Textbook First Century Evangelism

What did the evangelism by the first-century church look like? Acts 10:38-43 gives us a prime example. God commissioned the Apostle Peter to share the Gospel with a Roman Centurion, and this is what he said:

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39“We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 10:38-43 NASB

Peter covers everything in this synopsis, and we should take note:

Peter says that Jesus “was doing good,” healing everyone and delivering those who were oppressed by the devil.

If we are to preach the Gospel with the same power, we must do good, pray for the sick, and cast out demons.

Peter says that God raised Jesus from the dead but did not make him visible to everyone; instead, he commissioned “witnesses.”

It has always been God’s will that the Gospel should advance through the willing service of His people. God will not do this without us, not because He can't but because He chooses not to. We must participate in Jesus’ work to be conformed to His image.

Peter makes clear that there is a day of judgment ahead when, through Jesus, God will judge the living and the dead.

The solemnity of a coming judgment should always be part of our Gospel presentation.

Peter clarifies that forgiveness is available for “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord.”(Acts 10:43).

Finally, the effect of this Gospel preaching, when received in faith, is that the audience receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit and begins speaking in tongues.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who was listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astonished, becasue the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles too. They heard them speaking with tongues and praising God.

Acts 10:44-46 NTFE

The first-century church was charismatic because God Himself, in the Holy Spirit, is charismatic.

And finally finally, all these new believers received water baptism.

So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah.

Acts 10:48 NTFE

This is how we do evangelism according to The Book.