Is there a difference between “Jew,” “Hebrew” and “Israelite”?
The terms “Jew,” “Hebrew” and “Israelite” (or “Israeli”) are used as synonyms by the Jewish people. Even by the time of the New Testament, the three terms were used interchangeably. At first, the term “Jew” referred to someone from the tribe of Judah, but eventually it was applied to those from all twelve tribes. That is why Paul could say that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Philippians 3:5), an Israeli (Romans 11:1), and a Jew from Tarsus, even though he was from the tribe of Benjamin (Acts 21:39). The three terms are still used interchangeably to this day. Back to Top • I understand that the First Jerusalem Council didn’t demand that the new Gentile Believers keep all of the commandments but doesn’t Acts 15:21 teach that as they matured, they should learn Torah, and become more Torah observant? There is a better way to understand Acts 15:21. Acts 15 records the decision of Messiah’s Emissaries (the Apostles) and the Elders of Messiah’s Holy Community (the Church) regarding the relat
