WHO WERE THEY?

1. The Proselytes
   Part of the congregation that the apostle Peter preached to on the day of Pentecost is referred to as "Proselytes". "Parthians and Medes … dwellers in Mesopotamia … strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes". Act 2:9f.
   
   These proselytes were men and women who had turned from heathenism to the Jewish religion and were divided into two groups – Proselytes of the Gate, and Proselytes of Righteousness. The first group renounced their heathen practices and observed, what the Rabbis called, "The Seven Precepts of Moses". They were not circumcised and did not eat the passover. These proselytes of the gate are also referred to as "those that fear God" or "God fearers", and it would appear that Cornelius and the Ethiopian belonged to this class of men. Many of them turned to Christianity under the preaching of the apostles. The Proselytes of Righteousness were those people who had embraced much more fully the Jewish faith. They were obliged to observe the whole law of Moses and were carefully examined before being admitted into the circles of Judaism. Upon acceptance they were circumcised and then baptized by total immersion.
   
   No boys under 12 years, or girls under 13 years were admitted as proselytes without the consent of both parents.
   
2. The Mixed Multitude. When the children of Israel came up out of Egypt, Exodus 12:38, we are told that "a mixed multitude went up also". The English equivalent to this would be "a motley crowd" or "some riff-raff". It appears that when Pharaoh gave orders to let the children of Israel go, many malcontents - probably slaves and "jail-birds" – decided to join in with the crowd and seek their freedom. It is significant that this phrase is inserted in the account of the exodus because, later on, in Numbers 11:4, we read that "the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting… " They cried out after the "leeks and the garlic" of Egypt and contaminated the children of Israel on their wilderness wanderings. A great lesson, surely, in endeavouring to keep the Church free from any admixture.
   
3. Jannes and Jambres.
   2nd Timothy 3 speaks of Jannes and Jambres who "withstood Moses to the face". This refers to the two Egyptian magicians who "imitated" Moses' miracles; and they are held up as an example of those of whom Paul is writing in 2nd Timothy, who present what is only an imitation and parody of the Gospel.