“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” – Acts 2:42
Scripture reading: Acts 2:42-47
Earlier this month we heard Jesus promise the disciples in the Upper Room that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and after His resurrection Jesus instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and await the Spirit’s coming (Acts 1:4,5). Then on Pentecost Sunday, as the apostles were all together with many others, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up and preached his first sermon and 3000 souls were added to the church that day. They too were filled with the Spirit and were baptized.
But what happened after that? What did these 3000 baby Christians do? Acts 2:42 is instructive, teaching us what to expect when the Spirit is present. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. In the Greek it comes out more clearly that they continually devoted themselves. Where the Spirit is present, so also is a thirst for God’s Word. The early church hungered and thirsted for teaching.
They also devoted themselves to fellowship, to koinonia. They had been brought into the family of God and enjoyed spending time with one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Further, they devoted themselves to worship. The “breaking of bread” refers to the Lord’s Supper and “the prayers” suggests specific prayers that were offered as they communally worshipped.
As you gather for worship today, be devoted to the preaching and sacraments and to the prayers. Enjoy your fellow church members and visitors. This is healthy, and of the Holy Spirit.
Suggestions for prayer
Pray that your pastor will preach the Word well today. Pray that the Holy Spirit would work powerfully to make your congregation devoted to spiritual things.
Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen was born and raised in California and has been an ordained minister of the Gospel for nearly 33 years. He is now serving as pastor of Coram Deo Reformation Church (URC) near Denver, Colorado. He is also the General Editor of the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
