The Disciples heard complaints from Helenists that they were being overlooked in the receiving of food. Who were these Helenists? How was this complaint addressed? Then the Jewish leadership arrest Stephen for preaching Christ. He then gives his defense, which angered the leadership to the point they stoned him to death. And during this, the most famous Jewish leader was there who agreed with the stoning of Stephen, and aided in its accomplishment.

Just before Paul began the first of his three missionary journeys, he and others at the Church of Antioch were worshiping and fasting, when Holy Spirit set Paul and Barnabas apart on a special mission to the gentile cities. They journeyed throughout much of the Mediterranean coastline of modern day Turkey with John-Mark – a helper who would later be the cause of Paul and Barnabas’s separation in Acts 15. This first missionary journey is unique because Paul and Barnabas taught the Jews first and then the Gentiles (later on Paul would focus primarily to teaching the Gentiles) and tells of Paul and Barnabas’s response to a sorcerer who tried to lead a Roman Governor away from Christianity. What isn’t unique however, is how the Jewish leadership stirred up persecution against Paul expelling him and Barnabas from the region.