When our risen Lord assembled with the early church in Acts 1, He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost.
When they enquired about the future, the Lord quickly redirected their attention to that which was most urgent – the enduement of Holy Ghost power and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Before Christ’s return and the establishment of His kingdom, the Gospel must be declared “in all the world.”
Matthew 24:14
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Now that the church is commissioned, Jesus ascends before their eyes promising to return in like manner. The disciples walk to Jerusalem, approximately one half mile from the Mount of Olives, to secure a room to wait on the promise of the Spirit.
According to Acts 1:14 they assembled, waited, and prayed in one accord for 10 days before the Spirit came from Heaven like a mighty rushing wind and “filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”
If we will advance the Gospel, if we will successfully execute Acts 1:8, we must be filled with the Holy Ghost.
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples began to speak with other tongues, languages, or other dialects. The languages which were spoken are listed
in Acts 2:9-11. Verse 11 clearly says that everyone in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost heard and understood the disciples speak in their native dialect. The gift of tongues/languages was a sign gift during the apostolic age to communicate the Gospel to unbelieving Jews. The gibberish or the babbling that goes on today is an insult and an injustice to the Scriptures.
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“We can’t improve on the first century church. It is our
model.” …
Peter preached in Acts 2:14, and 3,000 Jews from various surrounding countries heard the Gospel in their native tongue. They were pierced in their heart by the Holy Spirit and wanted to know what to do (37). Peter says in verse 38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 2:38 is not referring to baptismal regeneration, which means that water baptism saves the soul. The first rule of hermeneutics explains that it is foolish to establish a doctrine on an isolated text.
The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism (Eph 2:8-9). Any interpretation which concludes that baptism, or any other work or activity is necessary for salvation, is a false interpretation.
The Greek word translated “for” is a common Greek word used 1,774 times in the New Testament. It is translated many ways. Most Greek scholars maintain that the Greek preposition “eis” translated “for” in Acts 2:38 should be translated “because of” or “in view of,” and not “in order to.”
In other words, and consistent with New Testament teaching, 3,000 Jews were baptized because they turned to Christ for salvation. The disciples including 3,000 Jewish converts, become the first century church. Let us investigate the Scriptures to uncover the daily routine of the first century church.
1. They were devoted to the Scriptures.
The words “continued steadfastly” refers to a constant, a continuing, or a persevering devotion to the Scriptures. (See Acts 1:14, 6:4, Ro 12:12) The apostles taught their Jewish converts what they had learned at the feet of Christ. (Compare Acts 2:42 with Matthew 28:19-20.)
1Corinthians 3:10-13
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise MasterBuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
We get our English word architect from the Greek word translated master builder. The Apostle Paul had laid the foundation for a church in Corinth in Acts 18:1-11. The foundation is none other than Jesus Christ upon which Paul instructs the church at Corinth to build with gold, silver, and precious stones.
I understand that gold, silver, and precious stones are commonly associated with works of eternal value as in laying up treasure in Heaven (Mt 6:19-21) for which you and l will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ. However, another application proposes that the materials gold, silver, and precious stones refer to the doctrines or to the teachings of Jesus Christ. This truth is illustrated in our text as well. In other words, Peter laid the foundation in Acts 2:14-41, and we find the Apostles building on that foundation in the verses that follow, namely verse 42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
2. They were devoted to fellowship.
They continued steadfastly not only in the apostle’s doctrine but in fellowship one with another. The word fellowship is often translated communion or communication. Our fellowship is based on the commonality of our faith in Jesus Christ. Our faith is the basis of our fellowship, our companionship, or collaboration for the advancement of the Gospel.
1 John 1:5-7
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
There can be no fellowship, no communion, agreement, or companionship between light and darkness because there is nothing at all in common between them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord (agreement) hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
The Bible warns against building relationships with darkness. We are rather to reprove darkness according to Ephesians 5:11.
Ephesians 5:11
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Ponder these facts about fellowship.
A. Fellowship sharpens the spirit of a man.
Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
The countenance often reflects the condition of a man’s heart. In Nehemiah 2:2, King Artaxerxes said to Nehemiah his cupbearer, “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.”
B. Fellowship strengthens the unity of a church.
The first mention of the word fellowship is in Acts 2:42. The first century church was as devoted to fellowship as they were to the Apostles doctrine. Fellowship is a source of encouragement and strength.
3. They were devoted to prayer.
Verse 42 makes it clear that the first century church was united in devotion to the doctrines of Christ, to fellowship, and to prayer. This activity characterized the first century church as it should in the 21st century. If the church will go forward in the 21st century accomplishing the purposes of God, the church must pray in unity like the first century church.
• After the Lord’s ascension, there was unity of prayer in an upper room in Jerusalem before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14; 2:1).
• There was unity of prayer after Pentecost (Acts 2:42; 46).
• There was unity of prayer after the first record of persecution (Acts 4:23- 31).
Despite persecution, religious and political opposition, including martyrdom, the one accord spirit that prevailed in their devotion to Christ was instrumental in the advancement of the Gospel.
4. They were devoted to hospitality.
I am in agreement with some commentaries that cannot determine whether this refers to the Lord’s Supper, some kind of Jewish feast, or to eating ordinary food together. The bread of the Hebrews was made commonly into thin, hard, and brittle cakes, so that it was broken instead of being cut. Breaking bread was a common cultural practice that represented hospitality or a very close friendship. When comparing verse 42 with verse 46, breaking bread from house to house seems to apply to ordinary meals.
Breaking bread was commonly performed by the head of the family, immediately after praying for a blessing. Hospitality refers to a love for people. It is translated entertain strangers in Hebrews 13:2. Hospitality is an expression of love for people in general. (See Mt 5:43-48; Ro 12:13-21.)
Jesus was invited into the home of Cleopas, an Emmaus Road disciple, to break bread. (See Luke 24:28-35.)
5. They were devoted to each other.
These verses describe the economy of the church in Jerusalem. The phrase, “had all things common” means that their donations which included property or possessions were common or belonged to everyone. At this time, the apostles put what was donated in a common place for common use. They gave willingly in support of one another. They retained what they wanted (in other words they
had land and houses) but gave what they were led to give for common use. This kind of economy prevented want or destitution among them according to Acts 4:32-37. Unfortunately, Ananias and his wife Sapphira “kept back part of the price of the land” which they had committed to common use and suffered the consequences. (See Acts 5:1-11.)
6. They were devoted to ministry.
They were devoted to the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12) or to the work of evangelism. Evangelism must be the chief end of all our activity. The end of all that we do is verse 47, such as should or would be saved.
The power of God was evident (43), praise was apparent, and preaching was growing the church (47). This is the first mention of the word church in the Book of Acts. Notice the steady growth of the 1st century church.
Acts 4:4
“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”
Acts 6:1
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied.”
Acts 6:7
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Acts 9:31
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
Acts 12:24
“But the word of God grew and multiplied.”
Summary: After nearly 40 years of ministry, I am convinced that we must as my pastor Dr. Roy Thompson put it, “stick to the basics” or be devoted to that which defined the first century church.