where Christianity took hold. This was possible because of the loose structure of Judaism there. The many congregations, their democratic constitutions, and the absence of a central Jewish governing board made it easy for Christian missionaries to preach in synagogues and win converts. These converts worshiped with traditional Jews, and frictions developed. During the late 40s, the Jews apparently rioted because of their different beliefs about Christ. This came to the attention of the emperor Claudius.