2003
New Testament Times at a Glance: The Early Apostles—Their Lives and Letters
July 2003

“New Testament Times at a Glance: The Early Apostles—Their Lives and Letters,” Liahona, July 2003, 31

New Testament Times at a Glance:

The Early Apostles—Their Lives and Letters

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New Testament Times at a Glance

Dates, including the dates when epistles were written, are approximate.
Clockwise from left: Peter and John Healing the Lame Man at the Temple, by Walter Rane; Peter Delivered from Prison, by A. L. Noakes; Paul on the Road to Damascus, by Edward Vebell

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New Testament Times at a Glance
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New Testament Times at a Glance

Dates, including the dates when epistles were written, are approximate.
From left: Peter, by Marilee B. Campbell; Paul Bestows the Holy Ghost after Baptizing Men in Ephesus, by Edward Vebell; Paul in Prison Writing to Timothy, by Paul Mann; St. Paul Preaching at Athens, by Raphael, V&A Museum/The Royal Collection

  1. Acts 1:1–11 Jesus ascended into heaven. Angels promised His disciples that He would return in great glory.

  2. Acts 1:12–26 The Lord chose Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot as an Apostle.

  3. Acts 2:1–47 The Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. Peter testified of Christ and many believed and were baptized.

  4. Acts 3:1–26 Peter healed a lame man at the temple and testified of the latter-day Restoration.

  5. Acts 4:1–31 Peter and John were imprisoned overnight and forbidden to teach of Christ. They continued to testify boldly.

  6. Acts 4:32–37 Church members were “of one heart and of one soul” and “had all things common” (Act 4:32).

  7. Acts 5:1–11 Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Lord and died.

  8. Acts 5:17–42 Peter and John were imprisoned by the Sanhedrin and set free by an angel. In spite of warnings, they continued to teach of Christ.

  9. Acts 6:1–7 Seven faithful disciples were called and set apart to assist the Apostles.

  10. Acts 6:8–7:60 Stephen, one of the seven, bore testimony of Christ to the Sanhedrin. He was stoned to death.

  11. Acts 7:57–8:3 A young rabbi named Saul participated in the stoning of Stephen. Saul actively persecuted the Church.

  12. Acts 8:4–13 Philip, another of the seven, baptized in Samaria.

  13. Acts 8:9–25 Peter and John went to Samaria to bestow the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Simon, a new member, asked if he could buy the priesthood and was rebuked by Peter.

  14. Acts 8:26–40 Philip taught and baptized an Ethiopian eunuch.

  15. Acts 9:1–22 Saul, on the road to Damascus, was blinded when Jesus appeared to him. At Damascus Saul was healed, baptized, and began to preach of Christ in the synagogues.

  16. Acts 9:23–26; 2 Cor. 11:32–33; Gal. 1:15–18 Saul went to Arabia, then returned to Damascus. After three years, Jewish leaders conspired to kill him; he fled to Jerusalem, but many of the disciples at Jerusalem doubted that Saul was truly converted. Saul spent 15 days with Peter.

  17. Acts 9:27 Barnabas spoke before the Apostles on behalf of the repentant Saul.

  18. Acts 9:29–30; Gal. 1:21–24 Saul went to Tarsus and spent about four years teaching in Syria and Cilicia.

  19. Acts 9:31–43 Peter healed Aeneas and raised Dorcas from the dead.

  20. Acts 10:1–11:18 In a vision Peter was commanded to take the gospel to the Gentiles. The Holy Ghost fell upon Cornelius and his household, and they were baptized.

  21. Acts 11:25–26 Saul helped Barnabas minister to the Church in Antioch for a year.

  22. Acts 11:29–30 Saul and Barnabas took relief supplies from the Saints in Antioch to the needy Saints in Jerusalem.

  23. Acts 12:1–2 The Apostle James was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I.

  24. Acts 12:3–23 Peter was imprisoned. He was freed by an angel of the Lord. The angel smote Herod, and Herod died.

  25. Acts 12:25 Barnabas, Mark, and Saul returned to Antioch.

  26. Acts 13:1–12 Saul, with Barnabas and Mark, went to Cyprus to preach the gospel. Saul, now also called Paul, began his first missionary journey.

  27. Acts 13:13–14:6 Paul visited Perga, Antioch in Pisidia, and Iconium, where he had great success in baptizing Gentiles.

  28. Acts 14:6–19 In Lystra, Paul healed a crippled man. The citizens believed that Paul and Barnabas were gods. Paul was later stoned and left for dead.

  29. Acts 14:20–15:3 After much success in Derbe, Paul returned to Antioch, stopping at some cities to strengthen the members.

  30. Acts 15:4–29; Gal. 2:1–3 Peter presided at a council of Church leaders in Jerusalem, where it was decided what Gentiles must do to be good members. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus attended.

  31. Acts 15:30–35 Judas and Silas, accompanied by Paul and Barnabas, returned to Antioch. The decision of the Jerusalem conference was received with great joy.

  32. Acts 15:36–40 With Silas as his companion, Paul began his second missionary journey.

  33. Acts 16:1–3 At Lystra, Timothy joined the Church and became a missionary companion to Paul and Silas.

  34. Acts 16:8–11 Paul journeyed to Troas, where he had a vision directing him and his companions to go to Macedonia.

  35. Acts 16:10–11 Luke joined Paul and his companions.

  36. Acts 16:12–15 At Philippi, Lydia and her household were converted to the Lord.

  37. Acts 16:16–40 At Philippi, Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned. After an earthquake shook the prison, the jailer and his family were baptized. Paul and Silas were released from prison.

  38. James James, a Church leader in Jerusalem, wrote “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). This may have been the first general epistle.

  39. Acts 17:1 Paul and his companions traveled through Amphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica.

  40. Acts 17:2–9 At Thessalonica, Jason, a kinsman of Paul, and others believed in Christ. A mob arrested Jason. Paul and his companions escaped.

  41. Acts 17:15–34 Paul left Timothy and Silas in Berea and traveled to Athens. Paul taught some Greek philosophers at Mars’ hill.

  42. Acts 18:1–3, 5, 11 Paul was reunited with Silas and Timothy in Corinth. Paul taught and labored there for one and a half years.

  43. Acts 18:2–18 In Corinth, Aquila and his wife, Priscilla; Justus; and Crispus, a ruler of the synagogue, believed in Christ. Paul was arrested and taken before the Roman governor.

  44. 1 Thes.; 2 Thes. From Corinth, Paul wrote two letters to the Saints in Thessalonica.

  45. Acts 18:18–21 Paul journeyed to Ephesus and preached in the synagogue.

  46. Acts 18:21–22 Paul went to Jerusalem, saluted the Church there, and returned to Antioch.

  47. Acts 18:24–28 Apollos, an Egyptian Jew, came to Ephesus and was taught by Aquila and Priscilla.

  48. Acts 18:23; Acts 19:1 Paul visited and strengthened the Church in Galatia and Phrygia. He remained in Ephesus for about three years.

  49. Acts 19:1–7 Paul gave the gift of the Holy Ghost to disciples baptized by Apollos.

  50. Acts 19:11–20 Paul performed many miracles in Ephesus, and the Church grew there.

  51. 1 Cor. While in Ephesus, Paul wrote to the Saints in Corinth.

  52. Acts 19:23–41 In Ephesus worshipers of the Greek goddess Diana caused the people to riot against Paul and the Christians. Gaius and Aristarchus were taken by a mob but later released unharmed.

  53. 2 Cor. While in Macedonia, Paul wrote again to the Saints in Corinth.

  54. Acts 20:1–2 Paul journeyed to Greece, where he remained for three months.

  55. Gal. Paul wrote to the Saints in Galatia.

  56. Acts 20:2–6 Paul and seven companions visited and preached in the cities of Greece.

  57. Rom. Paul wrote to the Saints in Rome.

  58. Acts 20:6–12 At Troas, Paul restored the life of a young man named Eutychus.

  59. Acts 20:13–38 On his way to Ephesus, Paul stopped in Miletus and warned the Saints of apostasy. He told them that he must go to Jerusalem for Pentecost.

  60. Acts 21:1–15 On his way to Jerusalem, Paul visited the Saints in Tyre and Caesarea.

  61. Acts 21:16–23:10 Paul met with Church leaders in Jerusalem. He went to the temple, causing a riot. He told the Sadducees and Pharisees of his conversion to Christ. He was arrested by Roman soldiers and taken to Caesarea for his own safety.

  62. Acts 23:11–26:32 Paul appeared before two Roman rulers, Festus and Herod Agrippa II. Paul told them of his conversion and bore testimony of Christ. They decided to send him to Rome for trial.

  63. Acts 27:1–28:16 Under Roman guard, Paul sailed to Rome. Shipwrecked at sea, he swam to Melita. Paul was unharmed by a snakebite and healed many.

  64. Acts 28:16–31 Paul was under house arrest for two years in Rome.

  65. Eph.; Philip.; Col.; Philem.; Heb. In Rome, Paul wrote to the Saints in the cities of Colosse, Philippi, and Ephesus, and to a disciple named Philemon. He also explained to Jewish members of the Church that the law of Moses was fulfilled by the law of Christ.

  66. 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 4:13, 20; Titus 1:5; Titus 3:12 Released from prison, Paul journeyed to Greece and probably revisited the Saints in many cities. He may have even preached in Spain.

  67. 1 Tim.; Titus From Greece, Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy. He also wrote a letter to Titus, who was in Crete.

  68. 1 Pet. Peter wrote to the Church, probably from Rome.

  69. Mark 1:1; Luke 1:1–4; Acts 1:1 Mark and Luke wrote their Gospels, and Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

  70. Matt. 1:1 Matthew wrote his Gospel.

  71. 2 Tim. 4:6 Paul was arrested and sent to Rome for another trial.

  72. 2 Tim. Paul wrote again to Timothy. This was Paul’s last New Testament letter.

  73. Paul was most likely executed in Rome at the time Nero was emperor of Rome.

  74. 2 Pet. Peter wrote again to the Church.

  75. 2 Pet. 1:14 Peter was also probably executed during the reign of Nero.

  76. The city of Jerusalem, including the temple, was destroyed by the Romans. Many Jews were killed or scattered.

  77. Jude Jude, the brother of James, wrote to the Church, warning of apostasy.

  78. Rev. 1:9 While living in Ephesus, John was banished to the Isle of Patmos.

  79. Rev. 1–22 John had a vision of the Lord and received messages for seven branches of the Church. He wrote the vision and sent it to the Church. He also saw events of the latter days and the ultimate triumph of God and His kingdom through the Savior Jesus Christ.

  80. John 21:25 John wrote his Gospel.

  81. 1 Jn.; 2 Jn.; 3 Jn. John wrote three letters. He taught of Christ and love. He urged members to be faithful to the truth.

  82. John 21:20–24 John was translated so he could continue his mission on earth until the Second Coming of Christ.

  83. 2 Thes. 2:3 The Great Apostasy.

Book of Mormon

  1. 3 Ne. 11:1–26:15 Jesus Christ visited and ministered to the people in America.

  2. 4 Ne. 1:1–3 All the people were converted to the Lord and had “all things common among them” (4 Ne. 1:3).

  3. 4 Ne. 1:7–18 The people rebuilt their cities. There was no contention in the land, and “there could not be a happier people” (2 Nephi 1: 16).

  4. 4 Ne. 1:19 There was continuous peace in the land. Nephi passed the records on to his son Amos.