Acts 2: 41-47: The Life Of The Early Church

Acts 2:41-47

Title: The Life Of The Early Church

It begins in verse 41 and ends in verse 47 with a statement about the Lord adding people to the church. Verse 41: "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added [notice the passive: the Lord did the adding] that day about three thousand souls." Verse 47b: "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." So the Lord himself, as Jesus said, is building his church (Matthew 16:18). Or, as verse 39 says, the Lord is "calling" his people to himself. Now between these two statements is a description of how the church lived after they had been "added" or "called."

From big perceptive, the church has three functions:

1. Preaching/Teaching the Word of God; 2. Fellowship; 3. Serving

1. Preaching/Teaching the Word of God; V42a They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

" And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ( 1Cor 12:28) There are various ministries of God: Apostles, prophets, teachers and workers of miracles. But the first is apostles. They are the center and essence of God's church, and the church was opened by apostles. An apostle is a "sent one." a delegate, a messenger sent on a mission. An apostle is one chosen and sent with a special mission as the fully authorized representative of the sender, the sender is none other but God! Therefore, the apostles spoke with authority from God as Christ's representatives. Divine authority and power were given to them. People must listen to them, not as men but as those who are speaking from