A response to the question posed to me – “When did the church begin according to the Scriptures”?

To know when the church began, we must know what the church is so we can identify it in the Scriptures.

1.  We know that that the church is an assembly meeting together for a specific purpose.  This is the definition of “church” which is translated from the original ‘ekklesia’.  Therefore it is not just a group of people gathered in one place, it has organization separating from general meetings of people.

2.  We know that the church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and that He is the builder of it.

Matthew 16:16-18.  The church is founded upon Him according to His reply to Peter –

Peter:  “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

Jesus: “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the testimony of Peter), I will build my church…”

Conclusion:  The Lord’s church will be built up of believers.  Membership must be saved.

3.  We know that a group of believers were meeting together in one place on the first day of the week (Sunday). 

The first Sunday.    Luke 24:1, 9, 14-45 and John 20:18-23.

Met with the Lord, were taught by Him and given by Him the Holy Spirit in order to understand His Words.

The second Sunday.  John 20:26-29

The remaining ministry among them prior to His ascension thirty two days later.  John 20:29 – 21:25

Acts 1:1-11

This assembly had been meeting together on a regular basis under the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ, being given the Holy Spirit in order to understand His instruction.  They had everything they needed to carry out His command to them except for the power needed which could only be supplied by the Holy Spirit.  They were instructed to wait for this power.

4.  We know from these Scriptural facts that the church was in existence at this time, following the instructions given by the Lord, wait for the empowerment of the Holy Ghost before acting upon the commandment to begin witnessing in Jerusalem and unto all the earth.  Acts 1:8

5.  We know that this assembly carried out these instructions, carrying out the business at hand under the leadership of Peter (John 21:15-17).  Acts 1:12-26

6.  We know that the promise of the Lord was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as they had been meeting together in accordance with His command.  Acts 2:1

7.  We know that the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord was in exact accordance with His command.  Acts 1:5   For John (the baptizer) baptized with water (the element, being immersed in water), but ye shall be baptized (The Father and the Son being the baptizers, John 14:26) with the Holy Ghost (the element in which they were immersed) not many days hence.

Acts 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven (The Lord) as of a rushing mighty wind (The Holy Ghost), and it filled the house where they were sitting (immersed).

8.  We know that they received the power promised by the Lord to begin witnessing of Him beginning at Jerusalem and unto all the world (Acts 2:4-10) with that power, began to preach the gospel (Acts 2:14, 21-36).

9.  We know that through the preaching of the Word, the promise of the Holy Spirit’s working is seen,

John 16:7-13, resulting in the salvation of many, Acts 2:37-40.

10.  We know that on that day, three thousand people were saved and then baptized, adding them to the existing church which up to that time had a membership of about one hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15). 

11.  We know that the church in Jerusalem was the first church, that it had a membership of about one hundred and twenty to which three thousand were added by baptism.  This church continued to meet regularly, carrying out the instruction of the Lord.  Acts 2:42.

12.  We know the growth of this church and the planting of other churches was carried out in accordance with the commission to the church as is detailed in the Book of Acts, for example Acts 11:19-26.

The Word of God sets forth the account of the beginning and the establishment of other churches.

Saved into the family of God and baptized into the assembly (church) under the authority of God.