1st Century Focus

By Kevin V. Rutherford

    The feast of Pentecost always took place on the first day of the week.  When Peter preached on Pentecost he was preaching on the first day of the week (Acts 2:1).  The first day of the week was significant to the early Christians because it was the day upon which the Lord rose from the tomb (John 20:1).  As Peter preached on the first day of the week he spoke of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and gave evidence through prophecy and eyewitnesses (Acts 2:25-32).  Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a major point in the first Gospel sermon ever preached.  In fact, it became a major theme throughout the preaching of the first century.
     Peter spoke of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in his second Gospel sermon at the temple (Acts 3:15).  In both the Pentecost sermon and the second sermon at the temple, Peter mentions God is the One who raised Jesus from the dead.  He also points out the fact that he, and others are eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
     When Peter and John were taken before the high priest, rulers, elders, and scribes, Peter once again preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10).  Wen the leaders told them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, Peter said, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).  So, once again, Peter points out the facts Jesus was raised from the dead, God raised him from the dead, and Peter and others are eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
    Peter and all the apostles were later brought before the Jewish leaders where they were rebuked for preaching Jesus (Acts 5:27-28).  As Peter gave answer he once again mentions Jesus was raised, God raised Him, and Peter and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of the resurrect Christ (Acts 5:30-32).  These comments infuriated the Jewish leaders, when instead such comments should have thrilled them.  In their fury, they had the apostles beaten.  At this point it became clear to the early Christians they could be severely punished for preaching the  resurrection of Jesus, but this did not stop them.
    Peter again spoke of the resurrection when he was given the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:40-41).  Peter told the Gentiles, Jesus was raised, God raised Jesus, and there are eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
    Paul’s preaching was also filled with references to the resurrection.  When Paul preached to the people of Antioch, he told them Jesus was raised, God raised Jesus, and there are eyewitnesses who saw Jesus for many days after His resurrection (Acts 13:28-37).  On this occasion, Paul also makes references to Old Testament prophecies regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
     Acts 17:1-4 shows  Paul reasoning from the Scriptures regarding the identity of Jesus as the Christ.  In this context, Paul says, “Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead” (Acts 17:3).  It was Paul’s preaching regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that ended his opportunity to speak before the Greek judges on Mars’ Hill (Acts 17:29-34).  Paul also spoke of the resurrection of Christ before King Agrippa and Festus (Acts 26:22-23).
    The fact of the resurrection was also discussed in the inspired letters written to the early churches.  When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he spoke of  how the resurrection of Jesus Christ is pictured in our resurrection from the water of baptism (Romans 4:3-7).  In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul spoke in some depth about the implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15).  He first spoke of the evidence of the resurrection in more than five hundred eyewitnesses.  Then Paul explained we have confidence in our own future resurrection because we can know that Jesus rose from the grave.  Paul mentions the resurrection of Jesus Christ again in the second letter to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 4:14).  In fact, we see references to the resurrection over and over again in the New Testament letters (Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 1:21).  
    The resurrection of Christ was a recurring theme throughout the preaching, teaching, and writing of inspired men in the first century.  In addition, the day upon which the early Christians met pointed to their faith in the resurrection (John 20:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).  If we are going to be preaching like the early church, we are going to speak often of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For, it is in the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we find the foundation for all trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all hope in the coming resurrection to eternal life.

- Kevin V. Rutherford preaches for the Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/