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Two kinds of Cyrenian Jews

Throughout Jesus’ life there were two kinds of Jews, in general:
1. those who believed in Jesus and
2. those who did not (with subsets, of course, among the latter category).

So, it makes sense that after Pentecost there were two kinds of Cyrenian Jews, in particular:
1. those who believed in Jesus and
2. those who did not.

Two references in Acts signify this…In Acts chapter 2 we read that the disciples (by the power of the Holy Spirit) spoke in several unknown languages. Two of those languages were from “Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene.” Apparently, on that day, someone from each of the languages listed placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps Rufus and his mother were among those Cyrenians who believed on that day. One may well wonder. At any rate, as you will see later, the Cyrenian believers turned out to be an amazing bunch of people.

Of course, not every Cyrenian Jew believed in Jesus that day. That’s where Acts 6 comes in.

You will recall that, after the day of Pentecost, the church of Jesus Christ began to explode with growth as the Holy Spirit moved in miraculous ways and as key church leaders were raised up and empowered. One of those leaders was a man named Stephen.

This is where the unbelieving Cyrenian Jews (who had resettled into Jerusalem) factor into the story. In Acts 6:9 we are told: “Opposition arose [towards Stephen], however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria…” Then, we are told that these Cyrenian Jews “secretly persuaded some men” to falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy. Then: “They stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin…”

You might know the rest of the story: Stephen was killed—the first Christian martyr. And it was largely due to these Cyrenian Jews. (The irony here is thick: Simon of Cyrene laid his life on the line, helped usher in Christianity,—even as he ushered Jesus to The Place of the Skull—while his extended Cyrenian family tried to put down what he did.)

“And Saul was there, giving approval to [Stephen’s] death.” Yes, Saul was there, siding with the unbelieving segment of Cyrenian Jewry. Later, however, as Saul’s life is turned upside-down, this fact would also be turned upside-down. Later, we will discover that Paul’s transformation was largely due to the tremendous mercy, forgiveness and grace shown by the believing segment of Cyrenian Jewry towards Paul and towards others. So, in many ways, the Cyrenian Jews (both the unbelieving and believing) led the way towards the expansion of Christianity. Tomorrow, you can read more on how that happened...

teachings | Comments (0) | June 28, 2005

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