Act 2:46 | KingComments | STEP | With the addition of about three thousand believers, the church expanded considerably. In spite of all the differences that exist between all those many members of the church, there is unity. That unity has not been created by human activity and that unity is not maintained by human organization. The hearts of these believers are simply focused on the Lord Jesus and therefore the Holy Spirit is given the opportunity to ensure that the church remains a unity. This is done through the four aspects mentioned here, which fully permeate the church life and in which they persevere. These aspects also relate to the meetings of the believers who are, as it were, the highlights of the Christian community. However, this can only be the case if these things dominate every aspect of life. “The apostles’ teaching” comes first. Education in God’s thoughts is the first thing the newly converted need. Only in this way a healthy spiritual life can grow. Continually devoting themselves in this means not only a continually devoting themselves to listen to what the apostles say, but above all a continually devoting themselves to practice the teaching the apostles give. Continually devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles therefore applies to the entire life of the believers. On the basis of this teaching there is fellowship. The teaching of the apostles is the Scriptural basis for all forms of fellowship known to the church. So the first thing that characterizes the church after its formation is submission to the teaching of the Holy Spirit by the apostles, which is now the teaching of the whole New Testament. This leads to the second aspect of being a church, and that is, having “fellowship” with one another. The church is a company of people who did not know each other before and did totally different things. What characterized them, characterized the world. Through faith in the Lord Jesus those people have now become a community in which He is their common ‘interest’ ( ), about Whom they want to speak to and think of. This common interest is expressed in a special way in the third aspect, “the breaking of bread”, which is the celebration of the Supper of the Lord. In the expression of the fellowship, the breaking of bread, the Lord remains constantly before their attention and brings out the deepest feelings for Him. Finally, there is the awareness that they themselves have no power and that they are dependent on God in everything. That is why they also continually devote themselves “to prayer”. What Christians do and how they live, frightens all those who are not part of it. The unbelievers perceive things they cannot explain and cannot control. The power of the Spirit is manifested in an impressive way, which can also be seen by unbelievers. The wonders and signs are not described here. In the following chapters Luke will mention some of them. The words “wonders and signs” are the same that are used for the Lord Jesus in . While there is fear outside the fellowship of the believers, there is great togetherness among the believers. They are together to share spiritual blessings with each other and they also share all their possessions with each other. This a big difference with our time in which believers are separated from each other for all kinds of reasons and do not even know each other. Many who do know each other live separated from each other because each lives for himself and shares nothing of his wealth with others. A true Christian cannot bear to have much, while others have too little. Perhaps it was because of the expectation of the Lord’s soon return, but the first Christians sold everything they had and shared it with each other. Incidentally, they did so entirely voluntarily, no one forced them to do so. As said, their togetherness is great. They stay together, even when the feast of Pentecost is over. Their life no longer consists of holding their high times, but of an inner connection with each other that is constantly present. To experience their connection with each other, they gather in the temple and in the houses. They do not build money devouring churches, but are characterized by simplicity and trust in God. A jeweled Christ child in the Cathedral in Rome and hungry street children just outside cannot be reconciled. The first church has none of the things we have today, such as buildings, money, political influence, social status, and yet many souls are won. On the one hand, these Christians still cling to Jewish religious customs by going to the temple. On the other hand, they live the true Christian fellowship in their homes. Every day they break bread in remembrance of their Lord and enjoy fellowship with each other during love meals. In all this they praise God. Their joy and praise are not the result of their redemption, as was the case with Israel in Exodus 15 ( ). It is the joy of believers who now share in the love of God. They have partaken of His nature and have been connected with God as their Father and the Holy Spirit has taken His dwelling in them. Their whole way of life commands respect from the people. If Christians live as the Lord means, it is a blessing for the environment. The Lord shows His commitment to such a way of life. Every day He adds to the community. As a result, the number of those who are saved increases. Salvation is for eternity. It may also be that the salvation that is meant here has to do with the destruction to which Jerusalem will be given up in the year 70 as God’s judgment of the old system. Whoever repented escaped this and was saved from it. NOTE What happened “day by day” or “daily” in the early church: meet one another ( ); adding souls who were being saved ( ); increase in number ( ); examine the Scriptures ( ).

‏ Acts 2:46

The First Church Life

With the addition of about three thousand believers, the church expanded considerably. In spite of all the differences that exist between all those many members of the church, there is unity. That unity has not been created by human activity and that unity is not maintained by human organization. The hearts of these believers are simply focused on the Lord Jesus and therefore the Holy Spirit is given the opportunity to ensure that the church remains a unity.

This is done through the four aspects mentioned here, which fully permeate the church life and in which they persevere. These aspects also relate to the meetings of the believers who are, as it were, the highlights of the Christian community. However, this can only be the case if these things dominate every aspect of life.

“The apostles’ teaching” comes first. Education in God’s thoughts is the first thing the newly converted need. Only in this way a healthy spiritual life can grow. Continually devoting themselves in this means not only a continually devoting themselves to listen to what the apostles say, but above all a continually devoting themselves to practice the teaching the apostles give. Continually devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles therefore applies to the entire life of the believers. On the basis of this teaching there is fellowship. The teaching of the apostles is the Scriptural basis for all forms of fellowship known to the church.

So the first thing that characterizes the church after its formation is submission to the teaching of the Holy Spirit by the apostles, which is now the teaching of the whole New Testament. This leads to the second aspect of being a church, and that is, having “fellowship” with one another. The church is a company of people who did not know each other before and did totally different things. What characterized them, characterized the world. Through faith in the Lord Jesus those people have now become a community in which He is their common ‘interest’ (1Cor 1:9), about Whom they want to speak to and think of.

This common interest is expressed in a special way in the third aspect, “the breaking of bread”, which is the celebration of the Supper of the Lord. In the expression of the fellowship, the breaking of bread, the Lord remains constantly before their attention and brings out the deepest feelings for Him.

Finally, there is the awareness that they themselves have no power and that they are dependent on God in everything. That is why they also continually devote themselves “to prayer”.

What Christians do and how they live, frightens all those who are not part of it. The unbelievers perceive things they cannot explain and cannot control. The power of the Spirit is manifested in an impressive way, which can also be seen by unbelievers. The wonders and signs are not described here. In the following chapters Luke will mention some of them. The words “wonders and signs” are the same that are used for the Lord Jesus in Acts 2:22.

While there is fear outside the fellowship of the believers, there is great togetherness among the believers. They are together to share spiritual blessings with each other and they also share all their possessions with each other. This a big difference with our time in which believers are separated from each other for all kinds of reasons and do not even know each other. Many who do know each other live separated from each other because each lives for himself and shares nothing of his wealth with others.

A true Christian cannot bear to have much, while others have too little. Perhaps it was because of the expectation of the Lord’s soon return, but the first Christians sold everything they had and shared it with each other. Incidentally, they did so entirely voluntarily, no one forced them to do so.

As said, their togetherness is great. They stay together, even when the feast of Pentecost is over. Their life no longer consists of holding their high times, but of an inner connection with each other that is constantly present. To experience their connection with each other, they gather in the temple and in the houses.

They do not build money devouring churches, but are characterized by simplicity and trust in God. A jeweled Christ child in the Cathedral in Rome and hungry street children just outside cannot be reconciled. The first church has none of the things we have today, such as buildings, money, political influence, social status, and yet many souls are won.

On the one hand, these Christians still cling to Jewish religious customs by going to the temple. On the other hand, they live the true Christian fellowship in their homes. Every day they break bread in remembrance of their Lord and enjoy fellowship with each other during love meals.

In all this they praise God. Their joy and praise are not the result of their redemption, as was the case with Israel in Exodus 15 (Exo 15:1). It is the joy of believers who now share in the love of God. They have partaken of His nature and have been connected with God as their Father and the Holy Spirit has taken His dwelling in them.

Their whole way of life commands respect from the people. If Christians live as the Lord means, it is a blessing for the environment. The Lord shows His commitment to such a way of life. Every day He adds to the community. As a result, the number of those who are saved increases. Salvation is for eternity. It may also be that the salvation that is meant here has to do with the destruction to which Jerusalem will be given up in the year 70 as God’s judgment of the old system. Whoever repented escaped this and was saved from it.

NOTE What happened “day by day” or “daily” in the early church: meet one another (Acts 2:46); adding souls who were being saved (Acts 2:47); increase in number (Acts 16:5); examine the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).