Acts 2:40-47
My Study Bible pointed out the likelihood of two different meanings to “breaking bread”. Verse 42 has And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. The likely meaning here is their regular Eucharistic celebration, possibly in the temple area or in some larger gathering place. Verse 46 has And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts… Here it looks more like a regular meal “in their homes”. “Breaking bread…” Interesting.
I’m trying to imagine the witness these Apostles had. Yes, Jesus had been around for 40 days after His Resurrection, but my sense is that He spent most of that time with His followers – and much of that time in Galilee. As I said earlier, I’ve already imagined the Apostles to be in the temple area when the Holy Spirit appeared at Pentecost. And in the temple area, I could imagine some 3000 “souls” being baptized in one day. (I’m also imagining that pools of water would have been available in the temple area, for personal cleansing and for cleaning up after animal sacrifices.) But what intrigues me most is the last verse, And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (v. 47b) The Apostles’ witness is a daily occurrence. They are in the temple together (v. 46 above) and …having favor with all the people (v. 47a). Surely it was their words that brought people to salvation, but I’m also guessing that their collective demeanor, their love for one another was also an attraction to an interested bystander. Walk the walk and talk the talk.
Slava Bohu!