Jesus' revelation was a great light to the minds and hearts of His disciples. This same light attracted many people to believe in Jesus, and so the Church grew rapidly. But all human growth, especially rapid growth, can pose problems. No wonder that the early Church encountered so many problems both within and outside.

Today's reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows that the difficulties which the early Church encountered frequently came from the officials in the Jewish community. It is, however, an imperative part of our religion that, while some of the Jews who held certain religious or political power did oppose the early Church, this does not mean that all the Jews were involved. Apart from the fact that Jesus' immediate disciples were Jews, today's reading affirms that "many Jews" believed in the gospel which Paul proclaimed, as did also "many devout Jewish converts". These were Gentiles who had found light and faith in the Jewish religion. The early Church was a mixed community of Jews and Gentiles, a transnational and transcultural community. It is still our consolation that our faith knows no barriers of culture, race, or political borders. The Church is catholic, universal.