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Wiredog
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Username: Wiredog

Post Number: 60
Registered: 8-2010


Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 8:10 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In my readings I ran across the section in Acts 2 specifically Acts2:42-47. The NASB translates it this way

42They were (A)continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to (B)the breaking of bread and (C)to prayer. 43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (D) wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44And all those who had believed [a]were together and (E)had all things in common; 45and they (F)began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.46(G)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (H)breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and (I)having favor with all the people And the Lord (J)was adding to their number day by day (K)those who were being saved.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:42-47&version=NASB

I am trying to follow this in the Original texts (viz., Greek) of which I am not a scholar. However, If I am reading this correctly two things struck me specifically, verse 46 records the fact that these new Christians had started meeting EVERYDAY, the blueletter Bible has it (hemera kata = daily), at the temple.

Second, during these daily meetings they were also DAILY having COMMUNION (breaking bread from house to house = klao artos oikos kata).

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=2&v=1&t=NASB#conc/46

Thayer’s Lexicon points out (breaking = from the word klao) is “used in the NT of the breaking of bread or communion”.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2806&t=NASB

I recall seeing SDA Daniel & Revelation Crusades (aka “Seminars”) that tried to play this down saying well breaking bread is just a metaphor for just eating it doesn’t mean religious meetings were held. Thus committing another fallacy and making an Appeal to Ridicule; saying you shouldn’t establish a doctrine on that. However, this is indeed Acts recording the start of early Christians meeting as a church fellowship and not just Sabbath.

This fact is then reinforced by all the other records in the New Testament where Christians gathered together on the Lord’s Day (i.e.,kyriakos hemera) the first day of the week. It is also reinforced by the non-Canonical records of the early Christian Church where they got together for Communion on Sunday during the 1st Century.

My Biblical Greek is little to non-existent but has anyone looked at this verse before? I always just "ran over it" on my way to Sabbatarian proof-texts, like a driver completely ignoring the road signs.

If this is a correct application and interpretation--I think it is--what a shame that someone with time and a good Bible can point this out, yet SDA evangelists miss it and lead people down to perdition!

See Matt 7:15;24:24 & 1 Tim 4:1-5 for some good ol' proof texting.
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%207:15,24:24,%201%20Tim%204:1-5&version=NASB)
Dljc
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Username: Dljc

Post Number: 224
Registered: 7-2010
Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 8:50 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wiredog,

If you look at that chapter you can see how God built/planted a church that day. I've asked the question, "If God doesn't want us to worship Him on Sunday, then why did He build a church on that day?" None of the SDA's answered with what would have been an acceptable answer, that being, "God wants us to worship Him everyday, not just on Sunday". Which is my response that He wants us to worship Him everyday, not just on the Sabbath! That's exactly what Matthew 22:37 is saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." That's every minute of everyday! Not just one day a week.
Michaelmiller
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Username: Michaelmiller

Post Number: 177
Registered: 7-2010


Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 9:31 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was just looking at Acts 2 earlier this morning preparing my post including the symbolism of Pentecost. You were there too!

Michael
Patallen
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Username: Patallen

Post Number: 185
Registered: 7-2010


Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 5:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow! I was studying this earlier this week. I reached the same conclusion. These are some of my notes:

Acts 2:46-47 NLT

quote:

46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being esaved.

Notes for 2:46
A common misconception about the first Christians (who were Jews) was that they rejected the Jewish religion. But these believers saw Jesus' message and resurrection as the fulfillment of everything they knew and believed from the Old Testament. The Jewish believers at first did not separate from the rest of the Jewish community. They still went to the temple and synagogues for worship and instruction in the Scriptures. But their belief in Jesus created great friction with Jews who didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, believing Jews were forced to meet in private homes for communion, prayer, and teaching about Christ. By the end of the first century, many of these Jewish believers were excommunicated from their synagogues.
—Life Application Bible Notes

Acts 20:7 NLT
7On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

NLT Notes on Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week the early church commemorated Jesus’ resurrection (see Mark 16:9; cp. John 20:19; Rev 1:10). • This was Paul’s last visit to Troas, which included gathering to share in the Lord’s Supper (literally to break bread). This meal probably included both communion and a common meal (cp. 2:42, 46; Jude 1:12).

Rev. 1:10 NLT
It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.

NLT Notes on Rev. 1:10
the Lord’s Day: This designation was used in the Roman world to refer to celebrations in honor of Caesar, but Christians used it to refer to their weekly worship, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. The earliest Christians worshiped in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath, the last day of the week (Acts 18:4), but by the time of Revelation, they were excluded from synagogues and gathered on the day that commemorated the resurrection, the first day of the week (see note on Luke 24:1; see also Acts 20:7). • in the Spirit: Or in spirit. • The loud voice like a trumpet blast was an announcement of the Lord’s coming.




The Christian Jews worshipped daily. On the 1st day of the week, they gathered to celebrate the Lord's Supper. They broke bread and had communion in their homes because Jews who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah would not and could not participate in the Lord's Supper.

Jesus said, "This do in remembrance of Me." This means in honor of His broken body and shed blood. What day would be more appropriate to celebrate than the day He came forth from the grave - His resurrection?

On the 7th day, the SDA's emphasize His death with sadness which renders lifeless services but on the 1st day, we Christians emphasize and celebrate His resurrection with joy! He is the ONLY God that could call death a liar and leave His tomb empty! He is the ONLY resurrected Saviour! Can this account for the lifeless and sad SDA churches in comparison with the joy and celebration you find in evangelical churches? Their emphasis is on death and our emphasis is on life and our NEW life because of His completed work. Amen!

Pat
Nowisee
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Username: Nowisee

Post Number: 686
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 9:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Amen!!!!
Wiredog
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Username: Wiredog

Post Number: 62
Registered: 8-2010


Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 - 9:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dljc, I agree in fact the Bible points out the day isn't truly the matter. Paul settled it in Romans 14 specifically starting at verse 5.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans2014&version=NASB

The day is not of import it is whom you worship that is. However as an SDA I would have argued with you about 10Cs and Tables of stone, and the "Remember" part, and what did Jesus do? Funny to say that now, but sad to know there are people that will still do that.

Michael & Pat, strange how we stumbled across Acts 2 at the same time. I've been working at reading my Bible from Revelation to Genesis and I read that passage the other night and it kept coming back in my head to look into it. It was a somewhat benign verse but really has a larger significance when plugged into its proper context.

Glad to see y'all saw those same road signs and stopped at the "road side attraction" to check it out too!

Cheers,
Ben

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