Acts 2:42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 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, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The early Christian church in Jerusalem was
predominantly Jewish and lived communally sharing all things in common. The
standard in this community was that people received things from the collective
based on their need. Karl Marx would later appropriate this language as part of
a slogan of Communism in the 1870s. We know, as God does, that a human’s sin
nature would not permit such a utopia to stand for long. We must also consider
that Christ had said that these people were to be witnesses for him throughout
the world. So, while this church, this called-out assembly, was being formed
and nurtured and strengthened it was only a matter of time before it would have
to be ruptured and its members driven apart. We know from history that this
would be complete at the Fall of Jerusalem in AD70 because Christians
supposedly fled the disaster of the Romans taking the city after the disaster
of various factions of Jews murdering each other in it.
But, let’s remember their zeal and devotion to God.
Later counterfeits would try to emulate this situation in monastic communities,
but they were a false profession of what God demanded, that we live in the
world while not being of the world. Your communes and compounds containing a
cult patterning themselves on the early church are not of God but of man’s own
imaginings, fantasies, and all too often desire for control of others.
Also note that this is a time of miracles; of signs
and wonders done by the apostles. These things, like the gift of tongues, of
speaking other languages previously unknown, will end as promised by Paul in
1Corinthians 13:8 & 10. When the age of the Apostles is over things will
change. As Jesus said;
John 9:4 I must work the
works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Verse 46 shows the unity that God longs
for in the church. Paul said;
1Corinthians 1:10 ¶ Now I
beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak
the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you; but that
ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Ephesians 4:1 ¶ I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all.
Philippians 2:1 ¶ If there be therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels
and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye
be likeminded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves. 4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things
of others. 5 Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Romans 15:5 ¶ Now the God
of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another
according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may
with one mind and one mouth
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then there is that
wonderful Psalm of David;
Psalm 133:11 ¶ « A
Song of degrees of David. » Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity!
Notice also that in
verse 47 their behavior attracted many people to them and in their simplicity
and obedience to the leading of the Spirit of God they gained favor in an
otherwise hostile population. God used that to add people to the church. See
how He uses human agency and then completes His will. God added the number to
the church but the church was unified in their service to Him. Gratitude,
praise, and unity are three things that God uses to add to a church body.
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