The specific year when Christianity first reached Africa is not detailed in the Bible, but historical evidence suggests that Christianity was present in North Africa by the end of the first century A.D. The account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40, who encountered Philip the Evangelist, is one of the earliest scriptural evidences of Christianity’s reach into Africa. This encounter likely occurred within the mid-first century, not long after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is traditionally dated around 30-33 A.D.

This Ethiopian official’s conversion and subsequent return to his homeland suggests that the Christian message began to spread into Africa shortly thereafter. The establishment of the church in Alexandria, Egypt, one of the earliest and most influential centers of Christian thought and scholarship, further supports the early presence of Christianity in Africa, with Alexandria becoming a key center of Christian learning and theological development by the 2nd century A.D.

Given these accounts, while an exact year cannot be pinpointed from Scripture, it is plausible to conclude that Christianity had begun to make inroads into Africa within the first century of the Christian era, demonstrating the rapid spread of the Gospel message beyond the immediate geographical boundaries of its origins.

The spread of Christianity throughout the world, including Africa, can be seen as a fulfillment of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commanded His disciples, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Although the Bible does not provide specific details on the spread of Christianity in Africa following the initial missionary journeys documented in the Acts of the Apostles, historical accounts and traditions suggest that Christianity reached North Africa early in church history, through the influence of early church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo, and through the establishment of churches in areas such as Alexandria, Egypt.

The Acts of the Apostles records the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40, a high official under Queen Candace of Ethiopia, who encountered Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen to serve in the early church. Philip explained to him the Scriptures and baptized him. This account is one of the earliest recorded interactions indicating the spread of Christianity into Africa. It showcases how the movement of individuals and the sharing of the Gospel message played a critical role in the early dissemination of Christianity.

The spread of Christianity into other parts of Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is more closely associated with the efforts of missionaries from various Christian denominations in the centuries following the early church period. These efforts were often intertwined with colonial history, which has left a complex legacy.

Throughout its spread, the message of hope, redemption, and the transformative power of Christ’s love has remained central, echoing the words of Paul in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”