The Apostles and Their Times

by Mike Aquilina

Here is an unflinching look at the lives and sacrifices of those first Christians who were given the task of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Relying on the ancient documents, as well as latest archeological findings and scientific research, acclaimed author Mike Aquilina takes you on a journey through the Apostolic Age, bringing to life the ancient streets and crowded marketplaces through which Mary and the Apostles journeyed as they built a Church that lasts even to our day. You'll also discover the beliefs of the early Christians, what they taught about the Eucharist and the Divinity of Christ, how their Church services resembles today's Mass, and how Rome became the spiritual center for Christianity. Read these pages, and you'll come to see that despite the best efforts of their enemies, the blood of the Apostles did not snuff out the Faith but brought forth great saints whose holy deeds and brave examples gave the besieged Church a vigor that lasts even to today. The Apostles and Their Times will give you confidence that the Church is indeed Christ acting in the world, and that no matter how ruthless her opponents, she will endure to the end of time.

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Theology, Church History, History

141 pages, Paperback

Published July 18, 2017

About the author

Mike Aquilina is author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church, The Mass of the Early Christians, and A Year with the Church Fathers. He has co-hosted eight series that air on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has co-authored books with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., and theologian Scott Hahn. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He appears weekly on Sirius Radio's "Sonrise Morning Show." Mike and his wife, Terri, have six children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things.

In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.

His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.

Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over the span of a week last summer. It was a book I wanted to rip through, but the content is so good that I slowed down and took my time. This book was previously published under the title, 'Ministers and Martyrs', but I had not read that version. Doing a quick comparison between the two versions and the chapters are the same names, and the forward in this edition is a little longer, but the introduction nearly identical. The chapters in the book are:

Foreword
Introduction
Foundation Stones
The Apostles: Those Who Are Sent
Pentecost: The Church Is Born
A New Revelation of God
Disturbing the Priests
The Crown of Martyrdom
Saul the Persecutor, Paul the Apostle
Communion
Rome
Christianities?
The Next Generation
Last Things

As someone who graduated with a Religious Studies Degree and who specialized in Roman Catholic Studies, I greatly enjoyed this book. In fact there were a number of courses that I did over my university career that I believe this book would be a great fit for either as part of the required readings or the recommended readings to go further on the topics of the course. Reading books my Mike are always a little more work. They are not the fluff of a lazy Sunday afternoon read like Henri Nouwen, There is a great deal of substance in this book. Nor is he like evangelical Max Lucado where after you have read a few of his books they all seem the same, or rehash of old material. In fact with each new book that I read by Aquilina I have a greater appreciation for him as an author and scholar. No this book is a thoroughly researched and in depth study of the apostles and their times. Now I am not stating that this book cannot be read by a layperson. To be honest my argument would be to the opposite, I believe that every Catholic, every Christian would benefit from reading this book. But that it is a more thorough, deep, and serious study of the subject and not just a shiny glossy presentation easy to read but lacking in substance.

I am a bit of a Pauline studies addict. The chapter 'Saul the Persecutor, Paul the Apostle' was an exceptional read. I would dearly love to see Mike write an entire book on Paul to add to the Pauline studies canon. And this chapter could serve as the beginning. I would greatly appreciate Aquilina's penetrating insight focused on this subject in a deeper fashion than this excellent chapter.

For where I sit as a Catholic in the pews, and living in the world, one of the most powerful chapters in the book was the chapter on 'Communion'. For communion is so central to our life as Catholics, and should be for all who call themselves followers of Christ. This chapter looks at the Jewish roots, and both the Hebrew and Greek understanding of this relationship and its importance.

This book was an excellent read and I do believe that all who would follow Christ would benefit from understanding the early years of our tradition. It is another incredible book from the pen of Mike Aquilina.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn about the Early Church Fathers (and Mothers), then the author you need to read is Mike Aquilina. He has provided Catholics with countless books, which are both excellent and approachable, and I am forever grateful for each and every one of those books. Today, I am reviewing one of his newer books called The Apostles and Their Times. I consider it a prequel of sorts to his other books, because without the Apostles, we wouldn't have the Fathers.

The book begins with an introduction that defines five key terms - minister, martyr, bishop, liturgy, and Eucharist. We then begin the book with a history of the Israelites and the value they placed in Jerusalem. To the Israelites, Jerusalem was the center of their world, and from this heavenly city, they awaited for their messiah to appear. When Jesus finally does arrive, there are several branches of Judaism (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes) and each of them were looking for their own version of the Messiah. Therefore, few people accepted Jesus was the Messiah, because he wasn't the messiah they were looking for. Chapter Two explains to us what an Apostle is and how the term rarely appeared in the Gospels, but cropped up numerously in Acts and the Epistles. This leads us to the chapter on Pentecost, which is where the Church was born! The book continues by talking about martyrdom, Saul's persecution, and the new importance of Rome thanks to Peter and Paul.

Within this book, we not only are are treated to portraits of who the Apostles were, but through ancient documents and recent archaeological findings, we get to see them in their cultural context. This not only gives us a clearer picture of them, but also helps humanize these saints as well. By seeing them through the lens of their time and culture, we realize these weren't superhuman people, but fallible men just like us. They had strengths and weaknesses, temptations and sins, just like us. However, they relied on God, persevered, and most all were martyred for their beliefs. It was this witness of martyrdom that helped the Church to not only survive, but grow and thrive and continue on to this very day. Highly recommend this book, and any book that Mike Aquilina writes.

[Leslie Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy read that gives context to the time of the apostles and shortly thereafter with many helpful and instructive points.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I had been looking for when I first picked it up, which was a more in-depth look at the specific lives of the Apostles, but it was still a very good overview of the topic. And the overview is important, because it gives historical context to the Gospels and allows for a clearer understanding of the actions and events that make up the New Testament. What I love more than anything about books like this is the way that they show how human the Apostles were. None of them were men of great learning or of any significance at all before Our Lord chose them. And yet, through His grace, these men changed the world forever. I think that as Christians it is important that we look at the early Church and what it believed; after all, they were the closest to the actual words and thought of Christ. The historical context is important, as are the teachings of the Church Fathers, in understanding what it is we are called to believe.

[Aman Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer on the early Church. While I was hoping for a book containing the biography of the Twelve Apostles, I was quite happy with what I found instead. I had to hold myself from blitzing through its content because I wanted to absorb as much of its contents as possible.

Highly recommended for the all faithful, particularly those new to the faith, after a good reading of the New Testament.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not finish

I thought this would be an interesting topic to read into, but it is very much written for a Christian audience and so full of religious fever. I didn't feel like picking around for the historic information I actually was interested in. (Honestly too much religious trauma on my end to sit through the "how great thou art" bits) Back to Bart, I guess.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aquilina takes the reader back to the time of Christ last days explaining how food, meals together, Pentecost helped the Apostles opinions, attitudes, and practices that became a part of the early church with some continuing to modern times. The book is not long but is best read in small portions so as to understand the significance of words and practices.

[John Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty and light

It's light reading that is a pleasant way to pass some idle hours; if you're lucky enough, like me to have some. The chapters are short, and the analysis skin deep. Take and read and enjoy.☺

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

this one was ok but not overly great. contains good information, but I wish there was more of it.

[Jordan Chitwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy yet intellectual read on the history of the early church.

[Brian Ulczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable book on the early apostles and what the world was like in their time. I always enjoy books like this that help to put the Gospels into better context of the world that it was written during. I could see myself going back to this book a couple of times, to re-read and make sure I absorb what the author is saying.