The Disciples' Pattern- Acts 2:42-47

Our passage before us comes on the heels of an incredible revival. Around 3,000 people are saved as a result of the Spirit-anointed preaching of Peter.

We are studying this book because it is the inspired Word of God, and as such, is profitable (or, useful) for four things, in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:16-17: for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness.

While every passage of Scripture does not necessarily convey all four of these uses, our passage of focus this evening does. It will primarily focus on instruction and training in righteousness, which I believe will become clearer as we move through these verses.

However, I think there might be some appropriate rebuking and correcting as well, as will become clear.

I. The disciples were captivated by Christ- Acts 2:42

We see the result of God’s incredible salvation of these 3,000 people being demonstrated immediately by these disciples. They were changed, Paul says if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come (2 Cor. 5:17).

They were captivated, enamored, in love with, four things: the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These were all ways that demonstrated their changed lives, as well as the means by which they grew in their faith. We could easily referred to these as spiritual disciplines.

Now, when we hear that phrase some may shrink back and attempt to disassociate themselves from this phrase because it may bring up an empty religiosity. They are not. Don Whitney defines the spiritual disciplines this way, “The Spiritual Disciplines are those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth.” (17) In other words, God has provided us ways that we can grow in holiness (such as the Word of God, see 2 Tim. 3:16-17). So, what are these?

A. The Apostles’ Teaching

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. This is precisely what the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples prior to His ascension, as found in Matthew 28:18-20.

These are not only the teachings of Christ, as found primarily in the Gospels, but what the Lord taught during His time in between the resurrection and the ascension.

These doctrines (i.e., teachings) can also be observed in the New Testament epistles. They were, in a word, theologians. Can that be said of us? Would you consider yourself a theologian? You should! While we may not be theologians in the academic sense, you and I are theologians in the practical sense. The bad news is that, too often, we are terrible theologians. The good news, though, is that you and I can become good theologians when we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teachings.

Purchase a good study Bible, read good books, but study the Word of God incessantly!

B. The fellowship

This is a general way of referring to the body of Christ. We have fellowship with other brothers and sisters, and as disciples who are captivated by Christ, we should devote ourselves to our brothers and sisters!

This spans outside the church, though it is certainly not less than the church. We should develop and grow together outside the church building walls. People who come to church, sit in the pew, do not meet or talk to others, and then go home without associating with other Christians should have grave concern for their souls. They are sinning or still servants of sin (i.e., not saved). It is that serious. Why? Because “by their fruits you will know them,” said Jesus.

Disciples should be captivated by Christ so much that they devote themselves to the fellowship!

C. The breaking of bread

We may immediately think of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:24). While I do not think this the only think meant by this phrase, I think it also includes the sharing of meals, an essential aspect of fellowship particularly in the ANE.

We often joke that Baptists spell fellowship food. While that is a joke, there are some hints of reality with that. We share food together, both in the bread of the Lord’s Supper and just meals in general. There is a bond that develops with sharing meals.

Disciples that embrace Christ engage in fellowship, whether it refers to the Lord’s Supper or sharing meals together generally.

D. The prayers

The final thing mentioned (though certainly not exhaustive) are prayers. The early church devoted themselves to prayer (cf. 1:14). Prayer will be a primary focus of the developing church in this book, a helpful and convicting reminder that we have failed in this aspect.

Rather than devoting ourselves to prayer, we are too often what John Onwuchekwa describes,

“We don’t treat prayer like breathing. We treat it like prescription medication meant to rid us of an infection. Once the infection is gone, so is the frequency and fervency of our prayers.”--John Onwuchekwa, ‘Prayer’

The disciples were captivated by Christ. They were immersed in Christ. They loved the Lord Jesus and their lives completely changed!

II. The disciples had a healthy fear of God- Acts 2:43

The next verse describes the results of the disciples reaction to the works of God. The apostles specifically are mentioned as working “many wonders and signs.” If you remember, this is what Peter mentions about the works of Jesus in 2:22. It also harkens us back to John 12:12 where Jesus said his disciples would do greater works (more in number, not greater in power).

What was the response of the disciples? They feared. Most translations render this as “in awe.” However, the idea is fear. They were terrified at the mighty power of God through His apostles.

You could also use the phrase reverential fear. That, I think, conveys the natural reading of this word within this passage. We should have a healthy, reverential fear of the power of God. He is all powerful, infinitely holy. These two truths should strike a healthy fear in our hearts.

It is like rifles. My dad taught us a healthy respect for firearms. They can kill people, and so we want to treat them carefully, because they can also be used for self-defense and for hunting.

The result of seeing God’s working was humbling. We need to remember that as we experience God working in our own lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is instructive for our corporate gatherings. Have we forgotten whom we are worshipping? I fear that in many cases churches, in a good effort to reach people in their communities, forgo the holiness of God demonstrated by a healthy fear of the Triune God. We do not fear, as in being afraid of God for punishment, as Christ has satisfied the wrath of God. We can boldly go to the Father through Jesus Christ.

With that said, we must maintain a healthy respect, or fear, of God. We do not observe the miracles as conducted by the apostles today. We do, however, hear the Word of God through the Scriptures. We see the Word of God displayed in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

III. The disciples demonstrated love for one another- Acts 2:44-45

What we see next is that disciples demonstrated their love one another. Notice the description of these individuals, “all who believed.”

They were saved and they were growing together. They loved one another.

A. Their demonstration was voluntary

Listen to these words:

“they were selling their possessions and belongings”

“they were distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”

It was not forced upon believers. They willingly gave their possessions to help those in need (see 2 Cor. 9:6-7). This is one of the marks of the Christian, they willingly serve one another and love one another through real acts. Consider John’s exposition of this thought from 1 John 3:16-18,

1 John 3:16–18 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Love is demonstrated visibly, in actions. We cannot simply say “I love you” and never do anything to demonstrate it.

B. Their demonstration was discerning

Notice that those who received help were “as any had need.” It was for people who needed help. This is what James teaches us in James 2:14-17,

James 2:14–17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This brother’s needs is not tied to wants. It is not that one lady was blessed with two boats and this man wanted one and she should have given it to him because she was suppose to love him. No, it was tied to “the things needed for the body.”

There is no doubt that there are many needs in this area, and we should do what we can to help those in need, starting with our brothers and sisters in Christ and also to those around us (cf. Gal. 6:10).

C. Their demonstration was continual

This was not a one-time event. They lived this type of love on going. The disciples loved loving each other, and it grew with time. We need to remember that loving one another is a continual act. It is not something we do on Sunday and then we are good for the week.

This idea of consistency brings us to our last few verses in this chapter.

IV. The disciples were consistent- Acts 2:46-47

There are a variety of things we could focus on in this portion, and I want to simply highlight them as we come to a close with our time. The main theme through these two verses is consistency.

A. It was a consistent gathering-day by day

Luke records that they daily gathered together in the temple as well as gathering together in their homes. They were consistent in their worship attendance and fellowship gatherings.

They viewed the Christian life as that, the Christian life. Too many Christians believe Sunday morning from 11-12 is the hour to be a Christian and the rest of their week is separated from that. These disciples give us a glimpse into how the church should.

B. It was a consistent gratitude-with gladness…praising God

These disciples were consistent in their gratitude. They rejoiced in God’s provision (“give us this day our daily bread”) and praised God for it!

They were giving thanks in all things, as Paul told the Thessalonian church to do (1 Thess. 5:18). They received their bread with gladness, they praised God for all things. We just discussed this last Sunday, but we see it here as well. Believers, disciples of the Lord Jesus, should be known for gratefulness.

However, we too often, as a result of our society and natural sinfulness, have the erroneous idea that what we have we have because we worked hard for it, and what we should have comes from the fact that we deserve it.

We speak of the entitlement society, but we are the entitlement society! Our failure to express gratitude demonstrates this.

C. It was a consistent testimony—having favor with all the people

Now, we must be careful here not to overemphasize this point because it can lead to thinking inconsistent with the Scriptures. At the outset, let us remember that Jesus said the world hates us because the world hated Him (1 John 3:13).

At the same time, there is a pleasantness that should come from our likeness to Christ. Consider the many instances in the Gospels where people were drawn to Christ. We could phrase it like being lights in a dark world.

The way that the early believers were living, being captivated by Jesus and maintaining a healthy fear of God while demonstrating their love for one another in a consistent manner resulted in people speaking well of them.

Our lives, lived in light of Who Christ is and what He did, should cause us to be like flowers in the midst of a world of bees. The bees around us should she the beauty of Christ displayed, like a flower, in actions and speech. They should smell the aroma of the pollen and be drawn to us, not because of us, but because of the Christ who gives us life.

D. It was a consistent growth—the Lord added to their number...

Now, we are entering the heavenly realm with this behind the scenes glimpse. If were with us this Sunday morning, you will remember this is God’s role in the work of evangelism (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-9).

The disciples were captivated by Christ, maintained a healthy fear of God, demonstrated their love visibly, and were consistent in their walk with God. God blessed, according to His sovereign wisdom and grace, and people were saved.

Is this not what we desire? Do we not want to see the world changed? Do we not want to experience the love of Christ through our brothers and our sisters?

The question is, what is the reason we do not see this?

You could take any of this “main” points and examine your own life. In fact, sin is so deceiving and the flesh so wicked that one of the sub-points can hinder our growth toward likeness. Search you heart, with the Holy Spirit, and see what areas need to be confessed or strengthened.

Also, I want to remind you, as we close, that the only difference between their experience and ours is that we do not have the miracles wrought by the apostles. Everything else can be the same, because we serve the same God and we are the same Church.