The synagogues of Jerusalem are an important part of the background to Acts 6.1-7, since they probably help us better understand the origin of the conflict between Hebrews and Hellenists as well as the organization of the first Christians.
A Great Number of Synagogues in Jerusalem
In the first century, Jerusalem did not have just one , but probably several dozen, even several hundred. The Talmud even mentions a figure of 480 synagogues, which is certainly exaggerated but testifies to their great number.
Each group of Jews from the same region or sharing the same language tended to attend its own .
The Synagogues of the Hellenistic Jews
The Jews who came from the Diaspora mainly spoke Greek and had their own places of meeting. Luke thus mentions:
“Some members of the called that of the Freedmen, of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, along with those from Cilicia and Asia…” (Acts 6.9).
This remark shows that there were in Jerusalem synagogues attended by Jews from:
- North Africa (Cyrene, Alexandria);
- Asia Minor;
- Cilicia (the homeland of Saul of Tarsus).
It is even possible that Saul attended one of these synagogues before his conversion.
A Background to the Crisis of Acts 6
The “Hebrews” (Acts 6.1) probably came from Palestinian, Aramaic-speaking circles, whereas the “Hellenists” were Greek-speaking Jews.
Before their conversion, these two groups undoubtedly already had their own networks, their own synagogues and their own habits. It is therefore not surprising that some cultural differences persisted within the church of Jerusalem.
The complaint concerning the Hellenist widows does not seem to reveal a doctrinal divergence but rather tensions inherited from this cultural diversity.
The First Christian Assemblies and the Synagogues
It is possible that the first believers continued to attend certain synagogues while meeting in homes (Acts 2.46). During the first years, the disciples of Jesus did not consider themselves separate from Judaism.
The organization of the early church may even have been influenced by certain synagogue practices:
- regular teaching of the Scriptures;
- communal prayer;
- assistance to the poor;
- the presence of elders and leaders;
- importance given to widows and the needy.
An Interesting Hypothesis Concerning the Seven
Several exegetes have proposed that the Seven were chosen from among the Hellenistic believers and that they were responsible for the assemblies arising from those circles. The fact that their names are all Greek (Acts 6.5) and that the conflict concerns precisely the Hellenists strengthens this hypothesis.
Importance for the Rest of Acts
It is probably not by chance that the following chapter (Acts 6.9) shows us Stephen debating with members of Hellenistic synagogues. Stephen himself was probably a Hellenistic Jew and his ministry was probably carried out in those circles. It is, moreover, in this context that Saul of Tarsus appears for the first time (Acts 7.58).
Thus, the numerous synagogues of Jerusalem probably constitute the indispensable cultural and religious background for understanding the crisis of Acts 6.1-7, the appointment of the Seven and Stephen's later ministry. They also explain how, from its very beginnings, the church of Jerusalem brought together believers from very diverse backgrounds while seeking to preserve its unity.