The Era of the Apostolic Fathers and Their Disciples
The Era of the Apostolic Fathers and Their Disciples
The Pentecostal era of the apostles begins in the year 34 AD and continues until the martyrdom of the twelve apostles (except for Saint John the Beloved, who endured very many torments but did not die a martyr’s death and may be considered one of the confessors).
The first martyr in Christianity is Saint Stephen, the chief deacon (Acts 6, 7). The first female martyr is Saint Thecla. But the first martyr among the Twelve is Saint James son of Zebedee the Apostle (the brother of Saint John the Beloved). King Herod killed him to please the Jews (Acts 12:1–3).
Saints Peter and Paul received the crown of martyrdom in the year 67 AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. Saint Mark was martyred in 68 AD. Saint John of the Twelve remained. His Gospel was the last of the Gospels to be written. It is distinguished from the three other Gospels, which are called the Synoptic Gospels.
The era of the apostles is characterized as the era of the Holy Spirit: our Lord Christ had commanded His holy apostles to remain in the city of Jerusalem until they received power from on high (Luke 24:49). About that power He had said to them: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
They waited for the Lord’s appointed time. The Lord fulfilled His promise and sent the Holy Spirit, who rested upon them like tongues of fire: “…and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:3–4).
This event had its effect on a large assembly of Jews who were in Jerusalem from many lands. They supposed the apostles to be drunk, and Saint Peter delivered his speech; those Jews believed as “they were pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:5–37).
Three thousand were baptized that day (Acts 2:41), and they were the beginning of the believers under the hands of the apostles.
Thus the first Church was established — the Church of the Apostles. To them are added those who lived at the time of our Lord Christ and believed through Him: among them the Seventy Apostles (Luke 10), Nicodemus, Joseph the Ramah, the house of Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha (John 11), and the women who followed Christ and ministered to Him out of their means (Luke 8:1–3). Also those who appeared to them after the Resurrection, such as the two disciples of Emmaus (Luke 24:15–35). And those of whom Saint Paul the Apostle said: “After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still alive…” (1 Cor. 15:6).
The Acts of the Apostles says: “…and the Lord added to the church day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47). After the miracle of healing the lame man “at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple” (Acts 3:2–10), we read that “many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of men came to about five thousand.” (Acts 4:4).
So the Church in the apostolic age was a growing Church — as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit among them and as a result of miracles.
Also because it was a church of powerful prayers. We hear that after Saints Peter and John were released from prison and returned to their companions, everyone prayed with one accord, recalling the words of the Psalm: “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ” (Psalm 2). Then they said to the Lord in their prayer: “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:23–30). “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 4:31).
Miracles increased, including the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira by Saint Peter, who at his word fell down and died (Acts 5:5, 10). The Acts of the Apostles says, “…many signs and wonders were done among the people.” (Acts 5:12). It also says: “So that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And a multitude from the surrounding cities came together to Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:15–16). As a result of all this: “Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” (Acts 5:14).
We also hear after the ordination of the seven deacons who were filled with the Holy Spirit: “And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7).
Satan did not cease opposing the growth of the Church, so he stirred up a general persecution against it. Thus they seized Saint Stephen and stoned him. Then the book says: “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1).
Among those who persecuted was Saul of Tarsus, of whom the book says: “But Saul ravaged the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and women and committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:3). Nevertheless, the persecution did not cause the weakening of the believers or the weakening of the preaching. Rather we read the striking and deep phrase: “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4).
The Acts of the Apostles tells us of the preaching in Samaria by Philip and their baptism. Then the council of the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John who laid hands on them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17). Then it tells of the faith and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–39). Preaching began to spread throughout Judea and Galilee as well, and it is said: “Now the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” (Acts 9:31).
Then the preaching reached Lydda (Acts 9:32) and Joppa (Acts 9:36–42). This occurred by two miracles: one the healing of a paralytic in Lydda and the other the raising of Tabitha from the dead in Joppa. Then the preaching moved to Caesarea, where Cornelius received the faith and he and those with him were baptized (Acts 10).
Here the acceptance of the Gentiles began, and for this purpose a council was held in Jerusalem (Acts 15).
With the entrance of Saul of Tarsus into the faith (Acts 9), whose name was changed to Paul, a great spread of the faith among the nations began. Barnabas and Paul preached in Antioch, and “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:25–26). Paul and Barnabas preached in Cyprus at Salamis and Paphos, and Mark was with them (Acts 13:4–6). After the preaching of Saint Paul it is said: “The churches were being strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.” (Acts 16:5). Paul’s work spread in Asia Minor, extended to the lands of Greece, and to Rome.
We also hear of the seven churches in Asia to which the Lord sent letters through Saint John the Apostle: the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev. 2–3). The church in Crete was under the care of Saint Titus (Titus 1:5). The apostles spread throughout the world. Mark founded the Church in Egypt and in Libya.
The subject of the spread of the Church in the world during the apostolic age is a long subject which we will speak of in detail later.
The cause of the spread of the Church was the work of the Holy Spirit. The apostles did not begin preaching until the Holy Spirit came upon them. By the Holy Spirit they received power (Acts 1:8) and tongues and gifts and miracles (Acts 5:12). Indeed, the Holy Spirit spoke through their tongues, according to the Lord’s prior promise to them: “It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.” (Matt. 10:20). Therefore their word had power and effect. In a single sermon that Saint Peter delivered on the day of Pentecost, three thousand believed and were baptized (Acts 2:37–41).
The Holy Spirit was the One who moved them in ministry. We hear in the story of the faith of the Ethiopian eunuch that he “was sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” (Acts 8:29). When the eunuch was baptized we read that “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away… and he was found at Azotus.” (Acts 8:39–40).
We also read in the preaching of Saint Paul and his companions that “when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word in Asia.” … and that they “attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.” … and finally He guided them by a vision at night to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:6–9).
The Spirit also called and set apart servants for ministry. This occurred regarding Barnabas and Saul, as the Acts of the Apostles records: “While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2). Being filled with the Holy Spirit was a condition for servants, as we saw in the selection of the seven deacons (Acts 6:3).
The Holy Spirit also guided their councils. This happened in the first council convened by the holy apostles concerning the acceptance of the Gentiles. In the decision issued by the apostles they said: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15:28).
Among the reasons for the spread of the Church was that the Word had power and influence. “The kingdom of God has come with power,” according to the Lord’s promise to them (Mark 9:1). It is said: “And with great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33). It is said of Stephen the deacon that “he was full of faith and power, and did great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8).
It is said of Paul the Apostle while he preached in the synagogues that “all who heard him were amazed.” “As for Saul, he increased in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus.” (Acts 9:21–22). Saint Paul said of himself: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus; for which I toil also, struggling according to his working which works in me with power.” (Col. 1:28–29).
The effect of Paul’s powerful preaching appears in that “as he was speaking about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed.” (Acts 24:25). The same effect occurred on King Agrippa who, when he heard him, said: “In a short time you persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28).
The Church also had the power of prayer, as it had the power of the Word. Therefore we hear that “when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 4:31).
The Church in the days of the apostles was a courageous Church — courageous no matter how much it met with persecutions or torments. Peter and John were commanded “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” They answered: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18–20). On another occasion, “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:29).
The Church in the days of the apostles endured persecutions with joy. They were summoned before the council, scourged and imprisoned and then released: “But they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ daily in the temple and from house to house.” (Acts 5:40–42).
Peter was cast into prison by Herod, intending to bring him out to the people. But Peter was not afraid of being killed; he slept in prison, so much so that the angel who came to deliver him struck him and woke him (Acts 12:3–7). Paul the Apostle was also imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16). He said, “However, the Holy Spirit testifies in every city that bonds and afflictions await me.” (Acts 20:23). He said concerning his ministry with his companions: “In everything we show ourselves as servants of God: in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in watchings, in fastings.” (2 Cor. 6:4–5). He explains in 2 Corinthians 11 the kinds of sufferings he endured in ministry: in scourgings, in imprisonments, in beatings, in various dangers.
John the Apostle was exiled to the island of Patmos… and all that did not diminish their ministry in any way.
The Church in the days of the apostles lived a life of fellowship. It presented to the world true communism (sharing). It was a communism of the full will of man, not a system imposed on him: “No one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” “There was not a needy person among them, for those who were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the sales and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as anyone had need.” (Acts 4:32–35) (Acts 2:44–45).
As they had fellowship in material things, so they had spiritual fellowship. “The company of those who believed was of one heart and one soul.” (Acts 4:32). “They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:43–46).
The Disciples of the Apostles
The most famous disciples mentioned in the New Testament were the disciples of Saint Paul the Apostle: such as Timothy, bishop of Ephesus, and Titus, bishop of Crete. There are other names of disciples mentioned in his letters: among them Luke the Evangelist (2 Tim. 4:11) and he says in the same letter: “Aristarchus remained at Corinth. But Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.” (2 Tim. 4:20). Among his disciples also were Tychicus, Aristarchus, Onesimus, and Jesus who is called Justus. All these are mentioned in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 4:7–12).
History mentions Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, as a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. The Acts of the Apostles also mentions Clement of Rome (Acts 15).
Many other disciples existed who were assistants to the apostolic fathers. Some were partners of the apostles in ministry, such as Barnabas, Paul’s companion in the preaching at Antioch (Acts 11; Acts 15:35). And Apollos was his companion in the preaching at Corinth (1 Cor. 3:5–9).
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Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — Al-Keraza Magazine — Year Twenty-Five — Issues 2, 3 (31-1-1997 AD)
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