What Was the Early Church Like in the Book of Acts — In Biblical Context
The early church was marked by apostolic teaching, fellowship, communal sharing, prayer, signs and wonders, and rapid growth.
The early church was marked by apostolic teaching, fellowship, communal sharing, prayer, signs and wonders, and rapid growth.
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." — Acts 2:42 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Acts 2:42-47 provides a snapshot of the early church after Pentecost. Believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They shared possessions, met daily in the temple and homes, and experienced great unity. God added to their number daily as the gospel spread through preaching and miraculous signs. The early church faced persecution but grew stronger through it. Deacons were appointed to serve practical needs (Acts 6), and the gospel expanded from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, fulfilling Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Acts 2:42, sits inside Acts 2. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Supporting Passages
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