How did Christianity become a global religion? In 2015, Christians were the largest religious group in the world, making up nearly a third (31%) of Earth’s 7.3 billion people[1] and this animated map shows the spread of the gospel from the 1st century to the 21st century. The book of Acts gives us our first glimpse into this growth, telling the exciting story of the beginnings of the church in Jerusalem, its spread throughout the wider areas of Judah and Samaria, and then its rapid movement from Antioch in Syria through Asia Minor and Macedonia and Greece, until eventually the arrival of Paul in Rome symbolises the presence of the gospel in the central city of the ancient world. (see Tyndale commentary on Acts, L. Howard Marshall, P 17)
Some of the place names found in Acts are now familiar holiday destinations to us: Athens in Greece, Rome in Italy, the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus, for example. But if we are to answer the question ‘How did Christianity become a global religion?’, we have to look beyond the simple geographical spread, interesting though that is.
The ‘How?’ of this phenomenal growth, from a group of eleven men who followed a local Jewish preacher to a religion with over 2 billion followers worldwide in 2019, cannot be ascribed to marketing strategies, social media or even personal charisma. The clue to this growth is found in one of the pivotal verses in Acts: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8)
The power of the Holy Spirit is the explanation behind the explosive growth of the church in the 1st century (and which continues to be the reason behind any church growth nowadays.) Prior to the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were staying in Jerusalem and were not really getting very far with the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). It was only after the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 2) that we see a boldness and courage in witness which turned the world upside-down. Whatever the demographics and geographical situations of the 1st century, the explosive growth of the church was because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus, and we need the Holy Spirit just as much as they did, for we too are called to be witnesses to all that Jesus has said and done – in Goldthorpe, in Thurnscoe, in Bolton-on-Dearne, in Wath, in Barnburgh, in Great Houghton and beyond… The mission continues; the Holy Spirit is still here. Are we willing to wait for the gift the Father has promised? (Acts 1:4) Are we willing to step out in faith as those first disciples did?
[1] ww.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/