Acts 2:42

King James Version (KJV)

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Translations

Acts 2:42 - Amplified Bible

And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers.

Acts 2:42 - American Standard Version

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42 - Bible in Basic English

And they kept their attention fixed on the Apostles' teaching and were united together in the taking of broken bread and in prayer.

Acts 2:42 - Darby Bible

And they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers.

Acts 2:42 - English Standard Version

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42 - King James Version

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y se dedicaban continuamente a las enseñanzas de los apòstoles, a la comuniòn, al partimiento del pan y a la oraciòn.

Acts 2:42 - The Message

Acts 2:42 - New American Standard Bible

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Y se dedicaban continuamente a las enseñanzas de los apòstoles, a la comuniòn, al partimiento del pan y a la oraciòn.

Acts 2:42 - World English Bible

They continued steadfastly in the apostles` teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

Acts 2:42 - Young's Living Translation

and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

Acts 2:42 - Additional Comments

3000 had just been added to the church. The Christian church was brand new, consisting mostly of these 3000, and the disciples who had followed Jesus. They had to learn how to operate a body, how to fellowship, how to pray together, etc. But it's interesting that there didn't seem to be much planning and organization - the Spirit led them, and they followed. There weren't really any old timers in the faith - even the apostles had only started following Jesus a few years ago. This was a brand new church, and the people in it were brand new Christians. The Christian church of today was in its very infancy at this point. It's interesting to look at where the church traveled over the next 2000 years from this sincere and humble beginning.
There were certain activities which God and Jesus had asked them to do, which they readily began to do. We need to look at these things to make sure these are how we run our church today.
They regularly heard preaching from the apostles, preaching that gave instruction to them (as Jesus had commanded - Matt 28:20). The apostles were diligent to present the instruction, and the church was diligent to hear it. It's interesting that they were probably hearing the apostle's teaching that, in due time, was transferred into written form as the N.T.
The Greek word for steadfast is also translated diligent - it means to be earnest towards, to persevere, to be constantly diligent, to adhere closely to. This was how they operated - with an earnestness that drove them.
They continued meeting together, spending time together as Christians. They met together daily in the temple (vs 46). They were together a lot, and had a mutual affection for each other, and help mutual conversations with each other. When you saw one disciple, you saw others. The fellowshipped in the temple and in the homes, which meant at the designated times and undesignated times. They were intimate with each other - they knew what was going on in each others lives. This fellowship with each other was also with God (1 John 1:3).
By meeting daily, they worshipped God daily. This is to be a daily act, not just on Sundays.
When they met, they held church - they heard the word, held Communion (1 Cor 11:23-26), and prayed. Here is seems the held Communion daily. Later it seems they met for Communion once a week (Acts 20:7). It seems these church activities were held both at the temple and at their homes (vs 46).
Is prayer an important part of our church? Is prayer an important part of your life?

Comments are closed.