New Testament & Messiah Encyclopedia Article

Early Church, Acts & Pauline Epistles

From Pentecost in Jerusalem to Antioch, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome

Following the ascension of Yeshua and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 1 –2, the apostolic community spread from Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria , Antioch , Corinth , Ephesus , and Rome , documented across Acts and the twenty-one New Testament Epistles.

Jerusalem Community & Pentecost (Acts 1–7)

Gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem with Mary and the apostles ( Acts 1:14 ), the believers received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost ( Acts 2:1 ), proclaiming the resurrection of the Messiah across Judea , Samaria , and Damascus .

Missionary Journeys & the Epistolary Corpus

From Antioch in Syria , Paul and Barnabas carried the message across Cyprus , Galatia , Philippi , Thessalonica , Athens , Corinth , Ephesus , and finally Rome ( Acts 13:1 , Acts 28:16 ). The epistles— Romans through Jude —articulate justification by faith, the unity of Jew and Gentile in Abraham 's promise ( Romans 4:16 , Galatians 3:29 ), and the consummation unveiled in Revelation .

Connected People, Places & Books

Acts 97% match

New Testament • 28 Chapters

Acts (New Testament, 28 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, Jacob/Israel, James (Jacob), Simon, Judas, Mary. Key places: Jerusalem, Samaria, Galilee, Olivet, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia. Opens with: "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,..."

1 Peter 92% match

New Testament • 5 Chapters

1 Peter (New Testament, 5 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, Abram/Abraham, Noah. Key places: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, Babylon. Opens with: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,..."

1 Corinthians 92% match

New Testament • 16 Chapters

1 Corinthians (New Testament, 16 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, Moses, Jacob/Israel, James (Jacob), Adam. Key places: Corinth, Adam, Ephesus, Galatia, Jerusalem, Macedonia. Opens with: "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,..."

Ephesians 91% match

New Testament • 6 Chapters

Ephesians (New Testament, 6 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, Jacob/Israel. Key places: Ephesus. Opens with: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:..."

Romans 91% match

New Testament • 16 Chapters

Romans (New Testament, 16 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, David, Abram/Abraham, Adam, Moses, Jacob/Israel. Key places: Rome, Adam, Esau, Sodom, Baal, Jerusalem. Opens with: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,..."

Galatians 91% match

New Testament • 6 Chapters

Galatians (New Testament, 6 chapters). Key figures: Yeshua the Messiah, James (Jacob), Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel. Key places: Galatia, Jerusalem, Arabia, Damascus, Syria, Cilicia. Opens with: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)..."

Ephesus 90% match

Biblical Place • 37.953°N, 27.368°E

Ancient biblical location referenced in Acts 18:19, Acts 18:21, Acts 18:24, Acts 19:1, Acts 19:17, Acts 19:26.

Corinth 89% match

Biblical Place • 37.906°N, 22.878°E

Ancient biblical location referenced in Acts 18:1, Acts 19:1, 1 Cor 1:2, 2 Cor 1:1, 2 Cor 1:23, 2 Tim 4:20.