How does Les understand the early Jewish believers in Acts?
The early Jewish believers in Acts are understood as Jewish believers under the covenant promises, not Christians. The Word never calls these Jerusalem-centered believers Christians; Acts 11 says Gentile believers at Antioch were first called Christians. They are grouped with John the Baptist's followers, Christ's ministry converts, and Pentecost believers, not the Gospel of grace.
Les teaches that the Jewish believers primarily centered around Jerusalem in Acts are never called Christians in the Word. He points out that Acts 15 does not do so, and Acts 11 says the Gentile believers at Antioch were first called Christians. He insists these were Jewish believers under the covenant promises, like John the Baptist's followers, those who came under Christ's ministry, those saved on Pentecost, and the rest thus far. He refuses to call them Christians, because a person cannot be called a Christian who has not been saved according to the Gospel of the grace of God—that Christ died for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended.