Appendix One
Jewish Sects and Groups During the Time of Acts
Pharisees
The Pharisee sect of Judaism was intensely legalistic and ritualistic. Possibly founded by an earlier sect known as the Hasideans (the pious ones). Their name is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew 'Perushim' meaning "the separated ones." There were two main 'schools' within the sect, the stricter House of Shammai, and the more lenient House of Hillel. They believed that righteousness was self-obtained. They were noted for their outward appearance of piety but loved being honored and thought wealth was a sign of God blessing them. They followed the law (the Torah), the oral laws (eventually written called the Mishnah and then later became part of the Talmuds), in addition to several man-made traditions. They believed in a resurrection, the immortality of the soul, the existence of angels, and the coming of a Messiah. They embraced the entire Tanakh (the Old Testament) as coming from God. Likely the predecessor to Rabbinic Judaism.
Sadducees
The Sadducees were a powerful, well-off, and respected Jewish group in Judea, mainly representing the Temple priests and the wealthiest families. They didn’t accept the Oral Torah, focusing only on the literal Written Law of Moses (the Torah) and rejecting the resurrection, afterlife, and angels. They valued human free-will and responsibility, often clashing with Pharisaic ideas about divine providence. They took a very strict, literal view of the Law, especially when it came to Temple rituals and legal matters. The Sadducees are often thought to have come from the Zadokites, the priestly line that goes back to Zadok, the High Priest under King David, but this not likely.
Since they make their debut in history as supporters of the Hasmonaean high priests, this etymology is improbable. A more probable view is that “Sadducees” (Heb. sadduqim) is a Hebraization of the Greek word syndikoi (“syndic”, “members of the council”) and that it marks them out as the councillors of the Hasmonaeans; although they themselves came to associate the word with Heb. saddiq, “righteous”.[1]
They controlled the Jerusalem Temple, handling its money and daily activities. They were in charge of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) and often held the position of High Priest. The Sadducees disappeared after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 A.D.
Essenes
The Essenes were a dedicated Jewish group that lived from the 2nd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. They were famous for their unique way of life, which included living apart from the regular world, being very careful about their rituals, and living together in the Judean wilderness near the Dead Sea. They were one of the three main Jewish groups of their time, along with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and they were known for following the Torah very strictly, living simply, and believing that a messianic age was coming soon. They felt like they were the “chosen” or “sons of light,” getting ready for a big battle against the “sons of darkness,” and they were waiting for a messianic figure (or figures). They thought that the Jerusalem Temple and the priests were not corrupt, so they decided to leave society and live in the wilderness to keep their rituals pure. They believed that everything was planned by God.
They lived as a community, shared everything, and had meals together. Taking a bath in water every day to purify themselves was very important. Many experts think that the Qumran community made and kept the well-known Dead Sea Scrolls.
Zealots
The Zealots, a first-century Jewish political and religious movement in Judea, aimed to violently overthrow Roman rule, believing only God was their ruler. Originating around 6 A.D. during the census of Quirinius, they viewed collaboration with Rome as idolatry. They played a significant role in the First Jewish-Roman War, using guerrilla tactics and assassination before their tragic stand at Masada. Fanatical in their devotion to Jewish law, they refused to pay taxes to Rome or recognize any authority but God. Anticipating a Messiah who would lead a military victory to restore the Kingdom of God, they were founded by Judas of Galilee and Zadok the Pharisee as a “fourth sect” of Judaism to oppose the Roman census. Key instigators of the First Jewish-Roman War (A.D. 66–73), they led rebellions in Jerusalem and targeted “moderate” Jews who advocated for peace.
Sicarii
The Sicarii, a 1st-century Jewish extremist group, were a splinter faction of the Zealots. They opposed Roman rule in Judea (54–73 A.D.) and were known as “dagger men” for their use of small hidden blades (sica) to assassinate Roman officials and Jewish collaborators in crowded public spaces, especially during festivals. The name derives from the Latin sica (dagger) or Greek sikarioi, translating to “dagger men.” They operated stealthily, blending into crowds to assassinate victims, including high priests and collaborators. They also used kidnapping to ransom comrades. The Sicarii aimed to trigger a widespread revolt against Roman occupation and eliminate any Jewish cooperation with Rome.
Herodians
The Herodians, a 1st-century Jewish political faction, supported Herod the Great and his successors, favoring Roman rule and Hellenistic culture for power. Unlike religious parties, they were primarily political, advocating for the Herodian family’s policies, especially Herod Antipas. They supported Roman authority for stability and expediency.
Therapeutae
The Therapeutae, a 1st-century A.D. Jewish ascetic and mystic community near Alexandria, Egypt, lived in simple dwellings (monasteria) dedicated to contemplation, prayer, and Torah study. They practiced severe discipline, fasting for days and eating only once a week or every second day. Their name, derived from Greek, signifies both healers and worshippers, as they dedicated themselves to curing the soul of passion through God’s contemplation. Unlike many ancient groups, they included women, known as Therapeutrides, who were often “aged virgins” or celibate women devoted to wisdom. They focused on allegorical interpretation of scriptures, singing hymns, and holding communal frugal meals.
Ebionites
The Ebionites, an early Jewish-Christian movement (1st–4th centuries A.D.), combined strict Mosaic Law adherence with belief in Jesus as the Messiah. “Ebionite” means ‘poor,’ likely reflecting their voluntary poverty or ascetic lifestyle. They considered Jesus a human prophet chosen by God, rejecting his virgin birth and divinity, believing he was adopted as God’s Son at his baptism. They viewed Jesus as a natural-born human who became the Messiah through perfect obedience to the Law. They maintained that strict adherence to the Law of Moses (circumcision, Sabbath, dietary laws) was necessary for salvation. They considered the apostle Paul an apostate for teaching that the law was no longer binding on Gentiles. They used a modified version of the Gospel of Matthew, often called the “Gospel of the Ebionites,” which omitted the infancy narratives.
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[1] Weiss, R. A. (1994). Jewish sects of the New Testament era. Cross Talk.