NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 14
A cts 2 : 3 5
1970
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right
hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under
your feet.”’*
for a long time, strongly urging all his lis
teners, “Save yourselves from this crooked
generation!”
41 Those who believed what Peter said
were baptized and added to the church that
day—about 3,000 in all.
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for cer
tain that God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and
they said to him and to the other apostles,
“Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent
of your sins and turn to God, and be m bap
tized in the name of Jesus Christ for the for
giveness of your sins. Then you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise
is to you, to your children, and to those far
away*—all who have been called by the Lord
our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching
The Believers Form a Community
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the
n apostles’ teaching, and to o fellowship, and
to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s
Supper*), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them
all, and the apostles performed many mi
raculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the
believers met together in one place and
shared everything they had. 45 They sold
their property and possessions and shared
the money with those in need. 46 They wor
shiped together at the Temple each day, met
in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared
2:36
Acts 5:3031
2:37
Acts 16:30
2:38
Mark 16:16
Acts 3:19; 8:12; 22:16
m baptizo- (0907)
Acts
9:18
2:39
Isa 44:3; 57:19
Eph 2:13
2:40
Deut 32:5
Phil 2:15
2:42
Acts 20:7
n apostolos (0652)
Acts
15:2
o koino-nia (2842)
1
Cor 1:9
2:4445
Acts 4:3237
2:3435 Ps 110:1. 2:39 Or and to people far in the future, or and to the Gentiles. 2:42 Greek the breaking of bread; also
in 2:46.
The Growth of the Church
Acts 2:4147
Acts 1:8, 1315; 4:4,
2337; 5:14, 2733,
4042; 6:1; 7:59;
8:440; 9:15, 31,
35, 42; 10:34, 36;
11:1926; 14:22;
15:32, 41; 16:5,
1925; 18:23; 21:20
1 Cor 4:16, 20
Phil 4:9
1 Thes 1:58
2 Thes 3:9
2 Tim 1:8; 2:19;
3:12
The book of Acts outlines the church’s growth after Pentecost. In the early days there was
numerical growth. Only 120 believers were present at the first prayer meeting seeking
divine direction (1:1315). After the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the
number of Christians increased to about 3,000 (2:41). Many more believed the preaching of
Peter and John, and the number grew to about 5,000 (4:4) and continued to rise (5:14; 6:1;
9:31; 21:20).
There is also ample evidence of geographical growth (1:8; 9:15). The church was not
confined to Jerusalem, for the message spread to Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa on the Mediterra
nean coast (9:35, 42). The message of salvation in Christ also moved out from its Jewish base
into Samaria (8:6, 12), then into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (11:1926). As Peter declared
to Cornelius’s household, “God shows no favoritism” (10:34). The message of Good News
offers peace with God through Jesus Christ to all people (10:36).
With the increase in numbers and the geographical spread of the faith, the Christian
communities also experienced spiritual growth in depth and vitality. Acts 2:4247 vividly
depicts this development in the inner life of the church, featuring earnest, united prayer in
crises, generous sharing of possessions, courage during persecution, and boldness in witness
(4:2331, 3237; 5:2733, 4042; 16:1925). Philip’s preaching and the manner of Stephen’s
death manifested a high standard of spiritual life and maturity (7:59; 8:440; 16:1925).
Church leaders encouraged and strengthened believers, made them more steadfast in their
faith, enabled them to face persecution (14:22; 15:32, 41; 18:23; see 2 Tim 1:8; 2:19; 3:12),
and lived by the standards they set for others (1 Cor 4:16, 20; Phil 4:9; 1 Thes 1:58; 2 Thes
3:9; 2 Tim 2:7). The church’s sensitive handling of the Gentiles’ inclusion also resulted in sig
nificant spiritual growth. “So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger
every day” (Acts 16:5).
2:3738 Brothers, what should we do?
Peter answered by strongly exhorting his
listeners to repent of your sins and turn
to God, and be baptized. See “Baptism,”
2:38, 41.
T H E P E N TAT E U C H
2:4247 Luke makes a clear connection
between personal faith and member
ship in the Christian community. Life in
this new community involved devotion
to apostolic teaching of God’s Word,
fellowship, sharing, joy, and praise, and
it resulted in the Lord’s continuing to
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
add to their number those who were
being saved.
2:42 fellowship: Greek koino-nia, a close
mutual relationship and participation in
life together. • At this stage, prayer prob
ably included participation in the formal
prayers of the Temple (see 3:1).
POETRY & WISDOM
