Before beginning the history of the Early Church, we must study one institution which formed an important link between the Old Testament and the New; and more than any other institution prepared the way for the gospel throughout the Jewish world. That institution was the synagogue.

I. Its Origin. The synagogue arose during the captivity, when the Temple was in ruins and the sacrifices were in abeyance. In the land of captivity the people of God met for worship and fellowship, and out of their meeting grew the synagogue, a word meaning "a coming together." It is believed that the institution was organized as a part of the Jewish system by Ezra, B. C. 440.

II. Its Universality. There was but one temple, standing on Mount Moriah, and only those who journeyed thither could attend its services. But the synagogue was in every place where the Jews dwelt, both in Palestine and throughout the world. Wherever ten Jewish heads of families could be found there a synagogue would be established. There were four hundred and sixty synagogues in Jerusalem; and every nationality of Jews had its own (Acts 6. 9).

III. The Place of Meeting. This might be a building erected for the purpose, or a hired room, or even a place in the open air (Acts 16. 13). This meeting place was employed for secular as well as religious uses. Courts were held in it, and sentence was administered (Acts 22. 19), and sometimes a school for teaching the law was held in it. Thus the synagogue became a center of local influence.

IV. Its Arrangement. Every ancient synagogue contained:

1. An "ark," which was the chest for the sacred rolls, and stood in the end of the building toward Jerusalem.

2. Chief seats, elevated, near and around the "ark," for the elders and leading men (Matt. 23. 6).

3. A desk for the reader standing upon a platform.

4. Places for the worshipers, carefully graded according to rank, the Gentile visitors having seats near the door of entrance.

5. A lattice gallery where women could worship without being seen.

V. Its Officers. These were:

1. Three rulers of the synagogue, who directed the worship, managed the business details, and possessed a limited judicial authority over the Jews in the district (Mark 4. 22; Acts 13. 15). One of these was the presiding officer, and called "the ruler."

2. The chazzan (Luke 4. 20, "the minister"), who united the functions of clerk, schoolmaster, sexton, and constable to administer sentence on offenders.

3. The batlanim, "men of ease," seven men who were chosen to act as a legal congregation, were pledged to be present at the regular services, and sometimes received a small fee for being present.

VI. Its Services. These were held on Saturday, Monday, and Thursday, and were conducted by the members in turn, several taking part in each service. They consisted of:

1. Forms of prayer, conducted by a leader, with the responses by the worshipers.

2. Reading of selections from the law and the prophets, according to an appointed order (Acts 15. 21). The reading was in Hebrew, but it was translated, verse by verse, into the language of the people, whether Greek or Aramaic.

3. Exposition or comment upon the Scripture, in which any member might take part (Luke 4. 20, 21; Acts 13. 15, 16).

VII. Its Influence. It is easy to perceive how widely and how powerfully the results of such an institution would reach.

1. It perpetuated the worship of God and united the worshipers.

2. It supplied a more thoughtful and spiritual worship than the elaborate ritual of the Temple.

3. It promoted the study of the Old Testament Scriptures and made them thoroughly familiar to every Jew.

4. It attracted the devout and intelligent among the Gentiles, many of whom became worshipers of God and were known as "proselytes of the gate" (Acts 10. 1, 2).

VIII. Its Preparation for the Gospel. It is evident that the apostles and early Christian teachers were greatly aided by the synagogue.

1. It furnished a place; for everywhere the church began in the synagogue, even though it soon left it (Acts 13. 5; 18. 4; 19. 8).

2. It prepared a people; for the synagogue was attended by the earnest and thoughtful, both of Jews and Gentiles, who were thus made ready for the higher truths of the gospel (Acts 13. 42, 43).

3. It supplied a plan of service; for it is evident that the early Christian worship was modeled, not on the ritual of the Temple, but on the simpler forms of the synagogue.

4. It gave a system of organization; for the Government of the early church was similar to, and doubtless suggested by, that of the synagogue.