Acts 2:42–47 - Golden Age or Godly Example?

The early Church serves as a godly example, but it's not some sort of golden age.

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Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Belgic Confession

Article 29: The Marks of the True Church

We believe that we ought to discern

diligently and very carefully,

by the Word of God,

what is the true church—

for all sects in the world today

claim for themselves the name of “the church.”

We are not speaking here of the company of hypocrites

who are mixed among the good in the church

and who nonetheless are not part of it,

even though they are physically there.

But we are speaking of distinguishing

the body and fellowship of the true church

from all sects that call themselves “the church.”

The true church can be recognized

if it has the following marks:

The church engages in the pure preaching

of the gospel;

it makes use of the pure administration of the sacraments

as Christ instituted them;

it practices church discipline

for correcting faults.

In short, it governs itself

according to the pure Word of God,

rejecting all things contrary to it

and holding Jesus Christ as the only Head.

By these marks one can be assured

of recognizing the true church—

and no one ought to be separated from it.

Summary

Yesterday, our passage in Acts 2 concluded with the joy of three thousand souls being regenerated from spiritual death to spiritual life through the working of the Holy Spirit applying God’s Word preached by Peter.  Luke wraps up this chapter with a description of the early Church, telling us what this group was like, their day to day interactions. 

First, Luke tells us that this new group of Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  While fellowship was important, teaching and instruction were also parts of this community, along with the breaking of bread and prayer.  This may have referred to the Lord’s Supper, which our Lord instituted before His death. 

Luke continues painting the picture of the early Church, telling us about the “wonders and signs” the Apostles did, which established their authority, as well as the community's generosity.  People shared with one another as they had need, looking out for and caring for each other.  Not only did the early believers have good communion with each other, but also with all the people we are told, and they continually praised the Lord. 

Luke wraps up this portrait of the early Church, reminding us that God gives the increase as He added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

  Dig Deeper  

Taking a look at this picture of the early Church that Luke paints for us, people sometimes have viewed this as some sort of golden age of the Church, a sort of golden age that we need to get back to. 

Indeed, there are many things for us to learn and glean from the early Church’s godly example, such as dedication to the preaching and teaching of the Word, fellowship, generosity, and praising and thanking God. 

While there is a lot of good to learn from the early Church, it wasn’t perfect.  The early Church, likewise, faced its struggles.  As we continue reading in Acts, we'll see that different people were overlooked in the distribution of food; Ananias and Sapphira tried to gain honor by lying to God; various false teachings plagued believers, etc. 

While those different things were corrected, the early Church is far from a golden age that was perfect and needs to be returned to.  Rather, brothers and sisters, may we learn from their godly example; may it inform our being a part of the Body of Christ in this day and age as we continue to faithfully shine as a light and witness for the Lord like those who have gone before us! 

As the world watches us, they ought to see us dedicated to God’s Word; they ought to see us fellowshipping and caring for one another; they ought to see us praising and thanking the Lord, and what an opportunity it provides us to share about the grace of God that has changed our hearts and lives, as well as has brought us into a family that spans the ages through the precious blood of the Lamb!   

AAA Prayer (About)

• ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who adds to our number day by day those who are being saved;

• ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your community will see you and your church living out these glorious marks the Lord has set forth for His Church;

• ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

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