Acts 2 (part 3)

In our last post we considered the apostle Peter’s message to the men of Israel on the day of Pentecost (vs.14-40) in which he proved from the scriptures that the same Jesus that they rejected and crucified was raised and exalted by God and that He is both Lord and Christ. The end of the chapter records the response of the Jews to that message (v.41) and the manner of living of the church at Jerusalem (v.42-47). 

The Response (v.41)

3,000 Jews gladly received Peter’s invitation to repent and be baptized. They had been pricked in the heart and were troubled by their guilt of crucifying their Messiah and so when they heard that they could receive the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost they GLADLY responded. That 3,000 were saved on Pentecost is usually held up as example of great revival. However, there was a great multitude that heard the message and the majority did not repent. The whole nation needed to repent (note "every one of you" in v.38) and although 3,000 was a good start it was still a comparatively small number in light of the fact that the whole nation needed to repent.

This verse is often used as a proof text to teach that water baptism puts you into the church. However, what happens in this verse is in response what Peter said to Israel in v.38 which is not the message we are to preach today (compare with Acts 16:30-31). Peter did not tell these Jews to be baptized to join the church but to receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. We should never rip a verse out of its context in order to support a preconcieved idea. In this present age every believer is baptized by the Spirit into the church which is the Body of Christ upon salvation (1 Cor. 12:13). That is the "one baptism" upon which the fellowship of the Body of Christ is to be based (Eph. 4:5). Yes, the apostle Paul baptized believers (Acts 16, 18) but there is no record of him commanding it as a requirement for church membership. I believe in the importance of the local church and that water baptism is for this age but I don't believe water baptism is required for salvation or fellowship. The only passages of scripture that REQUIRE water baptism are in the context of Israel and the gospel of the kingdom. 

The 3,000 repentant Jews were said to be added to “them”. Who are the “them” (v.47)? This is the first mention of the word “church” in Acts. A church is simply a called-out assembly and the term is NOT exclusive to this age (there was an OT church, Acts 7:38). The church in early Acts was made up of Jews that believed the gospel of the kingdom and were therefore called out of unbelieving Israel (v.40) and assembled as the “little flock” of true Israel (Lk. 12:32). This church was in existence before Acts 2, else how could the 3,000 souls be added to it (Acts 1:4, 15)? The church we read about in the beginning of the book of Acts is made up of Jews only (Acts 11:19) and they are still operating with the kingdom in view. Many preachers claim that we are to follow the pattern of the church in Acts 2 but I don’t see any of them doing it.

The Manner of Living of the Church at Jerusalem (vs.42-47)  

They were stedfast in:

1. The apostles’ doctrine – Which was the doctrine Christ taught them in His earthly ministry and in the 40 days prior to His acension. It was all based OT prophecy concerning the kingdom (Acts 1:3; Rom. 15:8). 

2. Fellowship – They were together and in one accord. According to the order of words in this verse, their fellowship was based on their doctrine.

3. Breaking of bread – Some say this refers to the Lord’s Supper but it probably just refers to meals (v. 46)

4. Prayers – They observed the hours of prayer in the temple (Acts 3:1)

Being baptized with the Holy Ghost, the apostles had power to work the wonders and signs of the kingdom which caused the Jews to fear because this was being done in the name of the One they had crucified (v.43; 5:12-16).

Because the kingdom was still in view and they were expecting the return of their King they sold all possessions just as Jesus had instructed them (Lk. 12:32-33). This proved their faith because in the kingdom they will gain much more (Matt. 19:28). They were able to have all things common because they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. This does not work in the world because of man's sinful and selfish human nature (Marx misused this passage to teach communism). Compare this passage and Acts 4:32-37 with Paul's instruction to us in 1 Thess. 4:11-12 and notice the dispensational difference.

This church was in the TEMPLE every day for prayer and worship. There was no revelation at this point that they were not to operate according to the Law (see Peter's attitude in Acts 10:14, 28). 

Because they were in fellowship with God and one another they had joy (1 John 1:3-4). At this point the people showed favor to the disciples but soon the Jewish leaders will begin to bring persecution as they stubbornly refuse to repent.