WHO WERE THE LIBERTINI, MENTIONED IN THE ACTS? A NEW HISTORICAL APPROACH: A new historical approach

In this paper, we propose to explore the identity of the Libertini - a Latin term, possibly implying some kind of connection with former slaves - who built their own synagogue in proximity to the Jerusalem Temple (Act. Ap. VI 9). In the two initial stages of this study, we examine whether a statement establishing connection between former slaves and synagogues is supported by historical evidence or by religious imperatives. Actually, there is no evidence of former slaves being unable to attend the synagogue of Jews who had always been freemen. On the contrary, Jewish masters and their former pagan slaves seem to attend the same synagogue. In the final section, we attempt to define the identity of the Libertini Synagogue's members in Jerusalem. The comprehensive approach we propose to adopt in this study, to explain why Jews of the Hellenistic Diaspora designated their synagogue in Jerusalem, using a titular name indicating civic status, encompasses a wide range of meanings, defining Libertini as new Roman citizens, regardless of any original status, former slave or peregrine.