They worshipped together in the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. (Acts 2:46)
This is a very exciting picture of the progression of worship and fellowship among the early Jesus followers.
First, the Scripture designates their meeting place as in the Temple. The high place of Jewish worship is featured prominently as the daily gathering point for these Jesus people of the new covenant. This place of sacrifice was not set off to the side as something of the old order, but was front-and-center in their lives.
Then, the Scripture says they “met in homes for the Lord’s Supper”. No doubt the original eleven apostles instructed the rest on what happened on that Passover night when Jesus explained to them the meaning of “his body and blood”. They continued that tradition and teaching by conducting what the Acts’ author Luke calls “the Lord’s Supper”, doing so in their homes and in conjunction with their meal times. They were worshipping the resurrected Jesus! The Lord’s Supper, as it was called, was one tangible and powerful reminder of his self-sacrifice and his plan of redemption.
So, the picture emerges: they worshipped daily in the high and holy place of sacrifice, the Temple, and they also worshipped the sacrifice Lamb, Jesus, in their homes. The place of Jewish worship centering in the Temple was now expanding to personal living space.
Apparently, this “Lord’s Supper” was part of a meal-time celebration, and the Scripture says they ate together with great joy and generosity. I picture laughter, and maybe even whooping and hollering. Perhaps the apostles were sharing exciting and fun stories of the Master at work in Galilee, and how people were healed and changed and unexpectedly found life. Who knows how they expressed this joy? We aren’t told. But as I read these words, I hear the excitement running through the band of followers. They were obviously delighted to be together, and to worship and fellowship as a body.
In addition to the joy that was expressed, I’m struck by the description of their generosity. What a leading word for this young group! This is a further example of sharing all that they had, mentioned just a few verses before. They poured out their hearts and resources for one another. I can imagine the same for them as with other societies, that a few had much and others were struggling in the resource category. Perhaps some had found their way to Jerusalem coinciding with this time of Pentecost without a plan for solid, ongoing living arrangements and support. But the Body cared for one another. They overflowed with tangible care, including in the area of feeding one another.
Their love for the Lord was demonstrated through formal worship. They also expressed love for one another by sharing in the meeting of basic human need. And their sharing in meals was done with an overflowing generosity! May that continue among us today!
“Father, thank you for the picture of your Body at worship and in fellowship—give us the grace to also reflect this freedom and generosity!”
Freddy Boswell 