After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles waited and prayed with Mary, just as He had told them.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. Peter, who had once been afraid, stood up and preached boldly about Jesus. About three thousand people were baptized that day!
The first Christians had four habits. They devoted themselves to:
- the apostles' teaching,
- fellowship (caring for one another),
- the breaking of the bread (the Eucharist),
- and the prayers.
They shared what they had so that no one was in need. But they also faced danger. Stephen became the first martyr, giving his life for Jesus.
A man named Saul arrested Christians, until the risen Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus. Saul became Paul, the great missionary who carried the Gospel across the Roman world. From Jerusalem, the Church spread to the ends of the earth, and we are part of that same Church today.