Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FREEDMEN, SYNAGOGUE OF THE

A synagogue made up of freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, who were Stephen’s opponents (Acts 6:9). These freedmen were probably Jewish captives who had been deported from Israel but had been released and granted their citizenship (cf. Acts 22:3, 27-28; Philo Leg. 155; Tacitus Ann. 2.85; Josephus Ant. 12.120; 14.185-267). It seems reasonable to surmise that they had returned to Jerusalem out of devotion to God in order to observe the law and the temple sacrifices.

Evidence has been found for a synagogue of Alexandrians (t. Meg. 3.6 [224]) and one that was built by a certain “Theodotus,” which included a guest house for diaspora Jews visiting from abroad (CIJ 2:1404). Scholars remain divided over the number of synagogues indicated in Acts, positing one synagogue composed of several ethnic groups, two different groups of opponents, or several groups. It would seem that one motivation for the establishment of synagogues for diaspora Jews would be to provide worship for those who spoke Greek.

H. Alan Brehm

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FREEDMEN, SYNAGOGUE OF THE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)