Today, in our last excerpt as part of our Monday series in Jerusalem Secret, David (a 21st-century Jewish American man learning the truth about Yeshua and his first followers) hears more about the Jewish expulsion from Rome and how it impacted the fledgling gathering of Jewish and Gentile believers. David gets a first-hand account from a couple at the epicenter- Aquila and Priscilla.
(The series - Jerusalem Secret and Identity Theft- can be downloaded for free at our bookstore).
Chapter 10
I truly did want to fully understand the “Jewishness” of Yeshua, His disciples, and the first-century believers in the Messiah. Admittedly, I also hoped that I would not forget the look and feel of Rome. I tried to memorize the architecture of the bathhouses, the deep fresh smell of the bread, the feel of the heat from the flat, worn cobblestone through my sandals, the sun warming my skin until I really wanted to run around like one of the Roman children, in only my “tunic.” I smiled, imagining what Lisa would say about that. A merchant passed us, walking in the opposite direction, leading a donkey laden with pottery wares. He was probably a supplier for that pottery stand we saw earlier. Far ahead I could still see the oxcart and the boy with the sheep not far behind.
Paul, ever the teacher, interrupted my thoughts. “To your last comment, David—a little-known fact today is that Temple Judaism was very evangelistic. Jews sought to attract the Gentiles to the God of Israel. Hence, we see in many places in the New Covenant that Gentiles were present at the synagogues, and this added strife.”[1]
“Apparently, Claudius wasn’t very amused by the conflict between the Messianic Jews and traditional ones,” I added.”
“Exactly,” Paul agreed. “So he expelled all Jews from Rome—a community of about forty to fifty thousand people.[2] He made no distinction between Messianic Jews and Jews who did not believe in Yeshua when he forced them to leave. He really didn’t care what they did, only that he was rid of them.”
“What about the Gentile believers in Rome? Did they leave with the Jewish believers?”
“A few,” Paul answered. “But most Gentiles stayed in Rome because their families and jobs were here. So Claudius’s expulsion of Jews left the new Gentile believers in charge of the congregations. They had no formal theological training, and with the Jews gone, no Bible to read as, naturally, the Jews took their scrolls with them.
“Unlike in your day, David, where people have the entire Bible on their phones—oy, just to have a phone in my day—the Bible was written on scrolls. And there was no such thing as a pocket scroll,” he smiled. “It would take an entire room to store all the scrolls! And keep in mind, the books of the New Testament were not yet written, so we relied completely on the Hebrew Scriptures.”
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to a large bridge-like structure that was at least four stories high.
“Ah, that is one of nine aqueducts that brings millions of gallons of water into Rome each day.”
“Seriously? In the middle of the first century?”
Paul smiled. “Really. Let’s head that way.”
Paul led us to a fountain of sorts, a square pool of water that gurgled in the center, the water obviously coming up from underneath.
“Supplied by one of the aqueducts?” I asked.”
“Paul nodded. “This one is from a spring. The water is clear and much colder than some of the others.”
I cupped the water in my hands and lifted it to my mouth. Wow! I’d never tasted water so icy cold and sweet.
“What’s the secret?” I asked. “This is the best water I ever tasted!”
“The spring,” Paul repeated. “Rivers and streams from the high mountain fill several of our aqueducts, but the best drinking water comes from the underground springs. Those waters are not dirtied by rain storms or people.”
“No wonder people regarded Rome as the heart of civilization,” I said. I turned to Ariel. “And the Jews were kicked out?”
“Ariel nodded. “The exodus of Jews from Rome was recorded by the Roman historian Suetonius and can be verified..”[3]
“Yes, and that was how I came into contact with our dear friends from Rome.” Paul added.”
A middle-aged couple approached us, and I stood as Paul embraced them both. Then Paul turned to me. “Right on time,” Paul smiled and continued, “My friends, this is David, the young Jewish man Ariel told you about—from the twenty-first century.”
The couple looked as though they were carved out of statues—absolutely beautiful, both of them. In the twenty-first century they could easily be models on the front page of Time Life magazine. The joy on their faces made me miss Lisa, and again I wondered what she would think of all this.
“Good afternoon, David. My name is Aquila, and this is my dear wife Priscilla. We met Paul at Corinth, in Greece. Shall we sit over there, under the shade of that tree?”
Everyone looked at Ariel, who nodded and led the little group to the shade. Having no seats, we all sat in the grass in a circle.
“David, Ariel asked us to tell you our story.” Aquila looked at his wife. “Of course, we were only two of many thousands of Jews who were exiled from Rome in 49 CE.”
“An event which is also recorded in history and can be found in Acts 18,” said the meticulous angel. And a passage appeared with flaming words encased in clouds right before our eyes.
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome (Acts 18:1-2).
“So you are they? In the passage?”
Aquila continued, “Yes, young man. We were already settled in Corinth when Paul came from Athens. We were coworkers together for several years, not only in Corinth, but also at Ephesus in Turkey. We saw many Jews and Gentiles come to faith in Yeshua as we planted congregations. Paul would tirelessly reason with both Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue. Finally, because the infighting became abusive, we advised Paul to leave and focus on reaching the Gentiles.
“Back in Rome, we hosted a congregation in our home and had a similar experience in the synagogue. The Jewish leaders—who did not join our ranks—began to persecute us as many Jews and Romans were coming to faith.”
“Yes, but even after we left the synagogue, many Jews followed,” said Paul. “In Corinth, the synagogue leader and his whole family followed Yeshua! We immersed them in water and enjoyed a wonderful season of bearing fruit for the kingdom in that Greek city.”
“Sadly,” Priscilla added, “after the exile, the young Gentile believers in Rome—without a Bible to guide them—created a belief over the next several years that God had rejected the Jews. In their minds, they replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people. With no one to correct them, they developed strong attitudes against the Jewish people—believers and unbelievers. Of course, had they had the Tanakh—the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings4—they could have referred to the many promises of restoration that God made to the people of Israel.”
One of those promises appeared in the clouds of smoke before us. I read them aloud.
This is what the Lord says,
he who appoints the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar—
the Lord Almighty is his name:
“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”
declares the Lord,
will Israel ever cease
being a nation before me.”
This is what the Lord says:
“Only if the heavens above can be measured
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject all the descendants of Israel
because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord (Jeremiah 31:35-37).
“You see, David,” she continued, “the Lord could not reject Israel, even if He desired to do so. He is bound by His own Word. As Paul wrote,” she glanced in his direction, “to young Titus, God cannot lie.” (See Titus 1:2.) “But again, the Roman believers had no Scriptures to guide them those several years.”
Aquila jumped back in. “They became convinced that God was judging the Jews and that was why we were kicked out of the capital city. Let me note, David, after the exile, the congregations in Rome became the first congregations without Jewish believers. Until this time, even in predominantly Gentile congregations, there were many Jews—and the Jews were often in leadership as they were often the founding evangelists of the congregation. The Gentiles were very dependent upon their Jewish teachers. I am by no means implying that the Jews were better or more important than the Gentiles, but merely that their knowledge of the Tanakh was far more extensive than that of the Gentile converts. This lack of scriptural knowledge led to feelings dictating theology, as opposed to the Scriptures—and this led to deception.”
“To be clear,” Priscilla shared, “initially they were brokenhearted that the Jews were forced to leave. We were the mothers and fathers of their congregations. After the Jews left, however, the congregations continued to grow under their leadership. Only then did this sentiment—that the Jews were no longer needed or, even worse, under judgment—began to foment.
“In the later part of 54 CE, Claudius died and Nero, his great-nephew, became the new Caesar. Claudius had adopted his great-nephew when he married his niece, Agrippina. This ensured that he would have an heir to his throne. One of the first things Nero did was allow us to return.”
“That was about the only decent thing Nero did,” added Ariel.”
Paul leaned forward, toward me, the excitement obvious on his face. “Thrilled to hear the news that they could return to their precious congregation in Rome, my dear coworkers Priscilla and Aquila journeyed back to Rome, along with many other Jewish believers. I had left them in Ephesus some time before, in order to return to Jerusalem to greet the believers there and to celebrate Sukkot—the Feast of Tabernacles. From there I journeyed back to visit and strengthen all the congregations we had planted. It was after I had returned to Ephesus that news reached me that Priscilla and Aquila could return home.”
“Yes, we could not wait to be reunited with our sons and daughters in the faith,” shared Aquila. “However, after five years of circulation of this lie about the Jewish people—we returned to a different Rome. The congregations had grown under the non-Jewish leadership and outnumbered the Jews—which was a joy to see! That was the goal—to make disciples in all nations. However, the Messianic Jews were treated poorly upon our return, like second-class believers. Many of the Gentile believers had never even met us. This was devastating for us. We sent word to Paul.”
“When I received the report from Priscilla and Aquilla of this discrimination—and keep in mind, word traveled very slowly in those days. We didn’t even have texting!” cried Paul as he feigned shock. In a more serious tone he shared, “I was deeply grieved. For days I wept in intercessory prayer over this situation. This was the opposite of what the Lord expected from the Gentiles who had been adopted into the household of God—grafted into the Olive Tree.”
“Olive Tree?” I wondered aloud.
Ariel gave me a look that reassured me that all would be explained soon.
“Imagine a situation where adopted kids began to judge and mistreat the natural-born children. What if the adopted children told the natural ones, ‘Our parents don’t love you anymore. We are now their favorites!’ How would the generous parents react to such ingratitude? The Roman Gentile believers, instead of being grateful they were adopted into God’s household, actually persecuted God’s chosen nation. And yet, the Father had compassion on them, as He knew without the Scriptures they were ignorant of His plan.
“The Holy Spirit urged me to bring some correction to this damaging doctrine. I planned to visit Rome and deal with this in person. But first, I had to return to Jerusalem. For some time I had been collecting an offering for the poor in Jerusalem and it was urgent that I deliver it. They were in the midst of a terrible famine and suffering persecution from the religious leaders. As one who used to lead this persecution, it was important for me to be a vessel of comfort to my Messianic brethren there. Furthermore, the offering was an opportunity for the new Gentile congregations to honor the roots of their faith by supporting the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. As I would eventually write to the Romans…”
Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings (Romans 15:25-27).
“Even though my primary task was to spread the Good News of Yeshua to the nations, my heart was always broken for my own people. Wherever I went I encouraged the Gentiles to give back materially to Israel for what they received spiritually. This was universally accepted until my dear brothers in Rome allowed the enemy to poison their hearts against their Jewish brothers. I had to reach out to them not only for the sake of the Jewish believers, but also for their own sake. Turning against Israel after freely receiving the grace of God was a grievous transgression that the Father would not—could not—ignore.”
It was little wonder that God chose Paul to begin so many churches and to write much of the New Testament. I found myself hanging on his every word, and his body language was so animated that I could almost see him speaking at our synagogue next to Rabbi Goodman—almost.
Paul continued. “However, I was delayed in my journey and spent three months in Corinth. It was at this time, seeing that a visit to Rome in the near future may not be feasible, that I decided to write the Roman believers. Truthfully, I was unsure if I would even survive a trip to Jerusalem in order to go to Rome, as the persecution had grown fierce in the holy city. In fact, I would receive several prophecies on the way to Jerusalem that persecution awaited me.” (See Acts 21:4, 10-11.) “But I would not be dissuaded. I was willing to die for the name of Adonai Yeshua.”
A passage appeared in clouds of smoke that I assume those passing by could not see.
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Yeshua has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:22-24).
“Yes, those were my words to the elders at Ephesus. I was weeping as I spoke them…”
Paul seemed to lose his composure or get lost in thought.
“The angel gently brought him back, “You were explaining about writing Romans?”
“Yes, I am sorry. Eh…as I was saying, with Rome being the most influential city in the empire, I took this opportunity to lay out some of the most basic and yet significant truths regarding the message of the New Covenant—and when I say New Covenant, I don’t mean the books of the New Testament, but the actual Covenant that Yeshua cut when He gave His life as a ransom—the covenant to which Jeremiah referred when he prophesied, ‘I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.’” (See Jeremiah 31:31.) “In Romans I made the case clearly, simply, and succinctly that there is nothing anyone can do to save themselves. There is no work or actions that can earn eternal life.
“I shared with them that when Adam sinned, we all became sinners through him—through Yeshua’s righteous and sinless death, we can be made righteous. His resurrection was the evidence that death no longer has dominion.”
It was getting dark, and the words now appeared in fire before me:
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous (Romans 5:18-19).
“David, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (See Romans 3:23.) “And there is a consequence: the wages of sin is death—eternal death, and there is no getting around that—but, praise God, the gift of God is enteral life through Messiah Yeshua, our Lord!” (See Romans 6:23.)
“The congregation in Rome was the only congregation I wrote to that I had not previously visited. It was the only congregation to whom I wrote where I was not the spiritual father. However, the situation was grave and they needed an accurate theology regarding Gentile believers and the Jewish people.
“Ninety-nine percent of people who read the book of Romans completely overlook the reasons why I wrote it. Some are offended by the fact that I speak in such absolute terms of God’s faithfulness to Israel, while others actually believe that when I wrote—well, dictated to my dear son Tertius—the word Israel, I was referring to the Church!”
“So, what we have here is four stages of the Roman congregation in a short period of time:
1.Just Jews in the beginning.
2.Jews and Gentile converts.
3.Then after Jews are exiled, one hundred percent Gentile.
4.And finally, after the Jews return, Gentile dominated and treating the Jewish returnees poorly.
The sun was setting now and Ariel had one more destination he wanted me to see.
Chapter 11
The group stopped walking as we approached an ancient Roman building. It wasn’t very big, but displayed a large Menorah, a seven branch candelabra, over its entrance. I recognized the Hebrew written above the door. Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohehu Adonai Echad—Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One. While I was far from fluent in Hebrew, most of the Jewish kids in my Bar Mitzvah class would be able to read the most famous creed in Judaism—the Shema.
“David, it was a delight to be with you,” said Aquila. I extended my hand and he shook it with a smile.
“I’m so pleased to meet you—both of you,” I answered.
“We can’t wait to see how God uses you in the future,” added Priscilla. “Good-bye, David,” and she kissed me on both cheeks and they turned and walked away into the crowd. Within seconds they were gone.
Ariel directed our attention back to the large ancient building with the Menorah. “David, this is the oldest synagogue in Europe. In fact, the oldest Jewish community in Europe was established here in Rome. It dates all the way back to the Hanukkah story, when Judah Maccabee and his small army defeated the Greek Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanies. In 161 BCE, Jason ben Eleazar and Eupolemus ben Johanan came as envoys from Judea. Over the next century and half the Jewish community grew and synagogues were built.
“Most Jewish people are not aware of it, but synagogues were not part of Judaism until after Israel was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The Temple was destroyed. Without a Temple, sacrifices ceased and the focus moved from the Temple to the local synagogue, to the weekly meeting where the Torah would be read.”
“This synagogue dates back to the first Jews who came, but was empty for those five years after the Jews were forced out of the city,” Paul added.”
“That began the shift toward Gentile-dominated Christianity,” said Ariel, “and the beginning of replacement theology.”
“What exactly is replacement theology?” I asked.”
“We will have plenty of time to discuss that in detail later, but suffice it to say that it is the belief that the Church is the new Israel, and the Jewish people are no longer the chosen people of the Lord and the Church has replaced her. But first, we need to finish with Romans.
“Paul will be staying with us a bit longer. You have no idea how privileged we are to study the book of Romans with the author!” he said with genuine excitement.
But he was right—I did have no idea. A week ago I couldn’t have told you very much about the apostle Paul or Rabbi Saul, as some call him, other than that he wrote some of the New Testament. I had no clue that he was a famous rabbi who persecuted Messianic Jews. But seeing how seriously Ariel took this, I understood that it was quite unique. I was pretty sure that most people didn’t get to fly with angels and go back in time either. I think I was sufficiently in awe of the entire situation, even if I could not fully appreciate it.
We entered the synagogue, which was in need of some repairs. Weeds grew between the rocks in the courtyard. And inside it wasn’t any better. No one had been here in some time.
“What year is it?” I asked.
“David, it is the beginning of 54 CE, just before the Jews would be allowed to return,” answered Ariel. “Let’s have a seat.”
As the three of us sat down the entire room began to change. Our three chairs moved to a round table that came forth out of the earth. The drab atmosphere turned to a heavenly presence. The empty ark, where the Torah scrolls would have been stored, turned to beautiful marble as it increased in size. A curtain formed to cover it and then slowly opened, revealing not only a Torah scroll but more than a dozen smaller scrolls. A golden light shone from within, but there was no source—or at least none that I could see.
Our table was made of marble, but in front of each of our seats, built into the face of the table, were computer screens. When the table was off or in sleep mode, you would not even know it was a computer. But as soon as the angel touched it, it lit up.
“I looked at Ariel as if to say, What is this?”
“Well, that old synagogue needed an upgrade for our purposes. Paul, would you like to begin?”
[1] “Acts 13:14–16, for example.”
[2] “Jason J. Barker, “Be Transformed: An Interactive Study of the Epistle to the Romans,” Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 2005, http://www.orthodoxyouth.org/romans/html/introreasons.htm.”
[3] “3.Suetonius explains the expulsion came about because of the “disturbances and riots among the Jews at the instigation of Chrestus.” Most church historians today agree that this refers to Christ. Christians were also frequently referred to as “Chrestianoi.” Apparently, there was an internal dispute among the Jewish residents of Rome over the Messianic claims of Jesus, as had happened in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), Antioch (Acts 15:50), Iconium (Act 14:1–7), Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17), and elsewhere. But Claudius had little tolerance for their debate and expelled all the Jews. Dr. Buehler, “Why Paul Wrote Romans,” International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, May 2010, http://int.icej.org/news/commentary/ why-paul-wrote-romans.”
[4] “Tanakh is an acronym in Hebrew taking the first letter of Torah, Prophets, and Writing. In Hebrew that would be T, N, and Kh, for Torah, Nivi’im and K’tuvim.”
