What was the Jerusalem church like in Acts 8:1?
At Acts 8:1, the Jerusalem church was a called-out assembly of Jewish believers who had recognized Jesus as Messiah, still practicing the law and worshiping at the temple, yet set apart by faith. A great persecution arose against them, scattering them through Judea and Samaria except the apostles.
Les explains that Acts 8:1 comes about seven or eight years after Pentecost. Stephen had been martyred, and Saul of Tarsus was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church, or assembly, at Jerusalem. This assembly was a called-out group of Jewish believers who had believed who Jesus really was. They were still within the confines of Judaism, still practicing the law, and still worshiping at the temple, but they were also a set-aside group who had recognized their Messiah and put their faith in Him. Because of the persecution, they were all scattered abroad throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Les points out that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, sitting tight rather than going out among the Gentiles. He uses the analogy of waiting at a bus depot and not wanting to miss his wife’s arrival to illustrate the frame of mind of those twelve men.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
More Questions
Who made up the church at Jerusalem in Acts 8?
The Jerusalem assembly/church that was being persecuted in Acts 8 was composed of Jewish believers.