Were the early Jewish believers in Jerusalem the Body of Christ or just a called out assembly?

The early Jewish believers in Jerusalem were a called out assembly, an Ekklesia, because they separated themselves from the mainstream Judaizers. According to the context, they were not yet the Body of Christ. The term Ekklesia itself means a called out assembly and does not automatically denote the Body of Christ.

Les explains that Ekklesia in its true translated form means a called out assembly. It does not necessarily mean a structured group with pastors, bishops, and deacons, although when Paul speaks of the Body of Christ in the local church, it can carry that meaning. Stephen used the same word in Acts 7 for the Church in the wilderness, which was not a Church but a called out assembly because God called Israel out of Egypt. The group of Jewish believers in Jerusalem had separated themselves from the run of the mill of Judaizers, so they were an Ekklesia, a called out assembly. But Les maintains they were not yet the Body of Christ. Another instance is the riot in Ephesus, where a mob ran into the theater and was called an Ekklesia; the King James translators used the word assembly there. Paul says, I persecuted the Church, and Les prefers the word assembly, because that is what it was.

Why were the Jewish believers in Jerusalem called an ekklesia?

They were called an ekklesia because the word means a called-out assembly. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem had separated themselves from the ordinary Judaizers, making them a distinct called-out group. The context identifies them as an ekklesia, though not yet the Body of Christ. The term stresses separation, not church offices.