A New Empire and A New Religion

1
A New Empire and A New Religion

• Can individual behaviors and beliefs effect whole
  civilizations?

2
Jesus of Nazareth

• Augustus ordered a census, or count, of people to
  be taken in 1 A.D.
• Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem.
• Mary gave birth, most likely in the Spring.
  (shepherds in the fields suggests this.)

3
Jesus of Nazareth

• Wise men from Persia noticed a star and traveled
  to Judea, and told the local king, Herod, of a
  new kings birth.
• Herod had babies killed Jesus and his parents
  escaped to Egypt.
• Question How did the Romans respond to Herods
  order?

4
Jesus of Nazareth

• They returned when Herod died, but to Nazareth,
  where Joseph was a carpenter.
• Age 12, (at the traditional time of Jewish Bar
  Mitzvah), Jesus went to a festival at the temple
  in Jerusalem, and began teaching.

5
Ministry

• At age thirty, Jesus began ministry at a wedding.
• 1st miracle was reportedly turning water to wine.
• He taught in synagogue. (Jewish roots)
• Kicked out of home town. (divisive teaching)
• Baptized by John the Baptist (new application of
  old ideas)
• Began to teach to crowds (new application of old
  ideas)

6
Ministry

• Gathered followers called disciples
• Told stories to teach lessons called parables
• Criticized Jewish leadership

7
Ministry

• Grew in popularity
• Followers included tax collectors, zealots, and
  fishermen
• The gospel records three years of ministry
  healings, casting out demons, and teaching and
  feeding people

8
Execution and Betrayal

• Jesus was betrayed by his follower, Judas
  Iscariot.
• Jesus was arrested just prior to Passover.
• The trial began in Jewish court.

9
Execution and Betrayal

• Jewish leaders accused Jesus of false teaching,
  of breaking their laws and blasphemy.
• Jewish leaders accused Jesus of trying to rebel
  against Romans, of leading a revolt.

10
Execution and Betrayal

• Jesus was beaten, but with no power to execute,
  the Jewish leadership took Jesus to the Roman
  Governor, Pontius Pilate. .
• . .. Then back to Herod Agrippa
• beaten again
• dressed in a robe . . .

11
Execution and Betrayal

• Jesus was sent back to Pilate with a crown of
  thorns on his head.
• The Roman Governor gave Jews a choice for
  Passover, Barabbas chosen.
• Jesus was scourged by Romans, and then carried
  cross to Golgotha.

12
Execution and Betrayal

• Jesus was crucified. A brutal form of execution
  commonly reserved for dangerous criminals or
  traitors.
• Died quickly, in approximately 6hours,
• Buried nearby in the tomb of a follower.
• Three days later followers declared he had risen
  from the dead.

13
Beginnings of Christianity

• Fifty days later at Pentecost Christianity spread
  in Jewish temple when followers spoke in
  different languages to a huge crowd, 3,000
  baptized
• Christianity was seen as a sect of Judaism, met
  in temple

14
Christianity Spreads

• Jews begin to persecute Christians, Saul of
  Tarsus killed 100s, then . ..
• He converted to Christianity.
• Christianity spread to Anatolia, Greece and even
  Rome

15
Christianity Spreads

• Twelve disciples called Apostles spread religion
  to India, Africa, Europe and Asia,
• They wrote teachings and letters to gatherings
  called churches, the New Testament, Paul wrote
  most of it (well, sort of . . .)
• Christianity still seen as an outlaw illegal
  religion by Roman Empire
• Roman persecution killed 1,000s

16
Martyrdom (. . . According to tradition)

• Peter founder of church in Rome, leader of
  Apostles, crucified upside down
• James flayed with knives in India
• Paul was tried before Emperor Diocletian, may
  have been beheaded in the Colosseum.
• John survived being boiled in oil, and exiled to
  island of Patmos, reportedly wrote Revelation
  there.
• Every apostle except John martyred.