. 2. 3. 4. Acts 2:41 (NIV) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Jerusalem – Current Events • Changes! • Sanhedrin Warning – Acts 4:21 Jailed – Acts 5:18 Beaten – Acts 5:40-42 • Stephen Chosen – Acts 6:1-6 • Spiritual Invasion – Acts 6:7 • Satan’s Tools – Acts 6:12 • Stephen’s Address – Acts 7:1-53 • Stephen’s Murder – Acts 7:54-58 These are some of the topics we discussed tonight. How does each one relate to you? SALVATION 1. Has there been a point in your life when you surrendered your life to Jesus and He began to radically change your life? 2. If not, are you willing to make that commitment this evening? BAPTISM 1. Have you been scripturally baptized (by immersion), after you made your commitment to Jesus? 2. If not, are you willing to talk with me about scheduling a time to be baptized? PRAYER 1. Is prayer a major part of your daily life? 2. Do you have a specific time and place where you regularly get alone with God? 3. If not, would you be willing to set up a daily appointment with Jesus? WITNESSING 1. Have you ever shared your “God story” with anyone? 2. Who do you know well enough, that is not a Believer, that you could tell your “story?” .