Endnote 48 – The Omnipresence of the God-Fearers

Wolfson, Philo, II, p. 373, suggests that these “Heaven Fearers” are probably to be identified with “resident aliens” (gere toshab) who observe Noachian laws or with “sympathizers.” He notes that Maimonides (Mish-neh Torah, Issure Biah 14.7, Melakhim 8.10–11) identifies the “pious of the nations” with “resident aliens.” Wilcox, “The ‘God-Fearers’ in Acts,” pp. 116–117, argues that the yirei shamayim in this passage are not “sympathizers” and that the passage is, rather, referring to two kinds of Jews, proselytes and Jews by birth; but, if so, we may respond that the fact that two types of proselytes are mentioned is an indication that the members of one type were not full proselytes.