No, according to Les Feldick, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem were not considered the Body of Christ.
Les clarifies that the Greek word ekklesia, translated as 'church,' simply means a 'called-out assembly.' The Jerusalem believers were such an assembly, but the Body of Christ did not begin until Paul preached the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and Gentiles began to believe. He notes that these Jewish believers were still under the Judaistic system and had not yet heard of salvation based on the shed blood and resurrection.
Acts 7:38 — Les refers to Stephen's use of 'the church in the wilderness' to show that ekklesia means a called-out assembly, not necessarily the Body of Christ.
The Bible uses the Greek word ekklesia, translated as 'church,' to refer to a called-out assembly. In Acts 7:38, Stephen speaks of 'the church in the wilderness,' referring to Israel's assembly in the wilderness, not the Body of Christ. The Jerusalem believers in Acts are described as a group of Jewish believers who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but the Scripture never calls them 'Christians' (a term reserved for those who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ).
Les Feldick emphasizes that the word 'church' does not always mean the Body of Christ. He points out that the Greek word ekklesia simply means a 'called-out assembly.' The Jewish believers in Jerusalem were a called-out assembly who believed Jesus was the Messiah, but they were still within Judaism, keeping the law and temple worship. Les teaches that the Body of Christ did not begin until Paul preached the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and Gentiles came to faith—then the Holy Spirit baptized them into the Body. He notes that the Bible never calls the Jerusalem believers 'Christians.'
Les describes the Jerusalem believers as a 'called out group of Jewish believers who had believed who Jesus really was.' They were still within the confines of Judaism, practicing the law and worshipping at the temple (Clip 2). They believed Jesus was the Christ, but there was no mention yet of salvation based on His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection (Clip 1).
Les teaches that the Body of Christ began when Paul began to preach the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and belief in that gospel without the law (Clip 5). He says that the Jerusalem church had been holding forth for 12 years, but the Bible never calls them Christians. It was when Gentiles started coming in by faith in the gospel of grace that they were called Christians (Clip 3).
The Meaning of Ekklesia
Les explains that 'church' comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning a called-out assembly, and it does not always mean the Body of Christ.
Jerusalem Assembly is Not Church Ground
Les asserts that the Jerusalem assembly of Jewish believers is not the Body of Christ; they only believed Jesus was the Christ, not yet salvation by His death and resurrection.
Jerusalem Believers Under Judaism
Les describes the Jerusalem believers as still practicing the law and temple worship, set apart only by recognizing Jesus as Messiah.
Jerusalem Believers Not Called Christians
Les notes that even after 12 years, the Bible never calls the Jerusalem Jewish believers Christians; that term applies to those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection.
Why Mixing Law and Grace Cancels the Work of the Cross
And they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, that is that believing element of Jews. And of the apostles and elders, that would be Peter, James and John and the rest of them. No, James is already beheaded. He's gone. And so they declared all things that God had done with them, that is amongst the Gentiles. Now verse 5.
Body of Christ Begins with Paul's Gospel
Les teaches that the Body of Christ began when Paul preached the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and believers were baptized by the Spirit into that body.
Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)
And they were all," all these Jewish believers that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the Christ the King, "...they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria," and we emphasized this several weeks ago, except who? Except the apostles. Now think, think, and you out there in television, I'm talking to you, think.
Why Paul's Gospel to Gentiles Is Different From Peter's
Well, anyway. Come back into chapter 9 of Acts. Now verse 31. And so then had the assemblies, or the churches, these Jewish believers, rest throughout all Judea, because the chief persecutor now is a saved believer. And they had rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and they were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit were multiplied.
Acts 7:38: This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Les uses Stephen's reference to the 'church in the wilderness' to show that ekklesia can mean a called-out assembly, not necessarily the Body of Christ.
According to Les Feldick, no. They were a called-out assembly of Jewish believers who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but the Body of Christ began later with Paul's gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Persecuted the Early Church — Galatians Chapter 1