EXEGESIS OF ACTS 2 CHURCH

ACTS 2:1, 42-44 GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, USES  THE APOSTLE PETER'S GIFT  With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. THE 3000 MEMBER JERUSALEM CHURCH SERVICES They continued steadfastly in the apostles` teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.                                         Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together, and had all things common. , They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. ACTS 2  Verse 1 Was now come  (en twi sunplhrousqai). Luke's favourite idiom of en with the articular present infinitive passive and the accusative of general reference, "in the being fulfilled completely (perfective use of sun-) as to the day of Pentecost." Common verb, but only in Luke in N.T. In literal sense of filling a boat in Luke 8:23, about days in Luke 9:51 as here.  Whether the disciples expected the coming of the Holy Spirit on this day we do not know. Blass holds that the present tense shows that the day had not yet come. It is a Hebrew idiom (Exodus 7:25) and Luke may mean that the day of Pentecost was not yet over, was still going on, though Hackett takes it for the interval (fifty days) between Passover and Pentecost. Apparently this day of Pentecost fell on the Jewish Sabbath (our Saturday). It was the feast of first fruits. All together in one place (panteß omou epi to auto). All together in the same place. Note omou here (correct text), not omoqumadon as in Exodus 1:14, and so a bit of tautology. Verse 42 They continued steadfastly (hsan proskarturounteß). Periphrastic active imperfect of proskarturew as in Acts 1:14 (same participle in verse Acts 2:46).                                                                                                                                                                                   Fellowship (koinwniai). Old word from koinwnoß (partner, sharer in common interest) and this from koinoß what is common to all.                                     This partnership involves participation in, as the blood of Christ (Philippians 2:1) or co-operation in the work of the gospel (Philippians 1:5) or contribution for those in need (2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13). Hence there is wide diversity of opinion concerning the precise meaning of koinwnia in this verse. It may refer to the distribution of funds in verse 2 Corinthians 44 or to the oneness of spirit in the community of believers or to the Lord's Supper (as in 1 Corinthians 10:16) in the sense of communion or to the fellowship in the common meals or agapae (love-feasts).                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The breaking of bread (th klasei tou artou). The word klasiß is an old word, but used only by Luke in the N.T. (Luke 24:35; Acts 2:42), though the verb klaw occurs in other parts of the N.T. as in verse Acts 2:46. The problem here is whether Luke refers to the ordinary meal as in Luke 24:35 or to the Lord's Supper. The same verb klaw is used of breaking bread at the ordinary meal (Luke 24:30) or the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19).                                                                                                                                                                                       It is generally supposed that the early disciples attached so much significance to the breaking of bread at the ordinary meals, more than our saying grace, that they followed the meal with the Lord's Supper at first, a combination called agapai or love-feasts.                                                                                       "There can be no doubt that the Eucharist at this period was preceded uniformly by a common repast, as was the case when the ordinance was instituted" (Hackett). This led to some abuses as in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Hence it is possible that what is referred to here is the Lord's Supper following the ordinary meal. "To simply explain th klasei tou artou as='The Holy Communion' is to pervert the plain meaning of words, and to mar the picture of family life, which the text places before us as the ideal of the early believers" (Page).                                                                                                                           But in Acts 20:7 they seem to have come together especially for the observance of the Lord's Supper. Perhaps there is no way to settle the point conclusively here. The prayers (taiß proseucaiß). Services where they prayed as in Acts 1:14, in the temple (Acts 3:1), in their homes (Acts 4:23). Verse 43 Came (egineto). Imperfect middle, kept on coming. Were done (egineto). Same tense. Awe kept on coming on all and signs and wonders kept on coming through the apostles. The two things went on pari passu, the more wonders the more fear. Verse 44 Were together (hsan epi to auto). Some MSS. hsan kai (were and). But they were together in the same place as in Acts 2:1. And had (kai eicon). Imperfect active, kept on having, a habit in the present emergency. Common (koina). It was not actual communism, but they held all their property ready for use for the common good as it was needed (Acts 4:32). This situation appears nowhere else except in Jerusalem and was evidently due to special conditions there which did not survive permanently. Later Paul will take a special collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem.