Now the firework has exploded and the truth has been declared (vv.36-41) it was time for people to begin their new life living in the light of these events. In Acts 2.42-47 we see how they began to do so:
“They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles. All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved”.
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We see that they set themselves a fourfold foundation; the orthodox teaching of the apostles about the Lord Jesus, living a shared life together, taking regular communion and remembering the seismic event that brought them together, and to praying both with and for one another (v.42). Their new commitment was strengthened when they saw lives being changed, the greatest wonder and miraculous sign (v.43).
Having received, with characteristic tremendous hospitality, thousands of people into town for the festival (2.5) the new believers now needed to take radical and short-term action to provide for their expanded group (2.41). Simply, everyone did what they could to contribute to the community (v.45) and everyone continued, together, in living this day by day Christian life.
The particulars of this situation might not be applicable to you and your life, but the principles certainly are. You might not have travelled into town for a festival, heard someone preaching in your first language, and given your life to God in repentance and faith on the spot. However, if you have chosen to live the Christian life, then the believers here set an example which we can follow. The foundation for their Christian life is something that we can (and should) certainly emulate (v.42), they cared for one another above and beyond themselves (vv.44-45), and their Christian life was lived day by day.
James Travis 