The first century AD Jew, Josephus, claimed that in every city in the Roman empire, Jewish
customs were widely observed (C Ap ii.39 [282]). He quotes the ancient geographer,
Strabo, as saying of the Jews:
(Ant. xiv.7.2 [115])
It is not easy to find any place in the habitable world which has not received this nation
and in which it has not made it power felt.
There is much evidence to support this. The following is only a little of New
Testament evidence:
Acts 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual
into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and
Gentiles believed.
Acts 15:21 For Moses has been preached in every city
from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.
Acts 17:2 As his custom was, Paul went into the
synagogue . . . (4) Some of the Jews were
persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not
a few prominent women.
Acts 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,
trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.