Acts 2:41-42; Percy Verance

We have here a beautiful picture of the early Church life in its simplicity, its purity, and its fidelity. There are key words in this passage which should remind us of someone we have all met at one time or another. The key words remind us of Percy whose surname is Verance. Although it takes two words to convey the meaning in English it is actually a translation of a single word in Greek

The Greek word is:-

proskartereo (‎proskartere/w‎, NT:4342), lit., "to be strong towards" (pros, "towards," used intensively, and kartereo, "to be strong"). It means "to endure in, or persevere in, to be continually steadfast with a person or thing,". It is used of "continuing" in union with others, in the apostles' teaching, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42; in the Temple, 2:46. The RV translates it, "continuing steadfastly,"

In various English translations it reads,

A.V. NKJV. ASV And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

New International Version. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Darby. And they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers.

AMP. And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers.

There were four things that those first Christians persevered or continued in. These are, Christian teaching, Christian fellowship, Christian ordinances and communion with Jesus Christ and God.

  1.  It is one of the blessings of Christianity that it is a teaching religion. It offers people an open Bible, an open Church, an open way of redemption and an open means of access to God. Not all religions share this openness. In some religions there is truth that is for the few and truth that is for the many, truth to be taught in secret to the privileged circle, and truth that could be taught to the multitude. in spite of what some have taught, and some still teach, Christianity has no privileged secrets. As far as mysteries are revealed they are revealed to all alike. Its invitations are invitations to all. The attitude of the apostles was that of men who had seen great light and found great blessing, and their longing was that other people might also see and share that which had become so precious to them. You will notice that these first converts to Jesus Christ not only continued in Christian teaching, but in the teaching of Christ's apostles. The apostles were qualified to teach because they themselves were taught. They were the first learners. Their Christian education was not confined to that part of their life spent in the company of Jesus. After Jesus left them they continued under the instruction of the Holy Spirit. Truth was added to truth. Light increased to greater light. They were enabled to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. The quiet teaching of the great truths of God is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian faith. If we are to attain to right views of God, right views of ourselves and right views of our world, we must be taught by a higher Power. Not fancy, but food is the first requirement of spiritual life. God has sent us teachers to guide our feet in the way of His commandments.                                                     “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.” Prov 3:13-15 NKJV

2.“They continued in the apostles' fellowship.”                                                     

There were special reasons which drew these early disciples into close spiritual communion. They lived in a hostile environment. In fellowship they found a powerful means of sustaining their common spiritual life. There are two forms of help which minister to the Christian life in men and women. One comes from within ourselves and the other comes from outside us. That which comes from within is meditation, prayer, devotion, and the power of the Spirit of God within us. That which comes from outside us is the contact of mind with mind, and heart with heart and the power of the Spirit of God ministering through agencies outside ourselves. Christians need both. There is inspiration in true Christian fellowship. Faith strengthens faith. Love is quickened by love.

The writer of the Book of Proverbs puts it, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 NKJV                                              

Through Christian fellowship also they were able to make greater efforts for the cause of Christ. Achievements are possible in a fellowship which is beyond the power of our individual efforts. Unity is strength. Co-operation is multiplied power. There is no habit more worthwhile for Christians than this habit of meeting together in Christian fellowship. It has been the custom of Christian people in all ages and in all lands. Even in Old Testament times the people of God had their united gatherings, their feast days, and their solemn assemblies, when they joined together in offering their devotions to their God. It has been the custom of the Christian Church in every stage of its eventful history for the saints of God to continue in Christian fellowship. The first downward step of a ruined Christian life generally starts in wandering away from the communion of God's people. If we cannot meet with God's people to get a blessing, we can, at least, meet with them to be a blessing. It is more blessed to give than to receive.   

3.    They continued to observe the Ordinances 

They had been Baptised. Baptism is a onetime event at the beginning of the Christian experience but we find help and encouragement every time we see a new Christian go through the waters.

  “They continued in the breaking of bread.”

Breaking of bread is a regular event for Christians. Should the Lord delay His return we would expect to follow the example of those first Christians by continuing to regularly break bread in memory of the death of Jesus, as our Lord commanded 

The breaking of bread may symbolise three things which should not be forgotten. It is a link with the past. You may trace this rite step by step backward through the centuries, till you reach the little upper room where Christ was with His disciples. By it we all confess our devotion to Him and His relationship to us as Saviour, Redeemer, and Friend. In the breaking of bread we have the sign and pledge of God’s grace towards us now. The broken body and the shed blood is for all who will receive His atoning work. "Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you," is the language of the Saviour to every man, woman, boy or girl who lingers at His table. It is a personal bond with a personal Saviour. In it He seals us as His own. In the breaking of bread we have a promise and a prophecy. This rite shall be observed on and on by generations not yet born, until He returns.

4.  They continued in Regular communion with the Lord.

They did not theorise about prayer; they prayed. People have drawn near to God in sorrow and have left His presence with joy. People have entered the secret closet with weakness and have left it with courage and strength. The sorrowful have felt the comfort in sorrow. The perplexed have found light in their darkness. The tempted and tried have found deliverance in prayer. Charles Kingsley has said, "What an awful weapon prayer is! It saved me from madness in the hour of my great sorrow. Pray day and night very quietly, like a weary child, to the loving and great God for everything you want in body as well as soul, the least as well as the greatest. Nothing is too much to ask God for. Nothing is too great for Him to give.

We have looked at the Lord’s four great provisions for the Christian life. God provided them because we need them. We need them as much to-day as those first converts needed them for their Christian life. None of the four can be neglected if we want to continue growing up as Christians. All four are necessary in the spiritual discipline of Christian souls. None of them can be ignored or trifled with.