The Essenes of Qumran One of the most significant groups that had an impact on early Christianity was the Essenes of Qumran. The Essenes were a Jewish sect that was organized on a strict communal basis. They practiced a strict ascetic lifestyle and considered themselves "the sons of Zaddi and the elect of Israel" (Frend 17-18). Helicon argues that the Essenes may also be the Hellenists that are mentioned in the Acts (94). The Essenes were persecuted by the Maccabees and broke away from other Jewry around 135 B.C. Many moved into the wilderness and lived in caves in the surrounding cliffs of Qumra