The early Christians were first seen as a sect within Judaism called The Way. Paul sought letters from the high priest to persecute The Way (Acts 9:2). Apollos preached it with eloquence, and Aquila and Pricilla explained it accurately (Acts 18:25-26). Opponents spoke evil of it (Acts 19:9). Civil unrest broke out over it (Acts 19:23). Felix, an unbeliever, was well informed about The Way and was invited to it (Acts 24:22-26). The early Christians understood The Way to be living out faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah of this world. In the NT, “I Am the Way” was never a slogan to hurl at nonbelievers but was rather an invitation to join The Way, The Highway, by which all exiles can return to a waiting, loving Father.
“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.” Acts 24:14 (NRSV)
