Acts 2 Verses 42 to 47 Devoted to Prayer October 16, 2022

Acts 2 Verses 42 to 47 Devoted to Prayer October 16, 2022

Class Presentation Notes AAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Psalm 66:16-20 (NASB) 16 Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul. 17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 19 But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me.

Main Idea: Praying in faith can produce miracles.

Question to Explore: How important is prayer to me?

Create Interest:

· Thinking about this story reminds me that there are many similarities between those who care for physical bodies and those who care for Christ’s spiritual body. Don’t miss this. Luke, the author of Acts, was actually a double doctor! He really was a physician who took care of fractures and colds and illnesses, but as a Christian on mission he also understood and strengthened the figurative body of Christ. In this passage Dr. Luke tells us what characterized the early Spirit-filled congregation—what made it healthy, dynamic, and alive. He basically records the diet and exercise regimen of a healthy body of Christ

Lesson In Historical Context:

· The epistles of the New Testament shape the doctrine for the life of the church. Acts traces the application of that doctrine in the history of the early church. This passage describes the historical outworking of God’s ideal in the first local church. It describes the new-born church in its prime, when it possessed a purity of devotion to the risen Lord unmatched in succeeding generations.

· In this brief cameo of life in the early church, three distinguishing dimensions emerge that reveal this to be a remarkable assembly. They manifested spiritual duties and spiritual attitudes, and the result was spiritual impact.[1]

· God delivers the gospel through the faithfulness of those who hear the message. The gospel started out in Jerusalem, and now it has arrived all the way to where you are right now. The book of Acts describes how that began.

· Acts opens with a reference to the ‘first account … about all that Jesus began to do and teach’ (v. 1), which is the Gospel of Luke. The historical facts of the Gospel of Luke and of Acts are anchored by ‘many convincing proofs’ (v. 3): eyewitness accounts of the resurrection by hundreds of people (1 Cor. 15:5–8), the fulfilment of Bible prophecy (Luke 24:44–49), and visible miraculous signs throughout Jerusalem (Luke 23:44–45). Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded the apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:16–17; 15:26–27).After Jesus departed into heaven, he gave his people the Helper to empower them to testify about Jesus Christ (Acts 2:2–3).[2]

· Before jumping into verse 42, let’s pause to remember how this church was born. Peter preached a Christ-exalting sermon, and as a result of the Spirit and the Word at work, three thousand people were saved. (That’s a pretty good day!) God builds his church by his Word. Just as God spoke creation into existence in Genesis, he speaks this new creation—this new community—into existence through his mighty Word.

· The church is God’s plan. That plan is bigger than the random conversion of a few individuals. Christianity is personal but not individualistic. It’s corporate. Jesus is saving a people for himself (Titus 2:14). This fact is made plain here in Acts 2; it has also been emphasized in Acts 1, as the people gathered together (1:14; 2:1). The communal nature of the church is reiterated throughout the New Testament and is illustrated by the fact that the epistles, or letters, were written to churches or in reference to churches.

· This was really a church, nothing more and nothing less. Its life was completely defined by the devotion to those spiritual duties which make up the unique identity of the church. Nothing outside the living Lord, the Spirit, and the Word define life for the church. This church, though not having any cultural elements of success, no worldly strategies, was still endowed with every necessary component for accomplishing the purposes of its Lord. The church will still be effective in bringing sinners to Christ when it manifests the same key elements of spiritual duty that marked this first fellowship.

· Based on the importance of the church, it is imperative that we understand what the church is supposed to be and do.[3]

Bible Study:

Acts 2:42 (NASB) 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

· Luke presents in this paragraph an ideal picture of this new community, rejoicing in the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit. The community, the apostolic fellowship, was constituted on the basis of the apostolic teaching.

o This teaching was authoritative because it was the teaching of the Lord communicated through the apostles in the power of the Spirit. For believers of later generations, the New Testament scriptures form the written deposit of the apostolic teaching.

o The apostolic succession is recognized most clearly in those churches which adhere most steadfastly to the apostolic teaching.

· In doctrine (Didache): the teaching, the instruction of the apostles providing unique insight into how the Christian community lived and functioned. The teaching would include both what Christ taught and His actual death, resurrection, and ascension (or exaltation). It would

be the same teaching and instructions that are shared in the New Testament and that the disciples wrote to various churches and bodies of believers. The teaching would be no different. There is only one message, only one Word, that saves, roots, and grounds people in the Lord—the Word of God Himself, the message of the New Testament. On the day of Pentecost, the persons who were saved needed to be grounded in the faith. The only message that could ground them was the message found in the New Testament. It was that message, that doctrine they were taught.

· Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB) 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

· Luke 24:45-48 (NASB) 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 "You are witnesses of these things.

Thought to soak on:

· Note a striking fact: we can be saved, rooted, and grounded in the very same message. God has given us the very same doctrines and instructions to root and ground us. We can have a true, dynamic apostolic experience and maturity in the Lord. We can grow and know the Lord as intimately as the early believers knew the Lord. In fact, we come short if we do not, for we have the very same doctrine, teachings, and instructions that they had.[4]

· The apostolic fellowship found expression in a number of practical ways of fellowship including the breaking of bread and prayers.

o Fellowship: the fellowship wrought by the Spirit of God means more than the association existing in secular groups such as civic clubs and community bodies. There is a vast difference between community participation and spiritual participation. Community participation is based upon neighborly association. Spiritual participation is based upon a spiritual union wrought by the Spirit of God.

o The distinctiveness is this: the Holy Spirit is within the Christian believer.

§ The Holy Spirit creates a spiritual union by melting and molding the heart of the Christian believer to the hearts of other believers. He attaches the life of one believer to the lives of other believers.

§ Through the Spirit of God, believers become one in life and purpose. They have a joint life sharing their blessings and needs and gifts together.Note several things about fellowship that are taught by this passage.

o Fellowship is being experienced by the new believers because they join other Christians in learning the Scriptures (apostles’ teachings) and in worship (prayers and celebrating the Lord’s Supper, Acts 2:41–42).

o Fellowship forbids an unattached Christian life. Their fellowship is maintained because they “continue steadfastly” in the Scriptures, in worship and in prayer. An unattached Christian life is just impossible.

§ Christianity is first an individual matter, but then it becomes a social matter. The Christian is attached to Christ individually, but he is also attached to other believers. He walks with other believers in the Scriptures and in worship.

§ Christianity is first a spiritual organism, but then it becomes a spiritual organization. The Christian has an inward life, but he also takes on an outward form of life. He becomes a living organization with other Christian believers. He sits at the feet of the apostles’ teaching and joins right in with other Christians as they worship together.

§ Christianity makes the true believer a saint (one who is set apart unto God), but Christianity is made up of saints—plural. Christianity is not just one person; Christianity is many persons—saints. The word is often used in the New Testament, but it is never used in the singular. Christianity is Christianity because the saints study the Scriptures together and worship together.

§ Christianity demands that a believer personally live out such virtues as kindness, longsuffering, and love; but the believer can do this only in association with others.

§ Christianity means that the Spirit of God has entered the believer’s life, but it also means that the Spirit of God has placed the believer into a corporate body (the church), into Christian society itself. The Spirit of God indwells the corporate body of believers as well as the individual (1 Cor. 3:16).

o The “breaking of bread” probably denotes more than the regular taking of food together: the regular observance of what came to be called the Lord’s Supper seems to be in view.

§ While this observance appears to have formed part of an ordinary meal, the emphasis on the inaugural action of breaking the bread, “a circumstance wholly trivial in itself,” says Rudolf Otto, suggests that this was “the significant element of the celebration.… But it could only be significant when it was a ‘signum’, viz. of Christ’s being broken in death.”

o The prayers in which they participated, the primary reference is no doubt to their own appointed seasons for united prayer, although we know that the apostles also attended the Jewish prayer services in the temple (cf. 3:1).

§ The community’s prayers would follow Jewish models, but their content would be enriched because of the Christ-event.[5]

§ Praying for God’s will to be done in their lives was the focus.

Acts 2:43 (NASB) 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

· There was great reverence or awe. The multitude had just before ridiculed them (ver. 13); but so striking and manifest was the power of God on this occasion, that it silenced all clamors, and produced a general worship and awe/wonder. The effect of a great work of God’s grace is commonly to produce an unusual seriousness and solemnity in a community, even among those who are not converted. It restrains, subdues, and silences opposition.

· Every person was affected; that is, upon the people generally; not only on those who became Christians, but upon the multitudes who witnessed these things. All things were fitted to produce this reverential awe: the recent crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth; the wonders that attended that event; the events of the day of Pentecost; and the miracles performed by the apostles, were all fitted to diffuse solemnity, thought, anxiety through the community.

· Many wonders and signs. This was promised by the Savior, Mark. 16:17. Some of the miracles which they wrought are specified in the following chapters.[6]

o The miracles are described with the characteristic combination “signs” and “wonders.” The same phrase continues to be used of the apostles’ miracle-working in 4:30 and 5:12 and is applied to others as well: Jesus (2:22), Stephen (6:8), Moses (7:36), Philip (8:13), and Paul and Barnabas (14:3; 15:12). It is interesting to note that the phrase is no longer used after chap. 15, although Paul continued to work miracles.

o An example of one such miraculous sign is given in 3:1–10. Luke’s summary statement would indicate that this healing story is only one example of many miracles worked by the apostles in this early stage of their ministry. The response of the people is a reverent fear (phobos, “awe,” NIV). “Everyone” probably refers also to those outside the Christian community who were awed by apostolic miracles (cf. 5:12–13).[7]

Acts 2:44 (NASB) Looks back and ties into Vs. 42 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

· Having noted the diet of the healthy church, we now move to its exercise regimen. Its first exercise is fellowship. The first-century Christ followers shared a common way of life. They were spiritually united as “believers,” and this spiritual union worked itself out into practical acts of love and support.

· Such fellowship with one another is tied to the Christian’s fellowship with the Father (cf. 1 John 1:3). Out of our common fellowship with the Father through Jesus, we enjoy fellowship with our spiritual brothers and sisters. If people are out of fellowship with Christ, then they will be out of fellowship with the church. And if people are out of fellowship with Jesus’s people, that is an indicator they may be out of fellowship with Jesus. That’s how strong the Christ-church union is.

· The “one another” passages in the New Testament underscore the significance of and the early spirit of real devotion to the community of faith. Each of these teachings should be considered and prayed both for the spiritual growth of our own hearts and for those of our congregations:

o I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. (John 13:34)

o We who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. (Rom 12:5)

o Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. (Rom 12:10)

o Outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom 12:10)

o Instruct one another. (Rom 15:14)

o The members would have the same concern for each other.(1 Cor 12:25)

o Serve one another through love. (Gal 5:13)

o Carry one another’s burdens. (Gal 6:2)

o With patience, bearing with one another in love. (Eph 4:2)

o Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Eph 4:32)

o Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. (Eph 5:21)

o In humility consider others as more important than yourselves.(Phil 2:3)

o Do not lie to one another. (Col 3:9)

o Encourage one another. (1 Thess. 4:18)

o Always pursue what is good for one another. (1 Thess. 5:15)

o Let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works.(Heb 10:24)

o Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. (Jas 4:11)

o Do not complain about one another. (Jas 5:9)

o Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (Jas 5:16)

o Be hospitable to one another without complaining. (1 Pet 4:9)

o All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. (1 Pet 5:5)

o Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

o No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us.(1 John 4:12)

Thoughts to soak on about having Christ and His love in common

· While it’s a challenge to cultivate and maintain edifying fellowship, it’s also an amazing blessing that we within the church enjoy. Consider the privilege you have. You get to spend time with brothers and sisters in the faith. Do you realize what a source of encouragement and blessing they can be to you and you can be to them? In his classic book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brothers and sisters”. May we never forget that.[8]

Acts 2:45 (NASB) …..Ties with vs. 44 45 and they beganselling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

· A distinctive feature was the way in which the believers lived together and practiced some kind of joint ownership of possessions. What this means is made clearer in verse 45 where it appears that people sold their possessions so that the proceeds might be used to help the needy. The first impression we get, then, is that of a society whose members lived together and had everything in common(4:33). This would not be surprising, since we know that at least one other contemporary Jewish group, the Qumran sect, adopted this way of life (1QS 6); in their descriptions of the Essenes (with whom the Qumranites are usually identified) Philo and Josephus say the same thing.

· It may well be that in the first flush of religious enthusiasm the early church lived in this kind of way; the sayings of Jesus about self-renunciation could have suggested this way of life. It appears from the account in 4:32–5:11, however, that the selling of one’s goods was a voluntary matter, and the way in which special attention is given to Barnabas for selling a field may suggest that there was something unusual about his act.

· We should not, therefore, conclude that becoming a believer necessarily entailed living in a tight-knit Christian community. What actually happened may have been that each person held his goods at the disposal of the others whenever the need arose. We have avoided the use of the term ‘communism’ in describing this practice, since modern communism is a description of a political and economic system of such a different character that it is outdated and misleading to use the term in the present context.[9]

· A modern example of this is that Kathy and I had small “ranchette” in Center, Texas when Williams Trace was trying to raise funds for the first building. We felt led to sell it and donate the proceeds to the effort. We can testify it was a great blessing to be part of the process.

Acts 2:46 (NASB) 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

· They kept up the communion of saints. They continued in fellowship (v. 42), and continued daily with one accord in the temple, v. 46. They not only had a mutual affection to each other, but a great deal of mutual conversation with each other; they were much together.

· They did not turn hermits, but were very intimate with one another, and took all occasions to meet; wherever you saw one disciple, you would see more, like birds of a feather. See how these Christians love one another. They were concerned for one another, sympathized with one another, and heartily espoused one another’s interests. They had fellowship with one another in religious worship. They met in the temple: there was their rendezvous; for joint fellowship with God is the best fellowship we can have with one another, 1 Jn. 1:3. They were daily in the temple, not only on the days of the sabbaths and solemn feasts, but on other days, every day. Worshipping God is to be our daily work, and, where there is opportunity, the more often it is done publicly the better. They were with one accord;not only no discord nor strife, but a great deal of holy love among them; and they heartily joined in their public services. Though they met with the Jews in the courts of the temple, yet the Christians kept together by themselves, and were unanimous in their separate devotions.[10]

· They shared at the table: Breaking bread probably included both a common meal and the Lord’s Supper. They prayed together. Their witness was marked by signs and wonders: They continued to experience the power of the Spirit. They shared, not only of themselves but of their possessions: They held everything in common and gave freely to the needy. They met regularly with fellow Christians in household fellowships and continued to worship and witness in the Jewish temple. It was an ideal time. God blessed their faithfulness.[11]

Thoughts to Soak on

· The birthplace of the church was the upstairs room in Jerusalem where the Lord had celebrated the last Passover with His disciples, and where He had instituted the Lord’s Supper.

· With the addition of three thousand souls to the one hundred and twenty, this room was obviously far too small to accommodate the whole Jerusalem church. It is interesting to note where they moved to—the temple courts. What more appropriate place was there! What more suitable place for testimony! These early chapters mention this meeting-place several times.

· But the use of their own homes is also prominent. They were to be found consorting in the temple courts, but their common meals were served in each other’s houses. These two kinds of premises are mentioned again in 5:42.[12]

Acts 2:47 (NASB) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

· Acts 2:46–47 add an outline of the beautiful daily life of the community, which was, like their liberality, the outcome of the feeling of brotherhood, intensified by the sense of the gulf between them and the crooked generation from which they had separated themselves.

· Luke shows it on two sides. Though they had separated from the nation, they clung to the Temple services, as they continued to do till the end.

o They had not come to clear consciousness of all that was involved in their discipleship.

o It was not God’s will that the new spirit should violently break with the old letter. Convulsions are not His way, except as second-best.

o The disciples had to stay within the fold of Israel, if they were to influence Israel. The time of outward parting between the Temple and the Church was far ahead yet.

· But the truest life of the infant Church was not nourished in the Temple, but in the privacy of their homes. They were one family and lived as such. Their ‘breaking bread at home’ includes both their ordinary meals and the Lord’s Supper; for in these first days every meal, at least the evening meal of every day, was hallowed by having the Supper as a part of it. Each meal was thus a religious act, a token of brotherhood, and accompanied with praise. Surely then ‘men did eat angels’ food,’ and on platter and cup was written ‘Holiness to the Lord.’

· Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house: The church is meant to worship God and learn His Word together. Yet it is meant to do more; God wants us to share our lives with one another.

o Praising God and having favor with all the people: Their Christian experience was daily, joyful, and simple—good examples for us to follow.

o And the Lord added to the church day by day those who were being saved: This is God’s prescription for church growth. If we take care to follow the example of Acts 2:42–47a, God will take care of growing the church Himself.[13]

· The ideal of human fellowship was realized, though but for a moment, and on a small scale. It was inevitable that divergences should arise, but it was not inevitable that the Church should depart so far from the brief brightness of its dawn. Still the sweet concordant brotherhood of these morning hours witnesses what Christian love can do, and prophesies what shall yet be and shall not pass.

· No wonder that such a Church won favor with all the people! We hear nothing of its evangelizing activity, but its life was such that, without recorded speech, multitudes were drawn into so sweet a fellowship. If we were like the Pentecostal Christians, we should attract wearied souls out of the world’s Babel into the calm home where love and brotherhood reigned, and God would ‘add’ to us ‘day by day those that were being saved.’[14]

Thoughts to soak on submitted by Alan Carr, December 2003

The Wonder Of His Blessings—God said “Amen” to this congregation’s efforts in some very real ways:

· They Were a Praising People—Notice that we do not find these people complaining, belly-aching, whining, fighting, etc. They are engaged in the practice of praising the Lord Jesus. They are using their mouths for a noble pursuit!

· A growing, healthy church is marked by their praise. I know that in these days, there are those who feel that we have become too modern and too sophisticated to be praising the Lord. Well, God still likes it and it is still in the Book, Psa. 47:1; Heb. 13:15.

o A praising church is a lively church, it is a happy church, it is a victorious church, it is a blessed church, and it is an exciting church! Sugar Land Baptist Churchneeds to be known as a place where people can come and praise the Lord Jesus Christ.)

(Ill. All the reasons we have for praise! All summed up in Luke 10:20! How are you doing in the praise department?)

· He blessed them with His Peace (Unity)—God’s church is to be a united church, and unity among people so different can only be the result of the Lord’s work in our lives! (Ill. We may not always agree on everything, but when the chips are down, the people of God will stand together, work together and die together!)

· He blessed them with His Power—They saw miracles done in their midst. The unexplainable was commonplace in those days. Again, this can only come from the Lord. When we get where He can bless us as He wants to, we too will experience the unexplainable in our midst.

· He blessed them with His Presence—When they met, they did so amid the presence of the Lord. He has promised the same for His people wherever and whenever they may meet, Matt. 18:20. Sadly, too often when we meet, we fail to do so in His Name! If we will rediscover the lost art of true worship, we can once again experience the Lord’s overwhelming presence here in this church!

· The Wonder Of His Building—The Lord added to His church! When God begins to pour His blessings out on a hungry, holy people, one of the advantages is that souls will be delivered from Hell!

o (Ill. “Daily” Apparently, people were being brought into the church there daily. No church that I know of is seeing this happen but rest assured that God is still adding to His church on a daily basis. Ever since the day of Pentecost, somewhere in this world, souls have been brought into the Kingdom of Our blessed Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Having said that, there is no reason why we cannot see it here.

Thoughts to soak on in Closing

· If Jesus, The Great Physician, were to walk into this building tonight and place His finger on the spiritual pulse of Sugar Land Baptist Church, would He say we were dead or alive?

· What if He were to do the same to you as an individual?

· As you’ve listened to this message, I trust that the Lord has pointed out areas where you need to make improvements in your own life. If so, I invite you to bring those needs to Jesus and let Him take care of them today.

· As you are strengthened and walk in full fellowship with the Father, your church is also strengthened.

o Whatever your needs are today, please bring them to Jesus and let Him take care of them for you.

o If we will respond to Him, walk with Him and honor Him, He will visit this church with His power and we will experience His best plan for this ministry!

o Will you do what the Lord wants you to do today?[15]

Warren Wiersbe gives us a closing summary for those who tire of reading details and want to cut to meat of God’s message to us:

· The believers continued to use the temple for their place of assembly and ministry, but they also met in various homes. The 3,000 new converts needed instruction in the Word and fellowship with God’s people if they were to grow and become effective witnesses. The early church did more than make converts; they also made disciples (Matt. 28:19–20).

· Two phrases in Acts 2:42 may need explanation. “Breaking of bread” probably refers to their regular meals, but at the close of each meal, they probably paused to remember the Lord by observing what we call “the Lord’s Supper.” Bread and wine were the common fare at a Jewish table. The word fellowshipmeans much more than “being together.” It means “having in common” and probably refers to the sharing of material goods that was practiced in the early church. This was certainly not a form of modern communism, for the program was totally voluntary, temporary (Acts 11:27–30), and motivated by love.

· The church was unified (Acts 2:44), magnified (Acts 2:47a), and multiplied (Acts 2:47b). It had a powerful testimony among the unsaved Jews, not only because of the miracles done by the Apostles (Acts 2:43), but also because of the way the members of the fellowship loved each other and served the Lord. The risen Lord continued to work with them (Mark 16:20) and people continued to be saved. What a church!

· The Christians you meet in the Book of Acts were not content to meet once a week for “services as usual.” They met daily (Acts 2:46), cared daily (Acts 6:1), won souls daily (Acts 2:47), searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and increased in number daily (Acts 16:5). Their Christian faith was a day-to-day reality, not a once-a-week routine. Why? Because the risen Christ was a living reality to them, and His resurrection power was at work in their lives through the Spirit.

· The promise is still good: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13).

o Have you called?

o Have you trusted Jesus Christ to save you?[16]

Grace and Peace to all who read this and more especially share it with others by whatever venue you feel led.

[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 79–80. [2]John-Michael Wong, Opening up Acts, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2010), 18–19. [3] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 35. [4]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Acts of the Apostles, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 40. [5] F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 73. [6]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Acts, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 57. [7] John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 120. [8] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 36–37. [9] I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 5, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 89–90. [10]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2071. [11]John B. Polhill, “Acts,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 503. [12] J. Anderson, “Acts,” in Acts and James, What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie, 2000), 47. [13]David Guzik, Acts, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Ac 2:46–Ac 3. [14] Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: Acts 1–12 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 65–67. [15]Alan Carr, “The Marks of a Growing Church (Acts 2:42–47),”in The Sermon Notebook: New Testament(Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2015), 1902–1903. [16]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 410–411.