Acts

New Living Translation.

Saul, a big persecutor of believers in Jesus, is converted by a miracle on the road to Damascus.

Afterwards, he goes about converting people with arguments that had not converted him.

Peter, meanwhile, is on walkabout, performing miracle cures and casting out demons.

In Joppa, he even resurrects Tabitha (Dorcas).

The believers make many converts.

Jesus in his ministry had done a miracle for a centurion.

Now the believers include additional Roman soldiers.

In chapters 10 and 11, God through miracles shows Peter that salvation through faith is available even to Gentiles, and he convinces the others.

11:26b It was at Antioch [of Syria - PV] that the believers were first called Christians.

Actually, the message of at least one of the miracles appears to be that it is unnecessary any longer to keep kosher.

All the same, this is still the Jewish God.

In chapter 12, Herod Agrippa imprisons Peter, but an angel helps him escape.

Later Herod makes a speech.

12:22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It's the voice of a god, not of a man!"

23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

You wonder how many soldiers married locals or went native.

Common enough in our time, young men of the right age, very far from home.