The early Christian movement, emerging from within the Jewish context, faced significant opposition from certain Jewish groups who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. This opposition is documented in various New Testament accounts, highlighting the tension between the nascent Christian community and the Jewish authorities of the time.

Unbelief Among the Jews

The New Testament frequently addresses the unbelief of many Jews regarding Jesus' messianic identity. Despite the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the performance of miracles, a significant portion of the Jewish population did not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. In the Gospel of John, it is noted, "He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). This unbelief is further exemplified in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus laments over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling" (Matthew 23:37).

Persecution of Early Christians

The Acts of the Apostles provides a detailed account of the persecution faced by early Christians at the hands of Jewish authorities. The apostles, particularly Peter and John, were repeatedly arrested and warned not to preach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:1-3 states, "While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them, greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day."

The stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is a poignant example of Jewish persecution. Stephen, a deacon in the early church, was brought before the Sanhedrin and accused of blasphemy. His bold proclamation of faith led to his execution by stoning, as recorded in Acts 7:57-58 : "At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him."

Paul's Experience

The Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul, was initially a zealous persecutor of Christians. His conversion to Christianity marked a significant turning point, but it also subjected him to persecution from his fellow Jews. In 2 Corinthians 11:24 , Paul recounts, "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one." His missionary journeys were often fraught with opposition from Jewish communities, as seen in Acts 13:45 : "But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him."

Jewish Leaders and the Crucifixion

The role of Jewish leaders in the crucifixion of Jesus is a critical aspect of the New Testament narrative. The Gospels describe how the chief priests and elders conspired to arrest Jesus and hand Him over to the Roman authorities. In Matthew 27:20 , it is written, "But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death."

Summary

The New Testament presents a complex relationship between early Christians and the Jewish community. While many Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and actively persecuted His followers, it is essential to recognize that the early church itself was composed of Jewish believers who embraced Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. The tension and persecution experienced by early Christians were part of the broader struggle to define the identity and mission of the nascent Christian faith within the Jewish tradition.Acts 17:5,13
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Primitive Church.
... He hated the Jews; and hearing that some persons of royal blood still existed among
them, he ... This unbelieving emperor persecuted frightfully, and great ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxiv the primitive church.htm

Paul's Missionary Labors.
... from weakness"as Paul had persecuted the disciples ... bearing a collection of the
Christians at Antioch ... bitter opposition of the unbelieving Jews; the miraculous ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 33 pauls missionary labors.htm

Chapter xxii.
... a little after, "But if the unbelieving depart, let ... it may be asked whether the Jews
sinned against ... principle in himself whence he had persecuted Stephen and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xxii.htm

On Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians
... Call to mind how the Heathens persecuted the Christians ... of Christ Crucified,] is
unto the Jews a stumbling ... taught it are succeeded by unbelieving teachers, "who ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/oration v on reconciling religious.htm

1 Timothy ii. 4-Jan
... for the faithful, but for the unbelieving also, consider ... the prayers of Gentiles,
the supplications of Jews. ... it is said, "we bless; being persecuted, we suffer ...
/.../homily vi 1 timothy ii.htm

The Final Arrest
... After a time the unbelieving Jews conceived the idea of ... greatly lessened the number
of Christians in Rome. ... difficulty and danger, forsook the persecuted apostle ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 47 the final arrest.htm

Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
... were obliged to surrender crown and kingdom to the persecuted David. ... Such are the
great multitude of Turks, Jews, Papists and unbelieving saints today ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fifth sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

The Formation and Order of the Primitive Church.
... of the perverseness with which the unbelieving Jews opposed all ... their own Prophets,
and have persecuted us; and ... The converted Jews had undergone a very sudden ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture iii the formation and.htm

St. Ambrose Shows by Instances that the Places in which those ...
... O the hard stones of unbelieving words! ... Ishmaelites made their purchase for twenty
pieces, the Jews for thirty ... and they bear witness to Christ who persecuted Him ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii st ambrose shows.htm

All Joy in all Trials
... The Israelitish Christian was usually so persecuted by his ... he go, for all other people
abhorred the Jews? ... man is very apt to become unbelieving under affliction ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/all joy in all trials.htm

What does it mean that Jesus is the King of the Jews? | GotQuestions.org

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Who are the Jews for Jesus, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org

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