More books from the Library can be found via the History of Christianity reading list.
From Saul to Paul, from persecutor to preacher.
A young man named Saul, a Greek speaking Jew and citizen of Rome, was determined to stop the spread of Christianity by persecuting any Christians he could find. On the road to Damascus he was blinded by a sudden vision of Jesus, who asked Saul why he was persecuting him. After his experience, he converted to Christianity and was baptized, becoming known as Paul. Paul became the first Christian missionary, travelling throughout much of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea to spread the teachings of Jesus.
Bible heroes of faith: Paul's conversion
Paul's missionary journeys: Acts 13-20
As Paul began to convert large numbers of Gentiles (non-Jews) to the new faith, the question of whether Gentiles needed to observe Jewish religious rules became a major issue, e.g., were circumcision and dietary laws requirements?
This was debated at the Council of Jerusalem, which was later considered to be the first official church council to decide on major issues of doctrine or practice. It was a major turning point in Christianity as the Council settled the matter by defining the essential criterion for being a Christian as belief in Jesus Christ.
The Council of Jerusalem
