Cut to the Heart, Devoted, & The New Covenant Temple (Acts 2:37-47)

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 2

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

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.

This week we’re picking up in verse 37 of Acts chapter 2, immediately following Peter’s famous Pentecost sermon and the visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. If you recall, following Jesus’ ascension, the disciples had been gathered together in Jerusalem (a company of about 120 of them), devoting themselves to prayer, waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had instructed them to do.

Then, during the Feast of Harvest (or Pentecost) at Jerusalem, we’re told that as the disciples were gathered in one place, suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind that filled the entire house where they were staying. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We’re told that the Jews who were gathered there in Jerusalem for the feast were amazed and perplexed by the disciples who were miraculously declaring the mighty works of God each in their own native tongue. While many were amazed, others mocked and said, “They must be drunk!”

Therefore, Peter lifted up his voice and addressed them. He assured them that the disciples were not drunk, but that these events had been prophesied by the prophet Joel long before, that in the last days God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, that their sons and daughters would prophesy, signifying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That this is what they were witnessing that day, the onset of the messianic age.

Furthermore, based upon Joel’s prophecy, Peter reminded them that this event also signaled immanent judgment. That the disciples speaking in “strange tongues and in the lips of foreigners” (Isaiah 28:11-12) was a sign of judgment against those in Jerusalem who had delivered Jesus up to be crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. And that this Jesus, who was attested to them by God with many signs and wonders in their midst, had been raised by God from the dead. That it was now certain that God had made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom they crucified. That Jesus had been vindicated, and that judgment for their actions now loomed over their heads.

Cut to the heart and a way of escape

However, the judgment prophesied by Joel did not end without a way of escape, he concluded by saying, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So, while judgment was certain for those who would not repent, it was also certain that all who would call upon the name of the Lord would be saved. And it’s within this context that we pickup there in verse 37,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

I love that phrase there in verse 37, that “they were cut to the heart.” This is significant for several reasons, but mainly I want you to consider for a moment why they were cut to the heart? Now, I think the answer is obvious, but it’s important for us to consider why. They were cut to the heart as a result of Peter’s testimony that they had delivered up an innocent man, even the Son of God, who had been clearly attested to them by God with many mighty works, to be crucified and killed by lawless men. And that Jesus’ resurrection testified to this fact, that his resurrection clearly indicated that he had been vindicated by God, and that they were therefore now under God’s condemnation. This is why they were cut to the heart, because they came to realize that they have broken God’s law.

Peter told them their sin

And the reason this is significant is because Peter’s sermon stands as an example of evangelism for us, that he didn’t merely stand up and tell the people that Jesus loved them, but he told them their sin, and as a result they were cut to the heart. Then, after they were cut to the heart, they asked him, “Brother’s what shall we do?” And of course, then Peter proclaims the gospel to them, he says to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”

You see, one of the fundamental hallmarks of a Christian is to be genuinely grieved by your own sin. In fact, the biggest hurdle I face when evangelizing others is that people aren’t typically grieved by their sin. They might regret their sin as a result of sin’s immediate consequences, but they’d commit the same sin again if they could get away with it. Furthermore, when I talk to unbelievers about their sin they almost immediately attempt to minimize it. They have either convinced themselves that they’re generally good people and that their good deeds outweigh their bad, or they trivialize their sin by reframing it as mere mistakes, equivalent to stubbing one’s toe accidentally on the sidewalk. You see, we’re very easily self-deceived about our own sin, even as Christians.

But my point here is that when Peter preached he told the people their sin. Now, in our modern context, telling others their sin, typically rubs us the wrong way. We’ve come to believe that pointing out someone else’s sin is inherently judgmental and even forbidden by Scripture. We’re told, “Who are you to judge?” and “Jesus said not to judge.” And as a result, our Gospel proclamation often ends up boiling down to some kind of trite and shallow statement like, “Jesus loves you,” and I can assure you that no one was ever cut to the heart by that statement.

Sharp enough to cut them

You see, when Jesus told his disciples in his Sermon on the Mount, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” he was wasn’t forbidding them from making judgments, he was admonishing his disciples against making hypocritical judgments, which is why he went on to say,

English Standard Version Chapter 7

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus’ point was for his disciples to judge rightly and without hypocrisy. Now, this of course, this doesn’t mean we’re intended to club our neighbor over the head with our righteous judgment, but it should be sharp enough to cut them, and with the intent not to destroy them, or to puff out our chests, but to save them from their sin. To help them soberly consider their sin in light of its future consequences, in hope that they might be cut to the heart, that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin, that they might come to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” Then, at that point, we share the Gospel with them, that God has provided them a way of escape, that if they repent and call upon the Lord that they will be saved.

You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Also notice what Peter said there in verse 38 again,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Not only will those who call upon the name of the Lord be saved and have their sins forgiven, but they too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples had. And not just them, anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, their children and anyone who is far off, everyone whom the Lord calls to himself. Including the three thousand souls there in verse 40-41,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

New covenant Temple filled with the Holy Spirit

Now, at the outset of chapter two, I pointed out that when the disciples were all together in one place and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and that it filled the entire house where they were staying, that this signified the presence of the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God himself. Well, what’s important to recognize is that this wasn’t without great eschatological significance. In other words, a mighty rushing wind filling the house where they were would have had great significance to them that might be missed by most of us.

Tabernacle in the wilderness

For example, you may recall the events of the exodus and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, following a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, well whenever they stopped to make camp the cloud would fill the tabernacle with the glory of the Lord, (Exodus 40:34-38) signifying God’s presence dwelling amidst his people. Listen to Exodus 40:34-35,

English Standard Version Chapter 40

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Temple in Jerusalem

You may also recall a similar event in Israel’s history, much later, after Solomon began to reign in Jerusalem, when he finished building the Temple and brought the Ark of the covenant into it, and then in 2 Chronicles 6 Solomon blessed the Temple and gave a lengthy prayer of dedication, but then in chapter 7 we read this,

English Standard Version Chapter 7

7 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Notice the parallel with the tabernacle in the wilderness.

Something greater than the Temple has come

Well, eventually the Temple was destroyed as a result of Israel’s rebellion, but then later it was rebuilt after their return from exile in Babylon. However, even after it’s reconstruction, that visible cloud (which signified God’s presence) never returned. Now, the prophets (like Haggai) foretold of a future time when the latter glory of the Temple would be greater than the former (Haggai 2:7, 9), but what they couldn’t comprehend was what that fulfillment would look like, for they only had the earthly Temple in Jerusalem as their frame of reference.

Now, while the second Temple had been rebuilt, the Ark of the covenant had been lost as a result of Solomon’s Temple being destroyed hundreds of years earlier, and so many speculated that one day the Ark of the covenant would be found and restored to its rightful place inside the holy of holies, and that at that time God’s presence would finally return.

However, what they failed to recognize was that the tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem were only designed to foreshadow what God intended to accomplish, they were only shadows of that future glory. Instead, something greater than the Temple would come. Or as John puts it in his Gospel, in John 1: 14,

English Standard Version Chapter 1

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Greek translated ‘dwelt’ there is literally ‘tabernacled’ among us. Notice the parallel John’s making between Jesus’ incarnation and the tabernacle in the wilderness.

Or as Jesus would put it when speaking about himself in Matthew 12:6,

English Standard Version Chapter 12

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

You see the tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem were both intended to foreshadow Christ, Emmanuel - God with us, God in the flesh. This is why the the Apostle Paul could later write in Colossians 2:9,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

You see, Jesus is the latter glory that exceeds the former glory of the tabernacle and the Temple. We’re not supposed to be looking for a rebuilt Temple as fulfillment of biblical prophecy, because when we do we inevitably overlook the significance of Jesus.

Church is the Temple

Now, the analogy and parallels don’t end there. While Jesus is the true tabernacle, he is also described as its chief cornerstone. Turn with me real quick to Ephesians 2:19-22, and read it with me in light of what we’ve just considered,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Just as there was a Temple under the old covenant, there’s a Temple under the new covenant, and the one was intended to foreshadow the other, and the glory of the latter is greater than the former. And lastly, notice again what verse 22 says there in Ephesians 2, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Notice how this Temple is built and who’s intended to dwell in it, it’s being built together by the Holy Spirit into a dwelling place for God. You see, this is, in part, the significance of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, that when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit that the Temple was being rebuilt and indwelt by the Spirit of God.

You see, just as the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem were, at various times in the past, filled with the presence of the glory of God, so now the church, the new covenant Temple, is indwelt by the presence of the glory of God by the Holy Spirit. And by the Spirit we are all being built together into a dwelling place for God. So, when you see the Spirit filling the room and filling the disciples at Pentecost you’re witnessing the fulfillment of OT prophecy, and when three thousand souls are added that day to their number you’re witnessing, in action, the new covenant Temple being built, a process that continues to this day, by the Spirit.

Four pillars of worship

Now, with the rest of our time, I want to consider verse 42 through the end of the chapter, which defines the nature of this new covenant Temple, or what you might call its four pillars of worship. Let’s read starting there in verse 42,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

Verse 42 describes these four pillars of worship as the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. In fact, Luke tells us that the disciples were devoted to these things. Now, devoted means, very loving, loyal, or dedicated to someone or something. Synonyms include, loyal, faithful, dedicated, committed, attached, caring, loving, attentive, adoring, and affectionate. In other words, this is how the disciples felt about these four pillars, they were devoted to them. These early disciples set an example for us to follow. Therefore, we should ask ourselves whether we’re devoted to these same things. Are we devoted to these four pillars of worship? So, let’s consider them one at a time.

The apostle’s teaching

They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching. In other words, they were devoted to doctrine (or what the Apostle’s taught), which is sadly criticized by many professing Christians today. I have often heard statements like, “I have no creed but Christ,” or “I don’t need doctrine, I just need Jesus,” not realizing that doctrine is essential to knowing Christ. The only way you can know anything about Jesus is by understanding what he taught and what the Apostles taught about him, doctrine is necessary to know anything about Jesus. Therefore, if you want to know Jesus you must devote yourself to the what the Apostle’s taught about him. Now it’s certainly possible to posses a great deal of knowledge about Jesus without possessing saving faith or loving him, but without knowledge of him it’s impossible to love him, and in order to grow in our love for him your knowledge of him must also increase. Therefore, our devotion to the apostle’s teaching should be motivated out of a desire to know and to love Christ.

Brought forth by the word of truth

This is why the word of God and preaching are central to our worship service each Lord’s Day. Without the word of God there is no saving faith, without the word of God there is not spiritual growth. This is why Paul wrote in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,” and why James 1:18 says that “of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth…” How were we brought forth? By the word of truth. How did our faith come about? By hearing through the word of Christ.

Church constituted on the basis of the apostle’s teaching

In fact, the church is constituted on the basis of apostolic teaching. That is, the church is founded upon, defined and organized by the apostle’s teaching. The church exists because of the apostle’s teaching, it’s the basis for its life and mission. The church exists and functions because it is built on the truth of what the apostles taught about Jesus.

Appetite for the word of God

Furthermore, a hallmark of any Christian is an appetite for the word of God. Listen to how 1 Peter 2:2 describes it, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” In other words, just like an infant who desires milk, one who is born again will desire spiritual milk. Therefore, just as it would be concerning for an infant not to have an appetite for food, it would be equally concerning for a Christian not to have an appetite for the word of God.

This is why it’s so important to make it a priority to gather regularly for corporate worship on the Lord’s Day. And this is why I become concerned when a member of this church has not been attending worship on a regular basis, or has been absent for an extended period of time. Not because I relish an opportunity to wag my finger at someone, but because a person’s spiritual life depends upon it, and elders will be held to account if we choose to turn a blind eye our of fear. So, if you ever get a phone call or text from me wondering where you are or where you’ve been, understand that it’s motivated by a genuine concern for your soul. Make worship and the apostle’s teaching a priority, be devoted to hit.

The fellowship

We’re also told that they devoted themselves to the fellowship. To put it another way, they devoted themselves to one another. This is especially relevant to us in our highly individualistic context. As a result of our individualistic culture our fellowship with one another, even within the church, tends to be highly superficial. While we might greet one another once a week on the Lord’s Day our lives are often conducted a part from one another. Whereas, as one pastor put it, fellowship is the partaking of one another, the partaking of one another’s lives, not merely a 15 minutes conversation before or after worship, but an investment in one another’s lives that’s founded upon a shared love for God and his word.

The truth is, our selfishness inherently fights against this kind of fellowship. We recognize that relationships are difficult, and we naturally don’t want to oblige ourselves to others. How many of us to show up to worship, and yet remain disconnected from one another; how many of us show up on a Sunday, yet disappear throughout the week; who deliberately slip out a few minutes before the end of the service to avoid the fellowship afterward. Let’s be honest, deep genuine fellowship is difficult and we don’t want to put in the work. Having people over for dinner takes work, you have to clean the house, prepare a meal, and engage in a conversation that could be draining.

But the Christian life is not intended to be a solitary life, rather it’s corporate by design. Therefore, you must be deliberate about giving yourself to one another. You must become vulnerable to one another in order to increase the depth of your fellowship. And, yes, this means at some point you will be hurt, so make yourself vulnerable with eyes wide open, expect it, be quick to repent, quick to forgive, and difficult to offend. And recognize that in doing so there is great reward. Your faith will be increased, you will disciple others and be discipled, you will learn, you will grow, and as your fellowship deepens it will also sweeten.

Fellowship a litmus test and witness

Scripture also teaches us that our fellowship with one another is 1) a litmus test for the genuineness of our faith and 2) a witness to the world. Listen to what John writes in 1 John 4:20-21,

English Standard Version Chapter 4

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

and then listen to what Jesus says in John 13:34-35,

English Standard Version Chapter 13

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Our witness to the world is not fundamentally individualistic, but corporate.

Fellowship and the one another’s

Lastly, it’s within the context of fellowship that we grow. It’s within the context of our relationships with one another that become more loving, more kind, more patient, more faithful, and more meek. We do not grow in these fruits of the Spirit in isolation from one another. Instead it’s within the context of deep fellowship that we put the apostle’s teaching into practice, it’s where we put all of the “one another” texts to the test. John 13:34, “Love one another,” Romans 12:10, “Outdo one another in showing honor,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “encourage one another,” Hebrews 3:13, “exhort one another,” Hebrews 10:24, “stir one another to love and good works,” Galatians 6:2, “bear one another’s burdens,” Ephesians 4:32, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,” Romans 12:16, “live in harmony with one another,” Ephesians 5:21, “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” James 5:16, “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,” 1 Peter 4:9, “show hospitality to one another.” None of these can be practiced apart from partaking of one another’s lives.

In fact, the reason we see later there in verses 44-45 that they had all things in common and that they were selling their possession and belongings to all, as any had need, is because they were devoting themselves to the fellowship. Therefore, let us devote ourselves to the fellowship.

The breaking of bread

Now, we’re short on time, so we’ll look just briefly at the last two pillars of worship, but if you’d like a more in depth study on these four pillars of worship make sure to check our Albert’s Foundations of Worship series online. Now, the disciples also devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. The breaking of bread is most likely a reference to more than just any ordinary meal, it’s likely a fundamental reference to the Lord’s Supper that was observed during an ordinary meal. However, what gave those particular meals significance was that they set them aside to remember Christ’s sacrificial death, just as Jesus had taught them to do. While those meals have been greatly simplified and shortened in our worship practices today, the substance remains the same, fellowship around the Lord’s table to remember his broken body and shed blood, proclaiming his death until he comes again. And due to the importance of this meal, we celebrate it every week, as the Scriptures seems to imply elsewhere, and due to the devotion exhibited here by the disciples to it.

The prayers

Lastly, they devoted themselves to the prayers. If you haven’t noticed already, all four pillars are couched in a corporate context, also indicating that this is reference specifically to corporate prayer. Which makes sense given that the Temple is referred to as a house of prayer, both in the OT and NT. Jesus famously quoted from Isaiah 56:7 in Matthew 21:13, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Therefore, it’s not surprising the spiritual Temple under the new covenant would be marked by prayer. Prayer is essential to the church, as it expresses our reliance upon God for everything. Prayer is also God’s ordained means of accomplishing ordained ends. We depend upon him through prayer, and he answers our prayers in accordance with his will. We’re intended to participate in carrying out his purposes on the earth through prayer.

Conclusion

So, as we wrap up today, my desire has been for you to see the picture that Luke paints for us in Acts 2. The early church wasn’t casual about their faith—they were devoted. Devoted to the apostles’ teaching, devoted to one another in fellowship, devoted to the breaking of bread, and devoted to prayer. With each of these fundamentally flowing out of a love and devotion to Christ, a desire to obey Him, and a recognition that the Spirit Himself was building them into a dwelling place for God.

So, when we gather each Lord’s Day, we’re participating in that same pattern. We come to hear the Word, not just to check a box, but to grow in knowledge and love for Christ. We come to fellowship, not merely to engage in small talk, but to bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another, and to sharpen one another in love. We come to the Lord’s Table, not merely for a ritual, but to proclaim the death of Christ until He comes again. And we come to prayer, not merely to speak words, but to align our hearts with God’s will and participate in His work in the world.

Prayer