Hi Abe,
One group of early Christians was called the "Nazarenes". This is well attested, and not only in Acts 24:5. See also
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/artic ... -nazarenes
I have long thought that the name "Nazarenes" came from "Nazareth".
However, I think there may well be something to the idea that the name may have come from the term Nazirite.
From Numbers 6 we see that Nazirites do the following:
1. They
make a vow to dedicate themselves to the Lord for some time called a 'separation'
2.
Abstain from strong drink
3. The
do not cut their hair
4. Stay away from dead people
5. When the days of dedication end, he makes offerings for sin (through the priest) and shaves his head
When Paul visits Jerusalem in Acts 21, he meets with the James, their leader, and the 'elders'. They tell Paul that there are thousands of Jewish "believers" who don't like him because they are "zealous for the Law", and they heard that Paul isn't. They tell Paul:
We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.
Note that these four men appeared to be part of James' Christian group, were taking a vow and (it appears) had not cut their hair.
Note too the following quote from wiki:
In describing James' ascetic lifestyle, De Viris Illustribus quotes Hegesippus's account of James from the fifth book of Hegesippus's lost Commentaries:
After the apostles, James the brother of the Lord surnamed the Just was made head of the Church at Jerusalem. Many indeed are called James. This one was holy from his mother's womb. He drank neither wine nor strong drink, ate no flesh, never shaved or anointed himself with ointment or bathed. He alone had the privilege of entering the Holy of Holies, since indeed he did not use woolen vestments but linen and went alone into the temple and prayed in behalf of the people, insomuch that his knees were reputed to have acquired the hardness of camels' knees
Then we have in Acts 24:5, speaking of Paul to the governor:
For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
So, we have the early Christians being called Nazarenes, and having some things in common with those who took the Nazirite vows.
One might ask: Why did the term "Nazarenes" die out? It appears to be a term used for Jewish Christians, and perhaps not for Gentile Christians. (Note that Acts says the name Christians first was used in Antioch, a Gentile city with lots of Hellenistic Jews).
It also appears from later writings that "Nazarenes" were seen as heretical because they adhered to the Jewish Law too much. See
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/artic ... -nazarenes
The question is: were they close followers of the Law because they were Jewish, or because they were Nazirites? And why would their first leader, who isn't even introduced in Acts, have been such a strict follower of the law if the leader whom he followed had been drastically different? If Jesus were a JTB follower, as I believe was the case, then perhaps Jesus practiced dedication to God, abstinence from drink, let his hair grow, no bathing in the wilderness, fasting, etc..It might explain James and the Nazarene's more easily: JTB -> Jesus -> James.
In 5 other places in Acts Jesus is referred to as "the Nazarene". In only 2 places it says "of Nazareth".
Which is more likely?:
1. Jesus and his original followers were called "Nazarenes" because they took vows of or like those of the Nazirites and despite Gentile opposition some records remain as support.
2. Jesus and his original followers were called "Nazarenes" because he came from an obscure town named Nazareth, despite the expectation of some that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem.