Acts (Part 20) - Acts 2:46-47

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Acts (Part 20) - Acts 2:46-47 1. Acts 2:46 – 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, A. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, i. They met daily together. a. They saw each other often. b. They “spake often one to another” (Mal 3:16). c. They were each other’s companions (Psa 119:63). ii. They were all “with one accord” together. a. Accord n. – 1. Reconciliation, agreement, harmony; concurrence of opinion, will, or action; consent. b. Church members are supposed to be of one mind and one accord (1Co 1:10; Php 2:2). iii. They met in the temple. a. The temple was a suitable place to meet in the early days. b. There was a copy of the Old Testament scriptures (the only scripture there was at that time) there in which they could have read and learned of Christ (Joh 5:39; Luk 24:27). B. and breaking bread from house to house, i. Not only did they worship together in the temple daily, they also ate together frequently in their homes. ii. They were given to hospitality (Rom 12:13; 1Pe 4:9). C. did eat their meat with gladness i. Having food and raiment, they were content and happy (1Ti 6:8). ii. They were joyful (Php 4:4). D. and singleness of heart, i. They fellowshipped together with singleness of heart. a. Singleness n. – 1. Sincerity, straightforwardness, honesty, integrity; freedom from deceit, duplicity, or guile. b. Const. of heart, mind, eye, etc. b. Single-hearted adj. – 1. Possessed of a single or sincere heart; straightforward, honest, sincere; simple-hearted. 2. Of actions, etc.: Proceeding from or characterized by sincerity of heart or purpose. c. Single-hearted is not found in the Bible, but it is the adjective form of “singleness of heart.” ii. They genuinely enjoyed being together; it was not done out of compulsion, nor was their joy feigned (Col 3:22). E. This verse is a description of an idyllic Christian life. i. Their lives were focused and centered on worshipping Jesus Christ and fellowshipping with the brethren. ii. The result was that their hearts were filled with gladness. iii. Their lives at that time were a foretaste of heaven to come. iv. My heart yearns for the life described in this verse, but it seems unlikely to materialize in our modern world. v. “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)  2. Acts 2:47 – Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. A. Praising God, i. Praising God should be an integral part of our worship and our lives (Psa 9:1; Psa 22:22-27; Psa 33:1; Heb 13:15). ii. Praising God brings strength (Mat 21:16 c/w Psa 8:2). B. and having favour with all the people. i. We should strive to live peaceably with all men (Rom 12:18). ii. Having favor with men is an indicator of spiritual maturity (Luk 2:52). iii. Christians should have a good report of all men (3Jo 1:12). iv. A pastor should have a good report of them that are without (1Ti 3:7). v. When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Pro 16:7). C. And the Lord added to the church daily i. As a result of the early church in Jerusalem obeying the gospel, zealously serving God, and loving each other, the Lord added to the church daily. ii. If a church grows, it is because the Lord has added to it. a. God sets members in the body as it pleases Him (1Co 12:18). b. Preachers labor, plant, and water, but only the Lord gives the increase (1Co 3:6-7). c. Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it (Psa 127:1). D. such as should be saved. i. The Lord added such as should (shall) be saved to the church. ii. Should – pa. t. of SHALL v. iii. There is a future aspect of salvation that happens at the second coming (Joh 5:24; Rom 5:10). iv. The Lord only adds people to the church who should be saved. v. There are evil men who creep into the church unawares (Jud 1:4), but they have neither part nor lot in the church (Act 8:21) and were not spiritually added to the body by God. vi. They will eventually go out from us because they were not of us (1Jo 2:19).