The cycle of readings in the Acts of the apostles describe three related events. The first is the extension of the word of God to the Gentiles (non-Jews), the second is understanding that God is at work in this effort, and the third is that this effort is not without persecution. Persecution was nothing new to the Jewish people and so for many Christians familiar with the narrative of salvation history, persecutions on the heels of following God’s Word followed a well-worn path . What was new and different was the idea that all humanity was joined in the project of doing what was right and that this same humanity was called to work towards its fulfillment in God through Christ and that this movement towards Christ was both a communal and individual effort which necessitated God’s grace through the action of the Holy Spirit and the free cooperation of each individual. In addition to persecutions, the challenge the early Christians experienced was the coming to an understanding that maintained the value of the individual assent of faith along with expressing this faith in such a way that maintained its commonality. Basically, the early Christians struggled, in addition to persecutions, with the conflict of how to balance individual insight and the expression of this insight within different cultures with the desire of remaining universal or common, or catholic. The challenges faced by the early Church are our challenges today. The fact that the Church has moved forward, produced saints, and has moved humanity to a greater dignity in light of God’s plan demonstrates success. There have been some set backs, but our history can point to many brave men and women who by their work and cooperation with Christ and his Church have moved us towards God and ultimately to heaven.