The persecution of Christians by some segments of the Jewish community in the early days of the Jesus movement had several significant effects on the growth and spread of Christianity. Here’s how those effects relate to the options you mentioned:
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Apostles Resigned: This did not occur in a significant way. The apostles remained committed to their mission despite facing persecution.
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Christians Were Silenced: While persecution tried to suppress the movement, it often had the opposite effect, prompting Christians to spread their message more fervently.
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Jewish People Fled Jerusalem: Following significant persecution, many early Christians, who were initially part of the Jewish community, fled Jerusalem. This scattering helped spread the teachings of Jesus beyond Jerusalem.
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Jerusalem Was Destroyed: The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Romans did impact the Jewish community and early Christians. It marked a turning point that led to a wider separation between Judaism and Christianity.
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Christianity Spread: The persecution faced by Christians led to a greater spread of Christianity beyond Jewish communities. As Christians were forced out of Jerusalem, they carried their beliefs to new regions, significantly contributing to the expansion of the movement.
Overall, while there were some negative impacts, the persecution of the Jesus movement by some Jewish leaders ultimately facilitated the spread of Christianity as believers sought refuge and took their faith to new areas.
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