How many people were following Jesus at the end of His earthly ministry in Jerusalem?
At the end of His three years of earthly ministry, in the area of Jerusalem, only about 120 people were following Jesus. This number is described as next to nothing, illustrating that even then the results seemed small compared to the large population of the world.
Les explains that from a worldwide population of perhaps four or five billion, when you come to Jesus at the end of His three years of earthly ministry, at least in the area of Jerusalem, the number was only 120. He says that is next to nothing. This pattern, he points out, has always been the case throughout Scripture, so we should not get discouraged when we do not see the results we would like. He then contrasts this with what happened to Paul's converts out of paganism in Galatia, in Asia Minor, reminding us that geography and history fit together with the Holy Spirit's overall working.