5. =The Persecution of the Apostles.= It was inevitable that the preaching of the apostles and the growing prominence of the church should arouse opposition from the men who a few months before had crucified Jesus. A persecution was begun, at first upon Peter and John, then upon all the apostles. It was not sharp, murderous, crushing out the church. The apostles were first threatened (Acts 4. 17), then imprisoned (Acts 5. 18), then scourged (Acts 5. 40). The persecution only attracted greater notice to the gospel, and led to increasing numbers of believers. 6. =The Growth of the Church= went on through all these experiences. Beginning with 120, on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were received by baptism (Acts 2. 41). There was a daily growth after (Acts 2. 47). Soon the number grew to 5,000, besides women and children (Acts 4. 4). Another increase is named in Acts 5. 14; also again in Acts 6. 7. 7. The last event in this period was =the Appointment of the Seven=. Read the account in Acts 6. 1-7. Notice for the first time in this history a reference to the two great classes of Jews. 1.) _Hebrews_, Jews whose ancestors had lived in Palestine, and who spoke the Hebrew tongue, though with Syriac admixture. 2.) _Grecian Jews_ (frequently called Hellenists). Jews descended from exiles who had remained abroad in foreign lands, otherwise "Jews of the Dispersion." Everywhere except in Palestine these foreign Jews were far more numerous than the Hebrews, and they were also the richer and more intelligent. They spoke the Greek language. Note also that the seven men named in this account are nowhere spoken of as "deacons." From Acts 21. 8 we learn that they were called "the seven." They were not an order in the church, but a committee appointed for a service. Blackboard Outline Per. 1. Ch. Jud. 2. Ch. Trans. 3. Ch. am. Gen. 4. E. A. =Ch. in Jud.= 1. =Ev. Per.= 1. =Foll. Ch.= 1.) Num. 2.) Meet-pl. 3.) Rel. Con. 2. =Out Sp.= 1.) Phys. eff. 2.) Men. eff. 3.) Spir. eff. 3. =Tes. Gosp.= 1.) Jes. Mess. K. 2.) By all. 4. =Ap. Mir.= 1.) Num. mir. 2.) Pur. Att. Auth. Illus. 5. =Per. Ap.= 6. =Gro. Ch.= 120, 3,000, 5,000. "Multitude." 7. =App. Sev.= Heb. Gre. (Hellen.) Review Questions. Part One