The Holy Spirit came 50 days after the resurrection, and 10 days after the Ascension. As soon as the apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit, their ignorance was turned into light, all their doubts evaporated. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles a variety of gifts, including the gift of tongues which was necessary for them to have ability, efficiency and might in being witnesses and preaching the gospel to different nations. Within a short time many thousands of people were converted and discipled. John Lawrence Mosheim wrote that:
All these apostles were men without education, and absolutely ignorant of letters and philosophy; and yet, in the infancy of the Christian church, it was necessary that should be, at least, some defender of the gospel, who, versed in the learned arts, might be able to combat the Jewish doctors and Pagan philosophers with their own arms. For this purpose, Jesus Himself, by an extraordinary voice from heaven, called to His service a thirteenth apostle whose name was Saul (afterwards Paul), and whose acquaintance both with Jewish and Grecian learning was very considerable.This extraordinary man, who had been one of the most virulent enemies of the Christians, became their most glorious and triumphant defender. Independent of the miraculous gifts, with which he was enriched, he was naturally possessed of an invincible courage, an amazing force of genius, and a spirit of patience, which no fatigue could overcome, and which no sufferings or trials could exhaust. To these the cause of the gospel, under the divine appointment, owed a considerable part of its rapid progress and surprising success, as the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles of St. Paul, abundantly testify.
The Bible says that instead of taking the Gospel eastward into Asia. Paul‘s call led him to take the Gospel to Europe where he planted his first church at Philippi.
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16: 6-10 NKJV)
Later, the Apostle Paul sent preachers and teachers to specific areas: Tychius to Ephesus, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia and Crete.
But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. (Ephesians 6:21-22 NKJV)
For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you. (Titus 1:5)
All the above Scriptures are consistent with what later historians’ record about the apostles’ organized movements. Early church historian Eusebius wrote that Thomas was sent to Parthia, Andrew for Scythia, and John for Asia. There was a complete organized fashioned in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In his book The Ruin of Britain, Gildas says that the coming of Christianity to Britain “happened first, as we know, in the last years of the emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD)—This means that Christianity first arrived in Britain no later than 37 AD– less than a decade after Christ’s crucifixion. The apostles first brought Christianity to the Island and it began in Britain within fifty years of Christ’s Ascension.
Many historical sources confirm that the apostles true Christianity to Ireland four centuries before St. Patrick’s visit. One of the greatest scholars of the seventeenth century James Ussher presented considerable evidence that James, Simon Peter, the Apostle Paul and others brought Christianity to Europe’s western isles in the first century.
History also shows that Britain’s rise to greatness began in the turmoil of the Protestant Reformation. Having broken from Rome and faced with the combined hostility of the continental church and imperial Spain, then the most powerful nation in the world, England began to look beyond the seas for her security and trade. Explorers were sent throughout the world during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). This led to the establishment of colonies that later developed into the United States of America and the nations of the British Commonwealth.
Historians have called both the British and Americans “revolutionary empires.” They were not tyrannies as were earlier empires in which everyone was subject to dictators. Both have had their own parliament to which voters have sent elected representatives.
People could own land, practice their religion and even take their government to court, while newspapers were free to criticize the authorities. Books were freely published. Innovative ideas flourished in what have become the most politically stable nations in modern history. The writer believes that God blessed these nations for a purpose, and that was to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, but they have forgotten God and their Christian heritage.
