Growth of the Early Christian Congregation

The early congregation began with about 120 disciples. Holy spirit was poured out on these

first, in fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29. (Acts 2:16-18) But

that same day, about 3,000 others were baptized in water and brought into the congregation

of spirit-begotten ones. They had embraced the word about the Christ and “continued

devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles.” After that, “Jehovah continued

to add to them daily those being saved.”—The growth of the congregation in Jerusalem was such that the Jewish

high priest complained that the disciples had filled Jerusalem with their teaching. The new disciples

in Jerusalem came to include many Jewish priests who became part of the congregation.