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August 3/4, 2013
Luis Mendez (Downtown Campus) | Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.—Acts 2:42–47
Introduction
Here in Acts 2:42–47 are some of the key characteristics of the church in its ideal character.
There are really two main ways in which the New Testament displays to us the ideal of the church. One of them is doctrinal, and that one is in Ephesians. The other is historical, and that one is in Acts, particularly here in chapter 2.
Context:
Jesus had arrived, he had died, he had been resurrected, he had ascended into heaven, and he had then sent the Spirit to finish his unfinished work.
He formed his body, called out those of his own choosing, and brought them together to form the church. He baptized them into the body, filled them with his Spirit, and they began to speak the wonderful works of God in the languages of the people who were there.
The crowd was gathered, and Peter stood up in the midst of them. He explained what miracle was going on and then proceeded to announce to the Jewish population of Jerusalem that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, was both Lord and Messiah. And this fantastic message that Peter gave brought a response that was remarkable. Verse 41 says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
With 120 disciples, plus the addition of 3,000—the church that was born in Jerusalem on the first day had 3,120 members!
So the first fruits of the church were gathered on the day of Pentecost which was a feast celebrating First Fruits.
Now we see this little church beginning. As we go through the book of Acts, we can see how it was born, how it grew, and how it reproduced. There were already the 120 who believed, there were already disciples up in Galilee, but here is the first local assembly of believers ever brought together in the city of Jerusalem. There is no church in the Old Testament; this is the birth of the church.
Now what was this first church like? And even perhaps more important then that question: can we be like that church?
Imagine that you’ve never attended a church service. You’ve never seen a worship service on television. You’ve never heard anyone describe a church service before. You have no idea what church is like! Except you have read the Bible. You have read the book of Acts. You know what the early church was like in its earliest, purest form. You know what God desires for the church.
And with only this knowledge of the church, you entered our doors this evening or morning. Would this be what you expected?
We’ll be looking at seven things in this passage that reveal just how amazing that newborn church was. In particular, we'll look at how they were together as a family. The early church understood the need for being together, and we can learn from them.
The early church was a ...
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching” (v. 42a).
Those who were saved and baptized in verses 40-41 knew that a commitment to the apostles' teaching was foundational to the growth and spiritual health of the early church and every believer in it.
We would suppose that “the apostles’ teaching” was the same subject matter that we find in Peter’s sermons in Acts 2–4. In other words, the content of the apostles’ teaching was the gospel!
No doubt there would be a good deal of emphasis on the fact that the saving work of Jesus was the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. Jesus had to be rejected, crucified, buried, and raised from the dead.
The church was designed to be a place where God’s word is continually taught and explained.
Those in the early church sat under the teaching of the apostles, which was then written down and sent as letters, called epistles, to the other churches. These letters are what we call the New Testament, and that is what I am teaching to you today, some 2,000 years later.
The Apostles' intention was that the teaching of their doctrine would be an ongoing activity of the church. Paul wrote this to Timothy:
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.—1 Timothy 4:16
Teaching, studying, content, and doctrine are the basis of the church. Not emotion. Doctrine. Paul said to the Romans, "What you need to do is not be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewal of" your what? Of your mind! (Romans 12:2)
We must teach doctrine. The great commission of Jesus was to teach the world the gospel and the word of God. Doctrine is the heart of everything.
Scripture is the food through which believers grow. Churches who fail to continue in the teachings of the apostles put themselves at risk, as Hosea warns, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (4:6).
Example: Testimony of Bethlehem Baptist Church
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship” (v. 42b).
Fellowship is another very important activity of the church. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia. Its meaning involves several ideas: "partnership," “companionship,” and "sharing."
When you receive Jesus Christ, you became a partner with Christ. It’s spiritual togetherness! Through it we encourage each other toward a faithful and holy way of life. The joy that comes from fellowship is lost when we neglect it.
Those Christians who choose not to participate in the everyday life of the church (which is made up of people) isolate themselves and become disobedient to the direct teaching of Scripture:
Let us [subjunctive/command] hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.—Hebrews 10:23–25
Regardless of the ups and downs that come from living life with imperfect people, it is impossible for Christians to be joyful apart from fellowship in the church.
Example: The problem of individualism in America
The Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived apart from other believers in some invisible, universal church.
The universal church is also called the body of Christ, and members (or parts) of it are brought together and function together. No one member of it can claim to not need the other parts. That’s what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:20–21.
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”—1 Corinthians 12:20–21
Members of the early church were actively and intimately participating with one another as a local assembly. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (v. 42).
Their fellowship was a result of the oneness they had through Christ. They commemorated that oneness symbolically by the spiritual activity of breaking bread. This is a reference to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, or what some refer to as Communion (another word for fellowship).
Paul says that when we are assembled together, we need to wait for one another so that we take the elements (bread and cup) in unison. This symbolizes the oneness and unity we share through one Lord.
The Lord’s Supper is a vital ongoing activity of the church where we remember the work of the cross that Jesus suffered on our behalf. I'll talk a little more about this at the end!
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (v. 42c).
The first church was steadfast or persistent in the activity of prayer.
Jesus knew that the hole he would leave in their lives after his departure could only be filled with a spiritual communication we refer to as prayer.
Jesus Christ had promised them, "And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13–14).
“Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.” —John MacArthur.
The early church took that promise seriously and saw prayer as the source of God's provision for all their needs, and they persistently pursued divine help.
The prayer spoken of in verse 42 is the same as the prayer mentioned in the first chapter of Acts; it is corporate church prayer.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. —Acts 1:14
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.”—Acts 1:24
Example: Bethlehem’s testimony as a praying church!
“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles” (v. 43).
Awe: Phobos (sometimes translated "fear").
There was great reverence or awe.
Earlier in Acts 2 when the Apostles began to speak in various languages, many stood there in amazement, perplexed over what they were witnessing, while others superficially mocked the Apostles.
Then, after a powerful defense from Peter as to what they were witnessing, it says many in that crowd were “cut to the heart.” They felt very, very sorry. They were saddened and broken-hearted over what they had done to Jesus. They cried out in desperation, “What shall we do?”
It was shortly after this that 3,000 were made glad or joyful, that in Peter’s words there was still hope. Those who humbly bowed their knees and repented would find forgiveness and salvation.
To repent is to change direction, to make an about face in what one believes about Jesus and oneself.
And now as they continue in the spiritual activities of the church, they are exposed on a daily basis to the joy of Christian life and the power of the Spirit.
The effect of God at work commonly produces an extraordinary seriousness and solemnity in a community, even among those who are not believers. It says, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe.”
This word awe is reserved for special times in Scripture. It's reserved for those times when people's minds are struck with an awe that is based on something divine that they can't explain.
Example: Luke 7:11-17 Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
And many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.—Acts 2:43b (NASB)
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.—Acts 4:33 (ESV)
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.—Acts 5:12 (ESV)
God performed these signs and wonders through the apostles in order to attract attention, confirm them as his messengers, and cause the spectator to listen to the message preached.
“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes” (v. 44).
“All those who had believed were together” (v. 44).
Many of the members of the early church were pilgrims. They had traveled from faraway places, leaving jobs and homes to celebrate the feasts of Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost in Jerusalem.
The limited amount of inns weren’t able to handle the huge arrival of people to Jerusalem during those feasts. As a result, Jewish people opened their homes and shared their resources with visitors. And when many of them came to believe in Jesus as their Messiah on Pentecost, visitors took up residence.
The Jews had been waiting for this moment for thousands of years. The excitement of being a new believer and a part of an awe-inspiring, powerful church community caused people to rethink their return home.
Obviously, that kind of a decision had financial repercussions. The people who opened their homes took on the burden of housing and feeding their new permanent guests.
So, they had to share or have “all things in common.”
“And day by day, attending the temple together” (v. 46a).
The NASB translated this as “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple.” It expresses the unity the first church experienced. Their times of fellowship were not limited to just their time in the Temple. They also were breaking bread from house to house and taking their meals together.
Sometimes, breaking bread refers to Communion. But the taking of meals together speaks of the day-to-day intimacy and hospitality they showed for one another—visiting and sharing meals.
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God” (v. 46–47).
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that a spirit-empowered, sharing church would also be a joyful church.
Gladness (agalliasis) can also be translated, exultation, and exuberant or exceeding joy.
One of the key reasons for that joy was because of the sincerity of their hearts.
Sincerity (aphelotês): this is the only place in the New Testament where this word appears. It literally means "simplicity" and comes from a root word meaning "free from rocks" or "smooth.”
They had nothing against each other in their hearts. Little things they could have held against each other did not hinder relationships. They had clean hearts!
Verse 47 starts off by saying “praising God.” Sincere hearts (clean hearts) that are free to praise God also produce joy.
To praise God is to declare vocally his wonderful works and characteristics.
Paul explains how his joy was made complete:
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.—Philippians 2:1–2
The activities and attitudes of the first church had incredible spiritual effects on that body of believers and their community.
”Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (v. 47)
They gained favor with all the people. The Church’s life and power was meant to be visible to unbelievers—to the world.
Jesus addresses this in John 13:34–35:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Notice a few things here:
First of all, Jesus is speaking to a collective group of believers here. It is really difficult to love one another if we are not living in community together.
Second, we were never meant to live a community isolated from the view of unbelievers. We must sincerely love one another and be sensitive to the fact that others are watching us.
“Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (v. 47b).
This effect was inspired by their praise (words), their love, and their unity.
The imperfect tense is used again here. “Was adding,” along with the phrase “day by day,” indicates that people were continually being saved as they observed the daily conduct of the church.
True spiritual growth will see the fruit of a healthy church and the salvation of other people, which results in numerical growth.
This quick look at the first church gives valuable insight into what makes for a healthy, growing church. The proper devotion to spiritual activities (being Bible centered, fellowship promiting, prayer saturated, spirit empowered, sharing, and joyful) will in turn have spiritual effects on unbelievers in our community (being God blessed), which will gain their favor and their faith.
Communion
The cross is the symbol of our unity. Every time we celebrate communion, we're confessing that the cross is just the symbol of our unity. Our fellowship came because Jesus died. He purchased us; we were in him in his death, all of us. Every Christian that ever lives in this world was in Christ when he died. And therefore, we are one.
The cross, then, is a symbol of our unity. Jesus wanted us to be sure that we maintain the beauty of that unity and never forgot it. He said, "I want you to do this," and he commanded that we partake of the bread and the cup.
I think that in the early church, it was a time of joy. It was a celebration. We can't look at the cross without celebrating. And so we come together to celebrate.
So when we come to communion, we're celebrating our oneness with Christ and with every other believer. What a beautiful symbol it is. And it's a time for confession of sin; it's a time for getting things right; it's a time for examining our heart, as Paul says.
This first church had fellowship that was real, and they maintained the symbol of that fellowship the breaking of bread.