Acts Bible Study: Day 4
Today’s passage: Acts 2:42–47
Focus verse: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47)
After Jesus’s followers receive Papa’s gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Luke describes what happens next. It’s huge.
First, they dedicate themselves to learning more about Jesus from his disciples. They do this in community, not isolation. Luke uses the word fellowship.
Next, they eat meals together. Luke calls this breaking bread. They do this in their homes. Again, more community.
Third, they focus on prayer.
These three traits form the basis for what happens next. As they learn about Jesus, form community, and pray, other things unfold.
One action, which may seem quite foreign to us today, is that they share everything they have with those in need. Interestingly, this generosity is with those within Jesus’s church, not those outside it.
They even sell their property and donate the proceeds for the common good of their group.
Another thing they do is meet daily. This is in the temple. They meet in public, too, perhaps so more people can join Team Jesus.
As they do this, they persist in eating together at people’s homes, in gladness and with sincerity.
Last, they praise God.
As the result of all this, they earn the respect of everyone. Did you get that? Everyone.
What’s the outcome?
More people join them. How amazing is that?
Let’s recap. Here are the seven things the early church does:
- They learn more about Jesus from those who know him better.
- They eat meals together.
- They spend a lot of time praying.
- They share what they have with each other, so that no one is in need.
- They meet daily in public.
- They enjoy meals together in each other’s homes, in celebration.
- They praise God.
We could turn this into a model for how Jesus’s followers should behave. Though we wouldn’t be wrong in following this example of the early church, we must remember that this is not a command of how to operate.
It’s merely a description of what the church did. However, since the outcome is more people following Jesus, we see that God blesses what they did.
In looking at the behavior of the early church, we see that they did everything as a group. No one pursued their faith in isolation. They functioned in community.
In fact, there’s a hint that they functioned in complete unity. Luke writes that all Jesus’s followers hung out together, not just some of them, but all.
There weren’t distinct groups, factions, or locations. They were one, just as Jesus and his Father are one, which is what Jesus prayed for before he died.
Questions:
- What positive examples can today’s church learn from this description of the early church?
- What concerns do you have?
[Discover more about Jesus’s passion for unity in John 17:20–21.]
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Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more about the book of Acts in Acts Bible Study: Discover How the Early Church Can Inform What We Do Today, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Revitalize your faith with Acts Bible Study by Peter DeHaan. This 40-day journey through the early church reveals timeless lessons on community, perseverance, and Holy Spirit power.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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