Acts 2:43-47

 

Acts 2:43 (KJB)

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

 

Those who were witnesses of all the present happenings were also filled with a sense of awe and a righteous fear because not only were the Apostles preaching the truth about the resurrected Lord, they were also performing many miracles which was for the purpose of confirming and authenticating their ministries because the Jewish leaders could do no miracles. (Mark 16:20 KJV) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Many who knew and saw the miracles the Lord had done while on earth would see this as a continuation of them because it was not the power of the Apostles who were doing the miracles, but it was God doing the miracles through them.

 

Acts 2:44 (KJB)

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

 

At this time all those who had become Christians were together and were living communally because if one person had needs, then if another was able to meet those needs, then they would. They would be willing to share with others who had needs. When it says they were together, it does not mean that they were all assembled in only one place but their homes were now open to the other Christians. Their Christian testimony was that their material possessions would now be made available to others who had need.

 

Acts 2:45 (KJB)

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

 

Parted - Divided or distributed

 

Some had financial needs as later on, during the ministry of the Apostle Paul he took up collections for the church at Jerusalem because they were the first church and were running into hard times. At this juncture, the Christians had no problem in selling some of their worldly possessions and when they received the money for it, they had given to those who had financial needs. Notice the verse says “all” and “every” which means that no one was excluded. If one had needs who was a beggar, they were helped and if one had a need that owned a home, they were helped. Many years ago I heard somebody call this the golden age of the church.

 

Acts 2:46 (KJB)

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

 

Continuing - Adhere firmly to or remain devoted to

One accord - Unity of purpose, harmony, in concert

Singleness - Sincerity or simplicity

 

When it was time for daily prayers in the temple, the Christians had gone up to the Temple and were all in one accord about the Messiah. Now when they heard the Hebrew Scriptures read and expounded, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they would now be able to understand the Scriptures and know that they are speaking about Christ. Not only did they continue in the temple but it did not stop there. They had continued to fellowship from house to house and ate their meals with each other. They ate the meals with gladness and singleness of heart, that is, they were filled with joy as they ate their meals and they were all in singleness or sincerity of heart. Their Christian experience was real and their visitations were not done for show but out of genuineness. I am sure that the homes of the Apostles and Mary and Martha of Bethany were also centers of much Christian activity. This was a time of rejoicing because soon the persecution and the problems would start.

 

Acts 2:47 (KJB)

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

The joy and praises that went forth from the Christian homes had won much favor with the people. The previous 50 days was a time of much sorrow with the events that took place but here we have the joy which the writer of Hebrews was referring to. (Heb 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus endured the cross but looked beyond its shame and degradation. As a result of the cross, we now see the joy that the endurance of Christ had won. Those who are born again experience a tremendous joy in their souls. They go from being spiritually dead to being alive and joyful and these early Christians were manifesting that principle as they fellowshipped in gladness and oneness of heart. They came out of the dead religion of Talmudic Judaism and into the light of eternal Christianity. Their witness was not only causing people to show favor but because of their testimonies, people were continuing to be saved because the Lord was adding to the church daily those whom He had saved. Those the Lord named before the foundation of the world were now becoming saved. This is why a good joyful testimony is preferred rather than walking around with a long face. Long faces are religious but true joy is Christian.

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