the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Contemporary English Version
Acts 2:42
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedDevotionals:
- Today'sParallel Translations
After this, all those who believed devoted themselves to the cowboy's teachings and to being neighborly. They shared grub (including the Boss's supper) and prayed with each other.
And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
And they kept their attention fixed on the Apostles' teaching and were united together in the taking of broken bread and in prayer.
And they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
And they continued stedfast in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and the prayers.
and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.
And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in praiers.
And they were continuing steadfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
They contynued in the Apostles doctryne, and in the felashippe, and in breakynge of bred, and in prayer.
they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and felloushippe and in breakinge of breed and in prayer.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.
They spent their time learning the apostles' teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together.
They were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And they continued in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers.
And they continued steadfastly in the teaching, of the apostles and they took part in prayer and in the breaking of bread.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
They continually devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to times of prayer.to the prayers">[fn]Acts 1:14; 2:46; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; Hebrews 10:25;">[xr]
And they were faithful in the doctrine of the apostles, and participated in prayer and in the breaking of the eucharist.
And they persevered in the doctrine of the legates; and were associated together in prayer, and in breaking the eucharist.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.
They were faithful in listening to the teaching of the missionaries. They worshiped and prayed and ate the Lord's supper together.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And they went on to give constant attention - unto the teaching of the apostles, and unto the fellowship, unto the breaking of bread, and unto the prayers.
And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.
And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and felowship, and in breakyng of bread, and in prayers.
The believers spent their time listening to the teaching of the apostles. They shared everything with each other. They ate together and prayed together.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers.
and weren lastynge stabli in the teching of the apostlis, and in comynyng of the breking of breed, in preieris.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
they: Acts 2:46, Acts 11:23, Acts 14:22, Mark 4:16, Mark 4:17, John 8:31, John 8:32, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Galatians 1:6, Ephesians 2:20, Colossians 1:23, 2 Timothy 3:14, Hebrews 10:39, 2 Peter 3:1, 2 Peter 3:2, 2 Peter 3:17, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:19
fellowship: Acts 4:23, Acts 5:12-14, 1 John 1:3, 1 John 1:7
in breaking: Acts 20:7, Acts 20:11, 1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 11:20-26
and in prayers: Acts 1:14, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:4, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, Hebrews 10:25, Jude 1:20
Reciprocal: Ruth 1:18 - was stedfastly minded 2 Kings 2:4 - As the Lord Psalms 116:17 - call Proverbs 4:13 - Take Proverbs 8:34 - watching Proverbs 13:20 - that Matthew 28:20 - them Acts 17:4 - some Philippians 4:1 - so Colossians 2:5 - and the 2 Timothy 3:10 - my James 1:19 - let James 1:25 - and 2 John 1:9 - the doctrine
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine,.... And which is the same with the doctrine of Christ, of which he is the author, preacher, and subject; the substance of which is peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by him: this the apostles received from Christ, and constantly taught in their ministry; for which reason, it is called theirs; and this these young converts had embraced gladly; and were not only believers of it, but persevering believers; they were constant hearers of it; they continually attended on the ministry of the apostles, and held fast the form of sound words they had received from them; and stood fast in the faith of the Gospel, notwithstanding all the reproach cast upon it, and the afflictions they endured for it:
and fellowship; with the apostles and other saints, in spiritual conversation with them, in private, and in communion with them at the Lord's table in public: and so the Vulgate Latin reads this clause, in connection with the next, thus, "in the communication of breaking of bread"; to which agrees the Syriac version, and "they communicated in prayer, and in breaking of the eucharist"; though it seems better to understand this of a distinct branch of fellowship, or communication, and may rather intend liberality and beneficence, in which sense it is used, Romans 15:26 and so expresses their constant contributions towards the support of the apostles, as ministers of the word and of the poor members of the church; a duty which, in both its branches, is incumbent on those who have it in their power to perform, and which these first Christians were remarkable for:
and in breaking of bread; or "of the eucharist": as the Syriac version renders it, which was an usual name with the ancients for the Lord's supper; and which seems to be intended here, and not eating common bread, or a common meal; seeing it is here mentioned with religious exercises: and though the Jews used to begin their meals with breaking of bread, yet the whole repast, or meal, is never by them called by that name; and for what reason these saints should be commended for keeping their common meals, cannot be said, unless to show their sociableness, agreement, and brotherly love in eating together; and which is not hinted at here, but in Acts 2:46 where it is mentioned as something distinct from this: it seems rather therefore to design, that they were constant at the Lord's table, kept their places there, and duly attended whenever the ordinance was administered:
and in prayers: not only in their closets, and in their families, but in the church; in the public prayers of the church, they observed all opportunities of this kind, and gladly embraced them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And they continued stedfastly - They persevered in, or they adhered to. This is the inspired record of the result. That any of these apostatized is nowhere recorded, and is not to be presumed. Though they had been suddenly converted; though they were suddenly admitted to the church; though they were exposed to much persecution and contempt, and to many trials, yet the record is that they adhered to the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion. The word rendered “continued stedfastly” - προσκαρτεροῦντες proskarterountes - means “attending one, remaining by his side, not leaving or forsaking him.”
The apostles’ doctrine - This does not mean that they held or believed the doctrines of the apostles, though that was true; but it means that they adhered to, or attended on, their teaching or instruction. The word doctrine has now a technical sense, and means a collection and arrangement of abstract views supposed to be contained in the Bible. In the Scriptures the word means simply “teaching”; and the expression here denotes that they continued to attend on their instructions. One evidence of conversion is a desire to be instructed in the doctrines and duties of religion, and a willingness to attend on the preaching of the gospel.
And fellowship - The word rendered “fellowship,” κοινωνία koinōnia, is often rendered “communion.” It properly denotes “having things in common, or participation, society, friendship.” It may apply to anything which may be possessed in common, or in which all may partake. Thus, all Christians have the same hope of heaven; the same joys; the same hatred of sin; the same enemies to contend with. Thus, they have the same subjects of conversation, of feeling, and of prayer; or they have communion in these things. And thus the early Christians had their property in common. The word here may apply to either or to all of these things to their conversation, their prayers, their dangers, or their property; and means that they were united to the apostles, and participated with them in whatever befell them. It may be added that the effect of a revival of religion is to unite Christians more and more, and to bring those who were before separated to union and love. Christians feel that they are a band of brethren, and that, however much they were separated before they became Christians, now they have great and important interests in common; they are united in feelings, in interests, in dangers, in conflicts, in opinions, and in the hopes of a blessed immortality.
Breaking of bread - The Syriac renders this “the eucharist” or the Lord’s Supper. It cannot, however, be determined whether this refers to their partaking of their ordinary food together, or to feasts of charity, or to the Lord’s Supper. The bread of the Hebrews was made commonly into cakes, thin, hard, and brittle, so that it was broken instead of being cut. Hence, to denote “intimacy or friendship,” the phrase “to break bread together” would be very expressive in the same way as the Greeks denoted it by drinking together, συμπόσιον sumposion. From the expression used in Acts 2:44, compare with Acts 2:46, that they had all things common, it would rather seem to be implied that this referred to the participation of their ordinary meals. The action of breaking bread was commonly performed by the master or head of a family immediately after asking a blessing (Lightfoot).
In prayers - This was one effect of the influence of the Spirit, and an evidence of their change. A genuine revival will be always followed by a love of prayer.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 42. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine — They received it, retained it, and acted on its principles.
And fellowship — κοινωνια, community; meaning association for religious and spiritual purposes, The community of goods cannot be meant; for this is mentioned Acts 2:44; Acts 2:45, where it is said, they had all things common.
And in breaking of bread — Whether this means the holy eucharist, or their common meals, it is difficult to say. The Syriac understands it of the former. Breaking of bread was that act which preceded a feast or meal, and which was performed by the master of the house, when he pronounced the blessing-what we would call grace before meat. See the form on Matthew 26:26.
And in prayers. — In supplications to God for an increase of grace and life in their own souls; for establishment in the truth which they had received, and for the extension of the kingdom of Christ in the salvation of men. Behold the employment of the primitive and apostolic Church.
1. They were builded up on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the corner stone.
2. They continued steadfastly in that doctrine which they had so evidently received from God.
3. They were separated from the world, and lived in a holy Christian fellowship, strengthening and building up each other in their most holy faith.
4. They were frequent in breaking bread; in remembrance that Jesus Christ died for them.
5. They continued in prayers; knowing that they could be no longer faithful than while they were upheld by their God; and knowing also that they could not expect his grace to support them, unless they humbly and earnestly prayed for its continuance.
