In Acts 20:17-38, Paul passed the torch of ministry to the elders of the church in Ephesus. In his speech to them, Paul described the character of elders and their work of ministry. With a few such elders as Paul described, the church has the team it needs to fulfill the mission that God has given it.
One of the most difficult parables to interpret is in Luke 16:1-17, which relates the underhanded dealings of a dishonest manager who got fired...
God's presence in the early church produced awesome acts of community giving and healing but also an awesome judgment against hypocrisy and deception.
Because of a general persecution in Jerusalem, the believers were scattered and took the gospel to Judea and Samaria, where many believed in Christ.