The believers in Christ devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions
to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42–47).
They had rules for having everything in common (2 Thess 3:10). They didn't think that it was compassionate to distribute without taking responsibility. They realized that when you just hand out, people become lazy. Therefore, they needed to have rules, requirements that come with giving food for free to make this work in the long run. See the beginning of Ananias and Sapphira. The life of the early church was a place of compassion, but also a place of expectation. But this doesn't mean that we should apply this principle in our time, to have everything in common.
These believers in the early church devoted themselves to:
- The apostle's teaching, based on the Word (2 Tim 3:16–17).
They were dedicated to the teaching of God's Word,
see The Parable about the Wise and Foolish Builders. - The fellowship. A close mutual relationship, see unity.
It speaks of participation within the community. - The breaking of bread (Agape feast) in their homes.
It was about taking care of those who had no food. - Prayer. The bride of Christ needs to come together to
intercede. We need God's help in all our activities.
We need his guidance (Col 4:2, Proverbs 3:5).
There were growth in the early church (Acts 2:47b). When we are focused on
God's Word, and and there is compassion, caring, giving, love, and forgiveness
(see Forgive and You will Be Forgiven), it will grow.
See also time 40:03–41:57 in Acts 2 (Part 2) • The Life of the Church.
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles (see Peter Heals a Lame Beggar). And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12–16).
They met in the temple. Miracles were meant to confirm, authenticate and validate the message of Jesus Christ. We must not separate the miracles from the message. We live in a broken world that needs this message of hope to be preached and taught, see Hope in Faith, Hope, and Agape Love.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs (Mark 16:20),
see Was Mark 16:9–20 in the Original Text?
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees (who don't believe in angels or a resurrection)), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said: "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they didn't find them in the prison, so they returned and reported: "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside." Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them: "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying: "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered: "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day,
in the temple and from house to house, they didn't cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5:17–42).
See Jesus 4th words on the cross in The Crucifixion of Jesus. That God the Father exalted Jesus at his right hand speaks of Jesus' strength, power, and supremacy.
The principle of Gamaliel is called Gamaliel's principle (if it's not of God it will not last). However: ". . . the Gamaliel principle is not a reliable index to what is from God and what is not." (John R.W Stott). The test of time isn't the perfect test because it's not always true. But it benefited the apostles at this time.
The apostles were badly beaten (Acts 5:40), but rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer disgrace for Christ (Acts 5:41). We must remember that it's a blessing to be persecuted for Christ (1 Pet 4:12–14). It's a biblical worldview.
In the face of persecution, they didn't cease to teach and preach that
Christ is Jesus (Acts 5:42), see the difference between teach and preach at time 35:22–38:35 in Acts 5 (Part 2) :12-42 • Miracles, Persecution and the Good News.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said: "It's not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,
full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the Word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many
of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1–7).
Even though the early church was predominant Jewish, there were people who had come from very different backgrounds. The Hebrew Jews came from a Jewish background. But there was also a lot of Greek talking Hellenistic Jews scattered to other parts of the Roman Empire who were raised in a Roman culture. Because these Hellenistic Jews were different, their widows were neglected. This is human nature. People who are perceived differently are unfortunately treated differently.
We usually respond by rejecting them or being suspicious of them just because they are different in some way. This is obvious not a good thing. The church eventually created a "widows list", that is, widows who would qualify to receive support from the church, something that developed over time (1 Tim. 5:3, 9–10).
There were three things that the apostles wanted these seven deacons to have:
- A good reputation.
- Full of the Spirit, that is the evidence that the fruits of the Holy Spirit
were seen or could be seen in the lives of these men. - Full of wisdom, that is, knowing how to solve this kind of problems.
The men chosen to handle this were all Greek Jews in the sense of their names,
with the exception of Nicolaus, who was a Gentile who had converted (becoming a proselyte) to Judaism and later become a Christian follower. This means that these men were Greek by culture and therefore could handle this properly without neglect the Hellenistic widows, since they understood their culture.
The qualifications of deacons became more developed over time in the
Body of Christ, see The Book of Timothy.
Stephen, one of seven deacons, was killed, see Stephen, the first Christian Martyr.
persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was
much joy in that city. (Acts 8:1–8).
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying: "This man is the power of God that is called Great." And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed,
he was amazed. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying: "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him: "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord
that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." And Simon answered: "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." Now when they had testified and spoken the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. (Acts 8:9–25).
The believers in Samaria had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But they had received the Holy Spirit to indwell them when they came to believe in Jesus Christ, see Salvation. The Holy Spirit came upon them when Peter and John
prayed and laid their hands on them, see The Gift of Tongues. When Peter spoke to Simon he used The Word of knowledge, see Spiritual Gifts. See also about
Simon at time 19:46–35:54 in Acts 8 (Part 1) :1-25 • Persecution and Growth.
See also Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Jesus also appeared to Saul, who became a follower of Christ and even an apostle, see Paul the Apostle. As a result, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And as it walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him: "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of
Lydda and Sharon (a plain between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea from Lydda north to around Caesarea) saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter
was there, sent two men to him, urging him: "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said:
"Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows,
he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. He stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon the Tanner.
(Acts 9:31–43). See also Peter Sent to the Gentiles.
Those who had been scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen
before Saul's conversion traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the Word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch
the disciples were first called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world
(this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. They did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:19–30).
These new believers needed teachers of God's Word like Barnabas and Saul to mature in their faith. Prophets came to Antioch, see Spiritual Gifts. Antioch is the city that would become the center of Christianity towards the end of the first century.
They put together a relief package to the brothers living in Judea. Apparently. some of the famine was more severe in the area around Judea and surrounding Jerusalem.
In the church at Antioch there would be prophets and teachers (Eph 4:11–12);
Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Acts 13:1). See The Book of Ephesians.
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads (16 persons) of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover (after the eight days) to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying: "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him:
"Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him:
"Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him.
He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said: "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother
of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her: "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying: "It is his angel!" But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said:
"Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place. Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be
put to death. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. (Acts 12:1–19).
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting: "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the Word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service,
bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Acts 12:20–25).
The lesson we get from this passage of Scripture is that Herod's pride was his downfall. What Herod fell to in this passage is something that inhabits all of us. It's one of the most dangerous things that can take hold of our lives even as believers. See Pride of life explained in The Book of John.
After Saul's conversion to Paul the Apostle, he made three missionary journeys:
Then he was taken to Rome, see Apostle Paul's Journey to Rome as Prisoner.In our day, there are more of an individualized, privatized form of Christianity. The Lord’s walk has been more of a private thing. In the early church, it was more of people connecting with people, with all the messy drama that can come with that. Many born again believers stay away from church because of the messy drama.The church is made up of people who are born again but still dealing with their sinful nature. So we step on each other from time to time and we get weird. We say things or do things that upset others. But that’s part of being a family. Many believers choose to avoid this drama altogether by not attending church services.
We need each other to form this collective whole that is the Body of Christ.
That said, live streaming on the internet has opened up the gospel to people
who don't normally attend churches, and has been positive in our time.
See also The Book of Acts and Some stories close related to the gospels
at the end of The Four Gospels.
