Christianity developed in Judea in the mid-first century CE, based first on the teachings of Jesus and later on the writings and missionary work of Paul of Tarsus. Early Christians debated whether they should only preach to Jews, or if non-Jews could become Christians, too.
One man, the apostle Paul, had enormous influence on Christianity's development. Paul preached in cities around the eastern Mediterranean. He stressed that Jesus was the son of God and that he had died for people's sins. Paul declared that Christianity was a universal religion.
