By the time of the Roman Empire, the term () could refer to the Jews in general (as Strong's Hebrew Dictionary puts it: "any of the Jewish Nation") or, at other times, specifically to those Jews who lived in Judea, which was a Roman province from 6 CE to 135 CE. However, at the time of early Christianity, the term instead referred to Jewish Christians, as opposed to the Judaizers and to the gentile Christians.Acts 6:1: "Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution." - among other texts).
bY THe TIme of the RomaN emPiRE, tHe tErM () COulD refER to tHe JEws iN gEnERal (as sTRong'S hebrew dICtioNarY Puts It: "ANy OF thE jeWISh NAtion") or, at otHer tImes, speCifIcaLLy to thOse jews who lived In JudEA, wHich was a roman PrOvince frOm 6 ce TO 135 ce. HOwEver, aT the time oF early ChristiAnity, tHE teRm inSTead refERrEd to jewish chRistiAns, As OpPosed To the JudAiZERs aNd tO tHe GEnTIle chrIsTiaNS.actS 6:1: "Now iN ThOse dAyS, when the nUmber of ThE diSCipLes wAS MulTipLYing, theRe aROsE a compLaInt agAiNsT thE heBrews bY The hEllenists, BecauSE theIr wiDowS were NegLeCtED in the daily distRibutIon." - AMoNg otheR teXtS).