The Church is Alive | Acts 2:37-47
Read Acts 2:37-47
Jesus has died on the cross, resurrected from the grave, empowered His disciples as witnesses of His resurrection, ascending into heaven (in front of His disciples), empowered the disciples of Holy Spirit Baptism and Tongues in different languages to share the good news of Christ and now the church is born, the church is alive.
We have to ask ourselves: What is the church? How does God’s word define Church?
We must know what the church is if we are going to build healthy disciples to go out and reach new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The Church is the meeting of a people who are gathered for a common belief; a common purpose.
“And all those who believed were together and had all things in common.”
--Acts 2:44
Notice how the word “Church” is never used in Acts 1 or Acts 2. It is used again in Acts 9:31.
“So, the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up…”
--Acts 9:31
From Acts 2:37-47 all the way to Acts 9 and throughout the book of Acts we get to witness the building up of Christ’s church. The word in the Greek used in Acts 9:31 for “church” is the Greek word “Ekklesia.”
ἐκκλησία ekklēsía, a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):—assembly, church.
Notice how there is no word of a building or a meeting place in the definition of this word used in Acts. Luke is using this word, “Ekklesia,” to remind the reader that what is happening in Acts is a fulfillment of Jesus’ plan/ promise as He disclosed the operation of God’s people to Peter in Matthew 16.
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church [ekklesia]; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it…”
--Matthew 16:18
This word is a secular word and Jesus called His gathering of people by this word. It was used to describe a group of people that met to meet a common goal regarding politics or a cause. The commonality in God’s people is the gospel of Jesus Christ—the church meets in common because they have been saved by Jesus, they have confessed His truth of being God, of dying on the cross and coming back to life, this is why the church gathers and operates because their common cause is the good news of Jesus Christ. The church is God’s people who are called out to gather in His name, to love in His name, to glorify their Lord, Jesus Christ.
“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord you God will call to Himself.”
--Acts 2:37-38
Peter’s preaching of the gospel made the listeners emotional. They were cut to the heart. They were filled with sorrow—they understood what Peter was saying and were drawn to God through Peter’s preaching of Jesus’ good news. The gathering of the saints is the next step for the church—these people’s lives were changed thus the way they lived their life has now changed.
“it is not surprising that Peter’s audience experienced emotional trauma. The expression ‘pierced to the heart’ is used figuratively for the feeling of sharp pain due to anxiety or remorse. They were not merely intellectually convinced, but spiritually convicted of their dilemma.”
--The Moody Bible Commentary
Jesus’ death and resurrection changes people’s lives. Jesus transforms people and as the church is born; these people’s lives are changed and how they live their lives is changed.
- The Church is not called to become like the world; we are to be saved from the world and be the light of Christ in the midst of a dark culture.
“And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’ So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day they were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
--Acts 2:40-42
The early church movement functioned in two specific and clear ways; they devoted themselves to the right teachings of Jesus; and God’s power shined through they faithfulness as miracles happened through them.
Peter tells everyone they must be saved from this perverse generation—the world was perverse back then and the world has continually become more perverse over time. This is because the world is stuck in sin; we are born into sin and have sinful impulses. Paul gives a similar reminder and charge to the church in Philippi showing the consistency of how we ought to live as Christians in this world:
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among you appear as lights in the world.”
--Philippians 2:12-15
How does the church remain in God’s truth and not drift into our own truth or a false truth? We gather around the apostle’s teaching, we build fellowship together, build community together, we eat together, share life together, even do communion together on a regular basis to remind ourselves that we are here meeting for one single purpose—to glorify God together and worship Him.
People were saved; now look at their response to God:
“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 break 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.”
--Acts 2:45-47
- When the people of God are faithful; God will shine His glory through them.
“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…”
Acts 2:43-44
This early church movement, a gathering of God’s people who had just become saved through hearing the gospel of Jesus, is brimming with God’s glory. God is working signs and wonders through them; The Holy Spirit is making His stamp on the world historical stage. Acts 2 doesn’t explain what the signs and wonders were but the rest of Acts gives us a glimpse into the many miracles that God performed through His church.
--Many people were being saved by God; coming to know Him, repenting to Him and be saved:
“And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” --Acts 2:47
--A Lame Beggar is healed through Peter
“But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” – Acts 3:6
--Ananias and Sapphira are killed because of their withholding of offering and lying about it. – Acts 5:1-16
--Peter Raises Tabitha (Dorcas) back from the Dead – Acts 9:32-43
“But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and the widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
There are times in history where God chooses to work through His people in mighty ways; this is one of those times as Peter travels from Jerusalem to Rome; share the good news of Jesus Christ. God is working mightily through Peter—remember Peter had a specific call from God,
Whenever God works a miracle through Peter it is typically after the gospel is proclaimed, people are hearing about what God is doing through Peter and they want Peter to visit them—The Holy Spirit continues to work through Peter so that many can know the power of God and repent.
The signs and wonders are a result of the gospel being proclaimed; the people glorifying God and God minister to them and through them to their community and beyond. Even if the people were seeking a sign and wonder the disciples always pointed them to God first. Peter always does this as he prays in the name of Jesus.
“…in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene—walk!” – Acts 3:6
“Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to me but to God. As he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last.” – Acts 5:4-5
“But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up…It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.” --Acts 9:40,42
Peter calls back to Jesus because he is not performing these works, he is not the author of these signs and wonders, he is a mirror pointing glory to the one who deserves the glory—Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is both God and Man and didn’t NEED The reliance and help of The Father or The Holy Spirit—but He worked with the other person of God to set an example for His people who follow Him. How do we live our lives as the church? We look to our perfect example: Jesus Christ.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,”
--Philippians 2:5-9
The early church was always reminding themselves of who they worship, what they believe in and how they can formally worship together with these weekly/ daily reminders of Jesus in their lives. How can you empty yourselves like Christ, how can you SERVE each other like Christ if we don’t know who Christ is? This is why worshiping together, properly, is vital to a healthy church—our focus isn’t the signs and wonders of God rather it is the death, resurrection of Christ, the truth of the gospel and through that we will get boldness to pray and anticipate for the miracles that follow.
“In the Greek the definite article occurs before the word ‘prayer.’ The text actually says, ‘to the prayers.’ They devoted themselves ‘to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.’ Obviously, that is a reference to something formal – to worship in which the people got together and praised God.”
--James Montgomery Boice