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 Qumran. The site was temporarily abandoned after an earthquake in 31 B.C. and was finally destroyed by the Romans in 68 A.D. Their library in Qumran contained an extraordinary rich collection of apocalyptic literature, such as fragments of the Testaments of the patriarchs, Daniel....

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