Acts 2:40-47 – Birth of the Church

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

The early church reached a level of fellowship that should be a goal to reach today. Learn how the early church flourished in this week’s study of Acts 2:40-47.

Introduction

As we continue in our study of Acts 2, our study this week will cover the third event that took place on the Day of Pentecost:  the birth of the church.  Now, when we talk about the birth of the church, we’re not talking about the birth of a religious entity, a governing entity, nor a political entity.  The church is the body of Christ, which is all those who believe in Christ and walk by faith.

Conclusion of Peter’s Sermon

Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 

• “Perverse generation” speaks of the generation present in Peter’s day to today’s generation.  Today’s generation is of the church age, whereas Peter’s generation was the last of the Old Testament and the beginning of the church.
• I don’t believe that all of Peter’s sermon is recorded in Acts 2:14-39.  I believe we get the introduction of Peter’s sermon with Acts 2:40 summing up that Peter said a lot more than what is recorded.  However, the focus of the sermon was Christ, repentance, and salvation, which all sermons should return to.

The First Believers of the Church

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

• “Added to them” means people were added to walking in the way of Christ.
• The earliest believers in the church were primarily Jews, as the Jews were the first to receive the gospel.  This does not mean that Gentiles weren’t in the early church, as again, Acts 2:9 does show that Gentiles were present during the first sermon.  Later on in the book of Acts, we will see where Gentiles began to fill the church.
• “Those who gladly received his words” is incredibly important to note because:
  • One cannot become a believer through force and by dictation, no matter how badly you may want someone, or even a nation, to be saved.
  • Forcing belief and faith will never work and, historically, has shown to lead to chaos.
  • Christians should remember that Jesus invited (or welcomed) others to follow Him.
    • Jesus welcomed the apostles to follow Him (Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:2-11; John 1:40-42).
    • The great invitation to find rest (Matt. 11:28-30).
    • The eternal promise (John 3:16).
  • Salvation (being saved) is a choice that must be made freely, as God desires for one to choose Him freely.  If God dictated or demanded that we follow Him, that would not require faith, nor would that be an act of love.  Demanding and dictating faith is antithetical to the way of God.

Continuing in the Apostles’ Doctrine

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

• “They continued” speaks of the 3,000 souls that gladly received the gospel.
• The apostles’ doctrine is founded upon the teachings of Christ.  The apostles’ doctrine adhered to what Christ had commissioned.
  • The Great Commission, in Matthew 28:19-20, commissions Jesus’ disciples to:
    • To baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    • To teach others to observe all things He commanded.
      • Christ commanded that we love God wholeheartedly, and that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40).

Why Did You Join the Church?

Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 

• “Fear came upon every soul”, which means these believers were amazed by all the works of the apostles.  However, let’s note that these believers did not join the church because of the signs and wonders.  These believers joined after hearing Peter’s sermon.
• One who says they believe in God should consider what led to their belief.
  • Did you believe because someone made you?
  • Did you believe because of God’s promise?
    • God’s promise is the heavenly kingdom, not earthly treasures.
  • Did you believe because of signs, wonders, and feelings?
  • Did you believe because of the preaching, teaching, and testimonies?
• We must ensure that we know what we believe in so that we are walking in true faith.
  • Do you believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
    • One cannot say they believe in God but doubt that He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
      • 1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 
  • Do you believe in the death and resurrection of Christ?
    • If you believe in Christ, His death and resurrection, this means that you believe in grace and mercy, and therefore, you ought to move in the same grace and mercy that God has shown you.  

Fellowship in the Early Church

Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 

Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

• This high level of fellowship is only possible through the Holy Spirit. Let’s keep in mind the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23): Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 
• The level of fellowship present in the early church is incredibly difficult to reach because of sin’s presence in the local church today.
  • Paul wrote, in Ephesians 6:12, “ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
• For us to reach the highest level of fellowship amongst each other, we must let go of our desire for earthly pleasure.
  • Paul wrote, in Galatians 5:16-17, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
  • The works or lusts of the flesh are listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

The Foundation of Fellowship

Christians are to be imitators of Christ.  The early church greatly imitated the way of Christ, and it flourished at a high level of fellowship for a time, which we will see here in these early chapters of Acts.  However, sin eventually crept in and began to hinder the fellowship of the early church, and still hinders the church today.

Yet, just because sin is present in the world, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put forth the effort to improve our fellowship with one another, right?  Christ was sincere in how He moved, moving with grace and mercy, and we should move in like manner.  

So, how do we live in a Christ-like manner?  The Holy Spirit is the key.  Without the Holy Spirit, man will try to force his way upon another and that brings about nothing but utter chaos.  So, we must listen more to the Holy Spirit rather than the path of self-righteous religion.