Was it a church or synagogue?
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Monna
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The word church is used in different ways, and therefore has different meanings. Most often the context will show the reader which meaning is being used. In Acts 15:4, as I read it and understand the context, the word that is translated as "church" is refering to the followers of Jesus the Christ present at that time in Jerusalem. They were not received by a building, but by people. As the sum of all the believers now and through time, the church IMHO is also refered to as the "body of Christ," the "Bride of Christ" and various other metaphors.
Here are the definitions given by Merriam-Webster
Definition of church
1 : a building for public and especially Christian worship
2 : the clergy or officialdom of a religious body the word church … is put for the persons that are ordained for the ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the clergy— J. Ayliffe
3 often capitalized : a body or organization of religious believers: such as
5 : the clerical profession : have you considered the church as a possible career?
The word can also be an adjectve (church government), or a verb (he was well churched)
Here are the definitions given by Merriam-Webster
Definition of church
1 : a building for public and especially Christian worship
2 : the clergy or officialdom of a religious body the word church … is put for the persons that are ordained for the ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the clergy— J. Ayliffe
3 often capitalized : a body or organization of religious believers: such as
a : the whole body of Christians: the one church is the whole body gathered together from all ages— J. H. Newman
b : denomination: the Presbyterian church
c : congregation: they had appointed elders for them in every church — Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
4 : a public divine worship : he goes to church every Sundayb : denomination: the Presbyterian church
c : congregation: they had appointed elders for them in every church — Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
5 : the clerical profession : have you considered the church as a possible career?
The word can also be an adjectve (church government), or a verb (he was well churched)
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They would have been able to discuss Jesus’ teachings in their meetings. Jesus was no longer allowed to teach in synagogues as the chief priests had denounced him and were seeking to kill him.
John 11:54 (ASV) Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.
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AbbaLove
Circumcism Of The Heart
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A better translation is "assembly" (DARBY, WEB, YLT) as they may have gathered together in a location away from the religious scribes, elders and Pharisees ... perhaps in an upper room. The CJB translation reads "Messianic commuity" instead of church.
The Greek word "ekklesia" (Acts 15:4) literally means "called out ones" as a gathering of like-minded born again Believers having a circumcised heart.
The Greek word "ekklesia" (Acts 15:4) literally means "called out ones" as a gathering of like-minded born again Believers having a circumcised heart.
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AbbaLove
Circumcism Of The Heart
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Acts 15:5 (KJV) ... [them] being the Gentile Believers at Antioch
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.
Another translation of 15:4 reads, "congregation" instead of church.
The early Eastern Orthodox Greek Believers (e.g. Polycarp) would have understood "ekklesia" as the "ones called out" as a gathering of like-minded Believers in χριστός Ἰησοῦς ... khristos lesous ... Mashiach Yeshua
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It would depend on which language they were speaking. Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, ... Many Jews spoke Greek that is why the Jews translated the OT into Greek.
The Greek word in that verse is -
ekklésia: an assembly, a (religious) congregation
Usage: an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.
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chunkofcoal
Messianic Christian
Maybe qahal?
"The Hebrew word qahal, which is a close etymological relation of the name of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes), comes from a root meaning "convoked [group]";[3] its Arabic cognate, قَالَ qāla, means to speak.[1]
Where the Masoretic Text uses the term qahal, the Septuagint usually uses the Koine Greek term ekklesia, ἐκκλησία,[1] which means "summoned group" (literally, "they who are called out").[4][5] However, in one particular part of the Priestly Code, the Septuagint instead uses the term συναγωγή,[6] literally meaning "gathering",[7] where the Masoretic Text uses qahal.[8] This last term is the origin of the word "synagogue" in Hebrew.
Thus, the usual translation of qahal is "congregation" or "assembly", although אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת asuppot,[9] עֲצָרָה ʻaṣarah,[10] עֵדָה ʻedah,[11] מוֹעֵד moʻed,[12] מִקְרָא miqra,[13] and סוֹד sod,[14] are also usually translated like this.[1]
In particular, the Biblical text consistently distinguishes between ʻedah and qahal.[1] One passage especially makes the distinction clear;[1] part of the Priestly Code discusses what to do if "the whole Israelite [ʻedah] commits a sin and the [qahal] is not aware of it[.]"[15] Scholars conclude that the qahal must be a judicial body composed of representatives of the ʿedah;[1] in some biblical passages, ʻedah is more accurately translated as "swarm".[1][16]"
From:Qahal - Wikipedia
"The Hebrew word qahal, which is a close etymological relation of the name of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes), comes from a root meaning "convoked [group]";[3] its Arabic cognate, قَالَ qāla, means to speak.[1]
Where the Masoretic Text uses the term qahal, the Septuagint usually uses the Koine Greek term ekklesia, ἐκκλησία,[1] which means "summoned group" (literally, "they who are called out").[4][5] However, in one particular part of the Priestly Code, the Septuagint instead uses the term συναγωγή,[6] literally meaning "gathering",[7] where the Masoretic Text uses qahal.[8] This last term is the origin of the word "synagogue" in Hebrew.
Thus, the usual translation of qahal is "congregation" or "assembly", although אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת asuppot,[9] עֲצָרָה ʻaṣarah,[10] עֵדָה ʻedah,[11] מוֹעֵד moʻed,[12] מִקְרָא miqra,[13] and סוֹד sod,[14] are also usually translated like this.[1]
In particular, the Biblical text consistently distinguishes between ʻedah and qahal.[1] One passage especially makes the distinction clear;[1] part of the Priestly Code discusses what to do if "the whole Israelite [ʻedah] commits a sin and the [qahal] is not aware of it[.]"[15] Scholars conclude that the qahal must be a judicial body composed of representatives of the ʿedah;[1] in some biblical passages, ʻedah is more accurately translated as "swarm".[1][16]"
From:Qahal - Wikipedia
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When I read the book of Acts, I see the Apostles in the synagogues at first but then moving to house church environments.
Not every synagogue received the message of Christ with gladness. In those places, a nearby house assembly was created. That's what I see.
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That isn't what I am asking. I know that the translators of scripture used terms that people they are translating for would relate to. What I am asking is whether there was any "church" in Jerusalem before 70 AD? The believers in Jerusalem were Jews. They have been and were going to the synagogue during this time period. If the persecution was bad enough they gathered where they could in peace. If it was the upper room or something similar it would have been an "assembly".
As far as using the term "church" as in the believers in gatherings, it was called an assembly. “Susya” near Hebron in Israel tells an interesting story from stone and mosaic evidence left over two thousand years. Ancient stones say “Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah.” Susya — Living Evidence for Yeshua’s Followers in Ancient Isreal
This synagogue is of the time period of Yeshua and the followers after His death.
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I'm 2/3 of the way through Acts and I found this reference. Is this what you're talking about?
Acts 18:5 (NKJV) When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews [that] Yahushua [is] the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook [his] garments and said to them, "Your blood [be] upon your [own] heads; I [am] clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain [man] named Justus, [one] who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Master with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. 9 Now the Master spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
It looks like Paul was working this synagogue for a year and a half, late into the book of Acts.
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