They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
"As we consider the scene described in this passage we must not lose sight of the background. From John the Baptist until Pentecost the establishment of the Messianic kingdom had been in view. John the Baptist had come crying: 'Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matt 3:2, etc.). Our Lord, in His earthly life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension and His sending of the Holy Spirit had been 'confirming the promises made unto the fathers' (Rom 15:8). In His death He had sealed the New Covenant made 'with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah' (Jer 31:31). He had risen from the dead to take His place upon the throne of His father, David (Acts 2:30-31). He had ascended so that 'the promise of the Father' (Acts 1:4) might be fulfilled in the coming of the Spirit and that His Father might make His enemies His footstool (Psa 110:1)...The purpose of Pentecost, then, was not to baptize believing Jews and Gentiles into one body, for Gentiles were not even addressed — perhaps not even present — at Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was to endue Messiah's disciples with supernatural power and prepare them for the persecutions which, had not God in grace intervened, would have brought on the 'great tribulation' and ushered in 'the day of the Lord' (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21)." (Stam)
"Attention should be given here to two important details of the Pentecostal program which differ widely from that which God has given us to follow today. 1. 'Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles' (Ver 43); 2. 'And all that believed were together and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need' (Vers 44-45). In the fourth chapter this is put negatively as well as positively for emphasis: '...neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.' 'neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,' 'and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need' (Acts 4:32, 34, 35). This is nothing less than the carrying out of the Sermon on the Mount and the program outlined by our Lord in Matt 10:7-10, Luke 12:22-34, etc. And thus they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread. (This doubtless refers to their daily meals for the 'meat' in the closing phrase means nourshiment.) And how were they enabled to live together in such utter selflessness and such spiritual power? Ah, this is the secret of millennial blessing! The Spirit had come, according to promise, and had taken supernatural possession of them, controlling them completely, so that they were empowered not only to work miracles, but also to live lives that fully honored God (See Ezek 36:27-28). Today by comparison, we, the members of Christ's Body, have the Spirit dwelling within and may appropriate His help at any time but, consistent with the present dispensation, we must appropraite by faith what God provides in grace. Hence, with regard to the Pentecostal believers we find the bare statement of fact: 'They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:4) while the Apostle Paul exhorts us: 'Be filled with the Spirit' (Eph 5:18)." (Stam)
See also: http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2011/09/sell-everything.html
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2010/12/study-in-progressive-revelation.html
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2011/03/acts-2-church-today-miracles.html
"As we consider the scene described in this passage we must not lose sight of the background. From John the Baptist until Pentecost the establishment of the Messianic kingdom had been in view. John the Baptist had come crying: 'Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matt 3:2, etc.). Our Lord, in His earthly life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension and His sending of the Holy Spirit had been 'confirming the promises made unto the fathers' (Rom 15:8). In His death He had sealed the New Covenant made 'with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah' (Jer 31:31). He had risen from the dead to take His place upon the throne of His father, David (Acts 2:30-31). He had ascended so that 'the promise of the Father' (Acts 1:4) might be fulfilled in the coming of the Spirit and that His Father might make His enemies His footstool (Psa 110:1)...The purpose of Pentecost, then, was not to baptize believing Jews and Gentiles into one body, for Gentiles were not even addressed — perhaps not even present — at Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was to endue Messiah's disciples with supernatural power and prepare them for the persecutions which, had not God in grace intervened, would have brought on the 'great tribulation' and ushered in 'the day of the Lord' (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21)." (Stam)
"Attention should be given here to two important details of the Pentecostal program which differ widely from that which God has given us to follow today. 1. 'Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles' (Ver 43); 2. 'And all that believed were together and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need' (Vers 44-45). In the fourth chapter this is put negatively as well as positively for emphasis: '...neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.' 'neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,' 'and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need' (Acts 4:32, 34, 35). This is nothing less than the carrying out of the Sermon on the Mount and the program outlined by our Lord in Matt 10:7-10, Luke 12:22-34, etc. And thus they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread. (This doubtless refers to their daily meals for the 'meat' in the closing phrase means nourshiment.) And how were they enabled to live together in such utter selflessness and such spiritual power? Ah, this is the secret of millennial blessing! The Spirit had come, according to promise, and had taken supernatural possession of them, controlling them completely, so that they were empowered not only to work miracles, but also to live lives that fully honored God (See Ezek 36:27-28). Today by comparison, we, the members of Christ's Body, have the Spirit dwelling within and may appropriate His help at any time but, consistent with the present dispensation, we must appropraite by faith what God provides in grace. Hence, with regard to the Pentecostal believers we find the bare statement of fact: 'They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:4) while the Apostle Paul exhorts us: 'Be filled with the Spirit' (Eph 5:18)." (Stam)
See also: http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2011/09/sell-everything.html
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2010/12/study-in-progressive-revelation.html
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2011/03/acts-2-church-today-miracles.html
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