Acts 2:46

And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

'DAY BY DAY'-'Through the weeks that followed the day of Pentecost.' (Reese p. 86)

'WITH ONE ACCORD'-'with one intent' (Rhm); 'they met by common consent' (Phi).

'IN THE TEMPLE'-Which was probably one of the few areas in which 3000 people could meet on. regular basis.

Points to Note:

From this statement that they met in the temple some have erroneously assumed that the early church didn't few itself as distinct from Judaism. The early preaching of the apostles destroys that idea (Acts 2:38-40; Acts 4:10-12-20; Acts 5:29-32). They met in the Temple area because many of the courts were open to the public and it was the ideal place for 3000 people to meet (Acts 5:12). In addition, meeting in the temple area also gave the apostles. chance to preach to non-Christians.

Others have assumed that the expression "day by day" means that the early church partook of the Lord's Supper every day. Such isn't the case (Acts 20:7).

'BREAKING BREAD AT HOME'-This expression is connected to "food". Indicating that "breaking bread" in this verse refers to. social meal. 'They had their meals in their homes' (Beck).

'GLADNESS AND SINGLENESS OF HEART'-'in simple-hearted gladness' (TCNT); 'unaffected joy' (NEB). These Christians were grateful, they were satisfied, and such things as 'what others have', etc...didn't affect their joy. Here we find an absence of strife, jealousy, envy, gossip or hate. We also find an absence of that attitude which says, 'I'm unfulfilled,. need to be me, I'm not getting what. deserve.'

Points to Note:

Carefully consider how the Bible places. distinction between worship or what Christians did as. congregation, and what Christians did in their homes. We don't find social meals and entertainment as being the function or work of the local congregation. See 1 Corinthians 11:18.

Some argue that the New Testament Church had. social meal in its assembly before or after the Lord's Supper. But Acts 2:42 places any social meals in the private homes of the members.