Jews in Damascus
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Historical Context

Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, holds a significant place in biblical history and the early Christian church. Located in modern-day Syria, Damascus was a major cultural and commercial center in the ancient Near East. The presence of Jews in Damascus dates back to ancient times, likely due to its strategic location on trade routes and its political significance.

Biblical References

The most notable biblical reference to Jews in Damascus is found in the New Testament, specifically in the account of Saul's conversion. Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, was a zealous Pharisee who sought to persecute Christians. His journey to Damascus is a pivotal moment in Christian history.

In Acts 9:1-2 , it is recorded: "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out threats of murder against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem." This passage indicates the presence of a Jewish community in Damascus with established synagogues, which were central to Jewish religious and social life.

Saul's Conversion

The account of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is a transformative event. Acts 9:3-6 describes the encounter: "As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' 'Who are You, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' He replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'"

Following this divine encounter, Saul was led into Damascus, where he stayed with a disciple named Ananias. Ananias, a devout Jew and follower of Christ, was instrumental in Saul's conversion and baptism (Acts 9:17-18).

Role in Early Christianity

The Jewish community in Damascus played a crucial role in the early spread of Christianity. After his conversion, Saul began to preach in the synagogues of Damascus, proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 9:20). This bold proclamation led to tension and conflict with the Jewish leaders, who plotted to kill him (Acts 9:23).

The account of Saul's escape from Damascus, aided by his disciples who lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall (Acts 9:25), highlights the challenges faced by early Christians in the city.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Jewish community in Damascus was part of the broader Jewish diaspora, which maintained cultural and religious ties to Jerusalem and the Temple. The synagogues in Damascus served as centers for worship, study, and community life. The presence of Jews in Damascus also reflects the diverse and multicultural nature of the city, which included various ethnic and religious groups.

Later Historical Developments

While the New Testament provides limited information about the Jews in Damascus beyond the time of Saul's conversion, historical records indicate that the Jewish community continued to exist in the city for centuries. The Jewish presence in Damascus persisted through various periods of Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic rule, contributing to the city's rich tapestry of religious and cultural history.
Subtopics

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Jews

Jews

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Parsimony (Stinginess) of the Jews: Toward God

Parsimony (Stinginess) of the Jews: Toward the Temple

The Jews in the Desert Forty Years

The Jews: A Commercial People

The Jews: A Holy Nation

The Jews: A Holy People

The Jews: A Kingdom of Priests

The Jews: A Peculiar People

The Jews: A Peculiar Treasure

The Jews: A Special People

The Jews: A Spiritual Seed of True Believers Always Among

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The Jews: All Other Nations: Hated

The Jews: All Other Nations: Oppressed

The Jews: All Other Nations: Persecuted

The Jews: All Other Nations: Rejoiced at Calamities of

The Jews: An Agricultural People

The Jews: Beloved for Their Father's Sake

The Jews: Blessedness of Blessing

The Jews: Blessedness of Favouring

The Jews: Brought out of Egypt by God

The Jews: Called: Children of Israel

The Jews: Called: Children of Jacob

The Jews: Called: Hebrews

The Jews: Called: Israelites

The Jews: Called: Jeshurun

The Jews: Called: Seed of Abraham

The Jews: Called: Seed of Israel

The Jews: Called: Seed of Jacob

The Jews: Cast off for Unbelief

The Jews: Chosen and Loved by God

The Jews: Christ Descended From

The Jews: Christ Was Sent To

The Jews: Christ: Expected By

The Jews: Christ: Murdered By

The Jews: Christ: Promised To

The Jews: Christ: Regarded As the Restorer of National Greatness

The Jews: Christ: Rejected By

The Jews: Christ: Sprang From

The Jews: Circumcised in Token of Their Covenant Relation

The Jews: Compassion of Christ For

The Jews: Condemned for Associating With Other Nations

The Jews: Conversion of, Illustrated

The Jews: Degenerated As They Increased in National Greatness

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Aggravated the Afflictions of

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Contended With

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Cursed

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Hated

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Oppressed

The Jews: Denunciations Against Those Who: Slaughtered

The Jews: Deprived of Civil and Religious Privileges

The Jews: Descendants of Abraham

The Jews: Descended from Abraham

The Jews: Desired and Obtained Kings

The Jews: Despised all Strangers

The Jews: Despised by the Nations

The Jews: Distinction of Castes Among, Noticed

The Jews: Divided Into Twelve Tribes

The Jews: Divided Into Two Kingdoms After Solomon

The Jews: Enemies of, Obliged to Acknowledge Them As Divinely Protected

The Jews: Gentiles Made One With, Under the Gospel

The Jews: God, Mindful of

The Jews: had a Series of Prophets to Promote National Reformation

The Jews: had an Ecclesiastical Establishment

The Jews: had Courts of Justice

The Jews: Held No Intercourse With Strangers

The Jews: Imprecated the Blood of Christ Upon Themselves and Their

The Jews: Many of, Believed the Gospel

The Jews: Modern, Divided Into: Hebrews or Pure Jews

The Jews: Modern, Divided Into: Hellenists or Grecians

The Jews: Modern, Divided Into: Many Sects and Parties

The Jews: National Character of Attachment to Customs of the Law

The Jews: National Character of Attachment to Moses

The Jews: National Character of Covetous

The Jews: National Character of Cowardly

The Jews: National Character of Distrustful of God

The Jews: National Character of Fondness for Their Brethren

The Jews: National Character of Fondness for Traditionary Customs

The Jews: National Character of Ignorant of the True Sense of Scripture

The Jews: National Character of Love of Country

The Jews: National Character of Pride of Descent

The Jews: National Character of Prone to Backsliding

The Jews: National Character of Prone to Formality in Religion

The Jews: National Character of Prone to Idolatry

The Jews: National Character of Prone to Rebellion

The Jews: National Character of Self-Righteous

The Jews: National Character of Stubborn and Stiffnecked

The Jews: National Character of Unfaithful to Covenant Engagements

The Jews: National Character of Ungrateful to God

The Jews: None Hated or Oppressed, With Impunity

The Jews: Obliged to Unite Against Enemies

The Jews: Often Displeased God by Their Sins

The Jews: Often Distinguished in War

The Jews: Often Subdued and Made Tributary

The Jews: Pray Importunately For

The Jews: Privileges of

The Jews: Prohibited From: Associating With Others

The Jews: Prohibited From: Covenanting With Others

The Jews: Prohibited From: Following Practices of Others

The Jews: Prohibited From: Marry With Others

The Jews: Promises Respecting Made to Abraham

The Jews: Promises Respecting Made to Isaac

The Jews: Promises Respecting Made to Jacob

The Jews: Promises Respecting Made to Themselves

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Blessing to the Gentiles by Conversion of

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Future Glory of

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Future Prosperity of

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Gentiles Assisting in Their Restoration

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Joy Occasioned by Conversion of

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Pardon of Sin

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Restoration to Their own Land

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Reunion of

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Salvation

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Sanctification

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Subjection of Gentiles To

The Jews: Promises Respecting: That Christ Shall Appear Amongst

The Jews: Promises Respecting: That Christ Shall Dwell Amongst

The Jews: Promises Respecting: That Christ Shall Reign Over

The Jews: Promises Respecting: The Pouring out of the Spirit Upon Them

The Jews: Promises Respecting: The Removal of Their Blindness

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Their Humiliation for the Rejection of Christ

The Jews: Promises Respecting: Their Return and Seeking to God

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The Jews: Punished For: Changing the Ordinances

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The Jews: Punished For: Imprecating Upon Themselves the Blood of Christ

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The Jews: Their National Greatness

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The Jews: Trusted to Their Privileges for Salvation

The Jews: Unbelieving, Persecuted the Christians

The Jews: Under God's Special Protection

The Jews: Under the Theocracy Until the Time of Samuel

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

Jews in Corinth
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