Following the Crucifixion, Matthew along with Mary, and other close followers of Jesus, withdrew to the "Upper Chamber" (traditionally the Cenacle) , in Jerusalem.^[5][6][7][8] At about this time James the Just succeeded his brother Jesus of Nazareth as leader of this Jewish sect.^[9][10] They remained in and about Jerusalem and proclaimed that Jesus son of Mary^[11] was the promised Messiah. These early Jewish Christians were thought to have been called Nazarenes.^[12][13][14]

It is near certain that Matthew belonged to this sect, as both the New Testament and the early Talmud affirm this to be true. (see Jesus in the Talmud) ^[15][16] According to Eusebius these Early Jewish Christians used only the Old Testament (and the Gospel according to the Hebrews which Jerome said was written by Matthew).^[17]

On Pentecost, the Twelve Apostles, the Elders, family members of Jesus, and other early followers, were joined by 3,000 converts (Jews and Proselytes).^[18][19].

Traditionally the Roman Centurion Cornelius is considered the first Gentile convert^[20], as recorded in Acts 10,^[21] albeit he too is a "God-fearer" proselyte who participated in a Jewish synagogue. The major division prior to that time was between Hellenistic and non-Hellenistic Jews or Koine Greek^[22] and Aramaic^[23] speakers. The conversion and acceptance of the Gentile Cornelius can be described in terms of the Judaic teaching which describes strangers becoming part of the community.^[24] Acts does not use the term "Jewish Christians", rather those led by James the Just, Simon Peter, and John the Apostle, the "Pillars of the Church", were called followers of "The Way".^[25] Later groups, or perhaps the same group by different names^[26], were the Ebionites and Elkasites.

The terms circumcised and uncircumcised, which occur frequently in the New Testament, are generally interpreted to mean Jews and Greeks respectively, who were predominant in the region at the time; however this is an oversimplification as 1st century Iudaea Province also had some Jews who no longer circumcised (usually Hellenized Jews living in the diaspora), and some Greeks (called Proselytes or Judaizers) and others such as Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Arabs who did. See also Abrahamic religion and Circumcision controversy in early Christianity#Jewish background

Stanley Krol/CEO