The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

As noted in Acts, Jewish Christians spread throughout the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Persecution and the spread of Christianity were the two drivers of the Jewish dispersion. However, most of the Jewish community (who had not accepted Christianity) was dispersed by Roman force. Many Jews were taken to Rome as slaves; there they would be sold cheaply. In areas as far away as Gaul and Spain, Jews would earn their freedom. The freed Jews would start small communities and several might become Roman citizens. The Jewish community experienced little resistance early on. They enjoyed the benefits of citizenship and a quiet life. However, this peace would slowly fade in many areas as Christianity was adopted as the national religion.

As Western Europe was heading one way, Eastern Europe and the Middle East were heading a different way. After the destruction of Jerusalem, many Jews fled to Babylonia—modern day Iraq. This region was not under the rule of Rome but under the rule of the Parthians (Persians). These Jews and Persians had one thing in common: they both hated the Roman Empire. The Jewish refuges remained under the Parthian protection for several centuries. During these years, two Jewish academies were started. Here in Babylon, the Jews were allowed to prosper and compile many expositions on the Law. At first, the Jews felt little change when the old Persian Empire was over-run by the new Sassanian Empire in 226 AD. Ironically, persecution increased by the 600s and the Jews gladly welcomed the conquest of Arab Muslims in 632.

REF: see last post