Where did this first megachurch congregation meet? Such a facility would have been hard to come by then, but it had already been provided by the Providence of God. The Temple in Jerusalem was surrounded by courts that served as gathering places for the thousands of Jews who gathered there for the Sabbaths and Holy Days. Just outside the Court of the Gentiles, on the very edge of the Temple mount’s east side, was a column of pillars upon which a roof rested. The area was called Solomon’s Colonnade or Porch. Jewish historian, Josephus, mentioned this area, saying that it was part of the original temple, the source of its name. Because of its location, it was not as populated as the inner courts where throngs of worshipers gathered because they were more conveniently located for ceremonial activities. Also these courts were designated for specific use, depending on the status, gender, and nationality of the worshipers. John’s Gospel mentions it, saying Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews… were there gathered around him (John 10:23). Later, the Apostles found the same place an occasion for outreach and evangelism, where after a healing, people came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 3:11). The new megachurch found it the ideal location where they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch (Acts 5:12).
As the months of that first year went by, believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women (Acts 5:14). Timely miracles and powerful preaching combined for explosive numerical growth, and no resistance thwarted it. This continued until the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). Consider Luke’s terminology: “increasingly added” and “multiplied.” Was he exaggerating, or was he trying to accurately convey the unusual growth in staggering numbers? So many Jews were becoming believers that the movement even swept through the circle of religious authority around the Temple.
Although the membership of the church in Jerusalem was predominantly Jewish, it was a diverse group, not only because the Jewish clergy became part, but an even larger grouping was of the Hellenists. These were Jews who were Greek-speaking and of differing cultures, as Luke elaborated, the number of the disciples was multiplying… (among whom were) Hebrews (and) Hellenists (Acts 6:1). These Hellenists were often Jews who lived in foreign nations but had taken up temporary residence in Jerusalem. Their language and cultural expressions differed from those Jews whose entire lives were spent in Judea and surrounding Jewish-dominated provinces.
Solomon’s Porch and the other temple courts served the new church. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. At the same time, in more intimate settings, they broke bread in their homes (Acts 2:46).
Resistance and Disruption
The excitement surrounding this rapidly spreading movement continued. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 6:42). The already strong resistance from the religious leaders of the Temple peaked when, as Luke wrote, opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen (Acts 6:9). These antagonistic Hellenist Jews received support from the religious authorities, and the resulting persecution was directed at the amassing numbers of the megachurch, especially the Hellenist Christians. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). The resulting scattering would seem to have put an end to the masses of the megachurch in Jerusalem. Definitely, it reduced the numbers of followers in Jerusalem, but only because they fled to other places and spread the Good News wherever they went. This persecution was intense but did not last long, so afterward, the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers (Acts 9:31).
In the next Blog, we will learn some things about the leadership of this megachurch.