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Messianic Judaism traces its roots to Yeshua himself, and the good news of the Messiah as told by the Disciples (''talmidim'') and other early believers.  Both Yeshua and his Disciples were Jewish and preached in Judea to other Jews.

Messianic Judaism traces its roots to Yeshua himself, and the good news of the Messiah as told by the Disciples (''talmidim'') and other early believers.  Both Yeshua and his Disciples were Jewish and preached in Judea to other Jews.

Following Messiah Yeshua's death and [[resurrection]], his messiahship was proclaimed by these Jewish followers, called Nazarenes, who continued to observe Jewish law and worship in the [[synagogue]]. [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] informs us that they were based in [[Jerusalem]] under the leadership of [[Saint Peter|Simon bar Yona]].  Those who followed Yeshua still considered themselves to be fully Jewish and following Judaism.  As members of this group began to travel in order to spread the [[Gospel]], it began to draw more members from among the [[Samaritans]] and provinces.

Following Messiah Yeshua's death, [[resurrection]], and [[ascension]] his disciples waited until the [[holy spirit]] came upon them at [[Pentecost]] and then Yeshua's messiahship was proclaimed openly to all the people.  That very day 3000 came to knowledge of Him (Acts 2:41) from many lands (Acts 2:9-11).  The early followers, called Nazarenes, continued to observe Jewish law and worship in the [[synagogue]]. [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] informs us that they were based in [[Jerusalem]] under the leadership of [[Saint Peter|Simon bar Yona]].  Those who followed Yeshua still considered themselves to be fully Jewish and following Judaism.

 

 

Trouble wasn't far behind however as two of the disciples were held by the [[Sadducees]], part of the Jewish religious authority, and were told to stop preaching by the [[Sanhedrin]] (Acts 4:1-3)(Acts 4:18-19).  They continued to preach anyway, as did the other disciples.  The disciples were arrested again by the [[Sadducees]] and put in jail (Acts 5:18) and were again brought before the Sanhedrin. (Acts 5:27)  Only the [[Pharisee]] [[Gamaliel]] saved them from being put to death (Acts 5:33-34) although they were still flogged. (Acts 5:40)  The first conflict broke out among the early believers when the Jews from outside Palestine complained that their widows were not being given food like the widows of those Jews who were from Palestine. (Acts 6:1-2)  Men of valor were assigned to make sure all were treated fairly.  The first marytrdom was not far off when [[Stephen]] was brought before the [[Sanhedrin]] and stoned when he said he said Yeshua at the right hand of [[God the Father|God]]. (Acts 7:56-58)

The first people to be known as Christians were the Gentiles in [[Antioch]] (Acts 11:20,21,26) but Christianity was still widely considered to be a sect of Judaism. In 70 AD, the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] general [[Titus]] sacked the city of [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Second Temple]] was burned down. It is estimated that as many as one million Jews died during the revolt.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/revolt.html ''The Great Revolt''] Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Many Jews were taken captive and deported to [[Italy]] where they were forced to build the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome]]. The emperor [[Vespasian]] then introduced a tax (the "Fiscus Judaicus") to be paid by all Jews to finance the reconstruction of the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Even after construction was completed, the tax was still levied, and was used as a measure to deter people from converting to Judaism.<ref>Lendering, Jona [http://www.livius.org/fa-fn/fiscus/judaicus.html ''Fiscus Judaicus''] "Articles on Ancient History" Livius. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Well into the second century, Gentile Christians were also required to pay the ''fiscus judaicus'' and persecuted as a sect of Judaism. To escape this persecution, Gentile Christians sought to widen the division between themselves and the Jews, and their practices became less and less Jewish.

The first people to be known as Christians were the Gentiles in [[Antioch]] (Acts 11:20,21,26) but Christianity was still widely considered to be a sect of Judaism. In 70 AD, the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] general [[Titus]] sacked the city of [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Second Temple]] was burned down. It is estimated that as many as one million Jews died during the revolt.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/revolt.html ''The Great Revolt''] Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Many Jews were taken captive and deported to [[Italy]] where they were forced to build the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome]]. The emperor [[Vespasian]] then introduced a tax (the "Fiscus Judaicus") to be paid by all Jews to finance the reconstruction of the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Even after construction was completed, the tax was still levied, and was used as a measure to deter people from converting to Judaism.<ref>Lendering, Jona [http://www.livius.org/fa-fn/fiscus/judaicus.html ''Fiscus Judaicus''] "Articles on Ancient History" Livius. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Well into the second century, Gentile Christians were also required to pay the ''fiscus judaicus'' and persecuted as a sect of Judaism. To escape this persecution, Gentile Christians sought to widen the division between themselves and the Jews, and their practices became less and less Jewish.