AP 8

1. The Rise of Christianity

2. By 63 BC, Rome rules Palestine.

3. around 6 AD, Caesar Augustus is emperor and this is the
world into Jesus is born.

4. • He lived just 33 years
• his main ministry lasted only 3 years.

5. we don’t have any accounts of his appearance.
• Caucasian-looking portrayed a lot in Western
culture.

6. • he likely had a tawny skin tone, dark hair and eyes.
These are facial reconstructions from a skull from that
time period.
• Bear in mind that this is just a random skull the face is
based on. You can’t say this is Jesus any more than if
you took George Bush’s skull and came up with my

7. • This is based on the image from the Shroud of Turin

9. • Interestingly,

10. Anyway…
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem
The AD 1 year mark is based

11. • he didn’t begin his public preaching until he was 30.
love.
forgiveness
personal relationship with God

12. • Became rather popular and hailed as the Messiah…

14. Simon / Peter
Peter means “Rock”
Was a simple fisherman
Church leader after Jesus’ death

15. Was crucified upside down

16. John
He was known as “The beloved” by Jesus
Took care of Mary after Jesus’ death
Died from old age

17. James
Probably the first of the twelve to be martyred
The brother of John
called by Jesus the “Sons of Thunder”
Was stoned to death

18. Andrew
Was another fisherman
brother of Simon Peter
Used to follow John the Baptist
Later on was crucified

19. Philip
Also recruited Bartholomew
Another Fisherman
Was one of the first disciples
Later on was crucified

20. Bartholomew
Died by being beheaded
Was also called Nathaniel
A good friend of Philip

21. Matthew
author of the Gospel of Matthew
Was a tax collector
Gave up his riches to follow Jesus
Was stabbed to death

22. Thomas
Hence the term “Doubting Thomas”
The twin
Doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead
Pierced through the spears of four soldiers

23. James
Executed by sword
called “James the less”
probably shorter than the other James

24. Simon
Clubbed to death
Jewish politician
Gave up his political
became a follower of Jesus
The Zealot

25. Jude
Later on was murdered
Also called Thaddeus
Went to Persia to preach

26. Judas Iscariot
Judas hanged himself in despair
treasurer of the group
His love of money drove him
to betray Jesus to his enemies

27. • Neither the Romans nor the Jewish authorities were too
comfortable with Jesus’s popularity.

28. Accordingly, Jesus is crucified due to trumped up charges.

29. his apostles carry on his mission.
spreader of the faith
was Saul of Tarsus, aka the Apostle
Paul.

30. He’s eventually executed in Rome, beheaded by the
Emperor Nero.

32. Christian persecutions

33. As the Roman Empire starts
its decline

34. persecution steps up as
Romans blame the Christians.

35. Some were crucified

36. others burned alive

37. still more killed in the arena.

38. popular method was for them to be killed by wild
animals.

39. Cooked To Death
Saint Lawrence of Rome

40. Dragged To Death
St. Saturninus of Toulouse

41. Skinned alive
St. Bartholomew

42. Starved To Death
Saint Hyacinth

43. Boiled To Death
Saint Cecilia

44. A problem the Romans faced is that the Christians
welcomed death and the chance to be martyred.

45. They took joy in death… which the Romans
found bizarre.

46. They would even taunt the crowd to kill them.

47. Some Christians went to extreme lengths to avoid
persecution, such as at Cappadocia.

57. Despite the Roman brute force the religion continued to
spread.

59. As the faith spreads, it takes on an organizational
hierarchy.
Pope
Priests
Laity
Cardinals
Archbishop
Bishop

60. Emperor Constantine ended all persecution and legalized
Christianity in the Edict of Milan.

61. Constantine also called the Council of Nicaea