According to Les Feldick's teaching and Acts 1:15, there were only about 120 true believers in the Jerusalem area after Jesus' three years of ministry.
After three years of ministry, the believers gathered in the upper room recorded in Acts 1:15 numbered about 120. Les Feldick teaches this was the sum total of Christ's fruit in the immediate Jerusalem area, though he allows there may have been a few believers in Galilee. The number shows how few true believers there were.
Acts 1:15 — This verse records the specific number of believers gathered in the upper room after Christ's ministry - about one hundred and twenty.
1 Kings 19:18 — Shows the Old Testament remnant pattern of 7,000 faithful in Elijah's day, which Les uses to frame the small number at Christ's first advent.
Romans 11:4 — Paul quotes the Elijah remnant to show God has always reserved a faithful few.
The only specific count of believers in Jerusalem between Christ's resurrection and Pentecost is found in Acts 1:15: 'the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty.' This is the group gathered in the upper room after the ascension. After Pentecost, the number immediately grew. Acts 2:41 records, 'Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.' Later, after the healing of the lame man, Acts 4:4 says, 'Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.' The Old Testament shows a similar pattern of a small faithful remnant. In 1 Kings 19:18 God told Elijah, 'Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.' Paul quotes this in Romans 11:4: 'But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.'
Les Feldick teaches that after Christ's three years of earthly ministry, the number of true believers was remarkably small. He turns to Acts chapter 1, where the believers gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem: 'the believers in the immediate area of Jerusalem numbered how many? 120. That's all. 120.' He says he tends to believe this was the sum total of Christ's fruit in that area, though he expresses this cautiously and notes there may have been a few believers in Galilee. He also points out that 'the majority of Israel had still said He's an imposter.' Les connects this small number to a pattern that runs through Scripture. Just as only 7,000 in Elijah's day had not bowed to Baal - about one percent of the population - so at Christ's first advent only a remnant believed. He says, 'this is what's always been the case.' Even after 3,000 were added at Pentecost and the number of men reached about 5,000 in Acts 4, Les observes that out of several million people this was 'just a sprinkling.' The main harvest, he teaches, came after the cross with the preaching of the Gospel of Grace.
Les Feldick explains that after Christ's three years of earthly ministry, the believers gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem numbered only about 120 (Acts 1:15). He says the majority of Israel still regarded Jesus as an imposter. Les cautions that the 120 figure refers to the immediate Jerusalem area and allowed that there may have been a few believers in Galilee, but nothing indicates a larger number in Judea.
Les draws a direct parallel between the 120 believers and Elijah's experience on Mount Carmel. Elijah thought he was the only one left, but God told him, 'I have reserved to myself seven thousand men' (1 Kings 19:18; Romans 11:4). Les notes that 7,000 out of six or seven million is only about one percent - 'a drop in the bucket.' He adds that the 7,000 likely had believing wives and children, so there may have been 14,000 to 20,000 Jews - still a small remnant. This remnant pattern, he says, is 'what's always been the case,' including at Christ's first advent.
Scripture records growth after Pentecost: about 3,000 souls were added the same day (Acts 2:41), and later the number of believing men was about 5,000 (Acts 4:4). Les observes that even 5,000 was 'just a sprinkling' out of several million people. The larger harvest, he teaches, came after the cross with the preaching of the gospel of grace during the Church Age.
Elijah's Remnant of 7,000
Les shows that God has always worked through a small remnant - just as only 7,000 had not bowed to Baal in Elijah's day, so few believed at Christ's first advent.
Only 120 Believers in Jerusalem
After Christ's three-year ministry, the believers in the immediate Jerusalem area numbered only 120, and the majority of Israel still regarded Jesus as an imposter.
120 in the Upper Room
Les says it is shocking that after three years of the Lord's own ministry there were only 120 Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Judea, with possibly a few more in Galilee.
Precious Few Before the Church Age
Les contrasts the precious few true believers before the cross, including within Israel, with the main harvest of the Church Age.
The Sum Total of His Fruit
Les cautiously teaches that the 120 men, not counting women, were the sum total of Christ's fruit in the immediate environs of Jerusalem after three years.
Revelation vs. Instruction: How Paul Received the Gospel
In other words, this called out group of Jewish believers who had believed who Jesus really was. And they were still within the confines of Judaism. They were still practicing the law. They were still worshiping at the temple. But they were also a set-aside group who had recognized their Messiah and put their faith in Him.
God Has Always Kept a Remnant
Les notes that Paul rehearses Elijah's experience in Romans 11, and that the 7,000 men likely had believing wives and children, making about 14,000 to 20,000 - still a small remnant.
A Sprinkling Among Millions
Even when Acts 4 records about 5,000 believing men, Les says that out of several million people this was just a sprinkling.
Acts 1:15: And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty:)
This verse gives the specific number of believers gathered in the upper room after Jesus' ministry - about 120.
Acts 2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
This records the immediate growth in believers after Peter's Pentecost sermon.
Acts 4:4: Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
This shows the number of believing men after Peter and John healed the lame man.
1 Kings 19:18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
God's answer to Elijah shows that even then only a remnant of 7,000 remained faithful.
Romans 11:4: But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Paul quotes this Old Testament remnant to show that God has always kept a faithful few in Israel.
According to Les Feldick's teaching and Acts 1:15, only about 120 believers gathered in the upper room in the Jerusalem area after three years of Christ's ministry. Les says this was the sum total of His fruit in that region, though there may have been a few more in Galilee.
Les reads the 120 as men, not counting the women. He says 'it just says that there were 120 men, not counting the women,' while acknowledging he is not going to be real strong on the point.
No. Les points to the Old Testament pattern where only a remnant was faithful - Elijah thought he was alone, but God had reserved 7,000 men. Throughout Israel's history very few Jews were believers, so the small number at Christ's first advent fits the same pattern.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained