7 Marks Of A Biblical Church - [Acts 2:42-47]

The Church That Jesus Christ Promised to Build

Christian marital intimacy rated R for relevance respect and relationship says the pastor. And more fun than it sounds. After the service they danced to a band called what else the honky-tonk angels.

Attendance has been steadily rising. End quote. Pastor John MacArthur shares that story in his book worship the ultimate priority. And if that wasn't enough he continues with another one. The following ad for a Sunday evening service appeared in the bulletin of one of the largest and best-known churches in the heart of America's Bible Belt circus.

See Barnum and Bailey bested as the magic of Big Top Circus comes to the fellowship of excitement clowns acrobats animals popcorn. What a great night. That same church once had their pastoral staff put on a wrestling match during a Sunday service.

Even going so far as to have a professional wrestler train the pastors to throw one another around the ring pull hair and kick shins without actually hurting one another. Could you imagine that you see it now.

Come to Bethlehem Bible Church wrestling ring. Abendroff and Cooley vs. Tealock Brown Indeligenides. Would that be fun. Probably would draw a crowd. More likely it would cause more pain to our aching bodies.

But would that be the church that Jesus Christ promised to build. Absolutely not. While you say those stories are from 20 years ago let me give you some recent ones. Some current ones is a well-known pastor who regularly uses profanity from the pulpit and when asked about it he says.

Quote. There's a reason why a lot of people don't go to church. Because we're not talking about the things they are talking about. A pastor. Last year he and his wife for a 24-hour period went up to the church rooftop and put their bed there and stayed there for 24 hours to encourage that.

For couples in their congregation it was like Hollywood with cameras and everything. A local pastor even recently in New England finishes last Sunday by portraying an image of a rock star in the screen and playing one of this stars songs as his final message to the congregation.

I'm sorry maybe it's my exegetical skills but when Jesus said I will build my church I don't think that's what he had in mind. It's no wonder the prince of preachers said the following. Why believe he was a prophet of his time.

Because he said this. And it has come true today beloved Spurgeon said a time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep the church will have clowns entertaining the goats. Turn with me if you will to the book of acts as we continue from last week.

Acts chapter 2 beginning in verse 42. Acts chapter 2 beginning in verse 42. My goal this morning is if you're not disturbed by the state of the church in America today is for me to light a fire underneath you.

The title that you see in your bulletin is where is the resemblance. Where is the resemblance between today's church and the church of the New Testament. It's non-existent. If you already are disturbed my goal is to add fuel to your fire.

Jesus Christ said. Actually Paul the Apostle said that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Those who love Jesus Christ ought to love his body the church. So as we go through this passage this morning it will be clear there'll be seven marks of a true biblical church.

That could be your title. Also seven marks of a true biblical church. And we see here the church at its infancy beginning in verse 42. And they devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers and all came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were being done.

The Apostles and all who believed were together and at all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need and day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.

They received their food with glad and generous hearts praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. What are the marks of a true biblical church.

There's seven that come from this passage. Number one. Salvation is by the call of God. Salvation is by the call of God. Verse 42 Luke begins by saying. And they devoted themselves. Who is that they referring to.

It's a day who we talked about last week who heard the message of the gospel through Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost. They were Jews. Verse 22 of our chapter says. Men of Israel hear these words.

Jesus of Nazareth a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst as you yourselves know. Then he goes on in verse 23 to the crucifixion. This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.

You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. This is the same you as verse 42 the day that Luke is referring to. Paul continues in his message about the resurrection as we learned last week as he quotes from Psalm 16.

And he says in verse 27. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One see corruption. Then he goes and talks about his exaltation in verse 33 being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit.

He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing in a climactic way. Peter ends his sermon in verse 36 with this emphatic statement. Let all the house of Israel. This is the day of verse 42 Jews therefore no for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ.

This Jesus whom you crucified the people were cut to the heart. Verse 37 says. Because of the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit. And they asked Peter what shall we do. In Peter's response he gave him a simple command directly repent.

And we know that they had repented because at the end of that section in verse 41 Luke records for those who received his word were baptized and they were added that day about 3 ,000 souls. The day of verse 42 is the Jews whom Peter said you crucified.

Yes it was according to the definite plan and for knowledge of God. But you crucified it was the people who were under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It was those who had repented and were baptized and were added 3 ,000 souls.

And why were they saved. Look at verse 39. For the promise is for you and for your children. And for all who are far off and notice this everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself all 3 ,000 that Peter that Luke is referring to here in verse 42 who came to salvation was because the Lord God called them to himself.

Not 2 ,999 but all 3 ,000 that God called came to salvation because salvation is by the call of God. If it were by the call of men they're spurious salvations. They're not real. There's people walking around with this false sense of assurance.

But the true biblical church is a redeemed community because salvation is by the call of God. It's no wonder later in the book of Acts as Luke records how the gospel spread from Jerusalem the church here in Jerusalem a local body of believers to Judea and Samaria to Paul's missionary journeys.

In Acts chapter 13 verse 48 it says. All who were appointed to eternal life believed. All who are appointed to eternal life believed because salvation is by the call of God. And Luke tells us in verse 42 about these new 3 ,000 souls new believers those who had repented and they did what they devoted themselves.

This is a strong Greek term that means a steadfast single-minded fidelity. That's why the King James Version says they continued steadfastly. It's desiring something intensely. It's actually pursuing something aggressively that you desire these continued.

The tense doesn't give any option of a one-time event. They believed and just walked away. The tense means it was a continuous action repetitive. There was a genuine lifestyle change in these 3 ,000 souls.

And that is why. Because it was the call of God for salvation. The church is a redeemed community. It's not like one well-known pastor who when he started his church way back a few decades ago he went around the town and asking people on the streets.

What would you like to see in a church the church of those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus who have been called by God himself to himself. Number two not only a salvation by the call of God but a second mark of a true biblical church is this exposition of the Word of God.

Exposition of the Word of God. Notice what they were devoting themselves to all 3 ,000. By the way mind you not just 2 ,900 let's say but all 3 ,000 souls were devoting themselves to this. To the Apostles teaching first and foremost what is Luke referring to when he calls it the Apostles teaching a number of things notice first and foremost it is the Apostles teaching.

Who are these Apostles. They were handpicked by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Our writer Luke records in his first gospel gospel of Luke in chapter 6 Jesus spent the whole night in prayer and then he came down and he handpicked selected.

He chose these disciples whom he also named Apostles. So the Apostles teaching obviously refers to that which the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ taught these new 3 ,000 souls. What else the words and works of Jesus Christ.

The Apostles taught these new believers about the Sermon on the Mount their last intimate moments with the Savior in the upper room discourse about the miraculous signs that Jesus did. They taught them what the Lord taught them.

If you turn with me a chapter earlier in Acts chapter 1 to show you the importance of the Apostles teaching at the infancy of the church. Acts chapter 1 beginning in verse 21. The context is the Apostles are trying to choose somebody to replace.

Judas is one of the 12. In here they give the two criteria for an Apostle beginning in verse 21. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us verse 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us.

One of these men must become with us a witness of his resurrection. So these Apostles who were teaching these new believers 3 ,000 souls the criteria for an Apostle simply put here as Luke records was to the Apostle had to be with Jesus in his earthly public ministry for three years.

And number two they had to be an eyewitness of Christ's resurrection. Therefore parenthetical note. There's no Apostles today. These were the Apostles who watch with the incarnate Christ who are eyewitnesses of his resurrection.

In these are the Apostles who taught the new believers. Notice in our text back in chapter 2 in verse 43 it says of the Apostles and many wonders and signs were being done through the Apostles. It was to confirm and authenticate who they were the Apostles of Christ.

That is why the writer of Hebrews even writes in chapter 2 of his epistle. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation. It was declared at first by the Lord and it was attested to us by those who heard while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

These three thousand souls were being taught by the Apostles who walked with Jesus the words and works of our Lord Jesus Christ. But it didn't stop there. Notice as our text says it was the Apostles teaching the Greek word teaching these are he there is mentioned 30 times in the New Testament and it literally refers to a body of truth a body of truth.

That is why the King James again talks about they devoted themselves to the Apostles doctrine. It's doctrinal teaching. What a creative and innovative idea. It's no wonder that Luke later records in verse 44 of our text notice.

And all who what repented. No he uses the term believed. Now he talked earlier about the repenters those who had repented but now he uses the term believe because these were the ones who were being taught.

The body of doctrine the body of truth. The Apostle Paul in writing to young pastor Timothy highlighted this importance. The teaching. When he talks about the qualities of another in first Timothy chapter 3 he says.

In verse 2 the elder is to be able to teach. First Timothy 413 he says. Until I come devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture to exhortation to teaching. And in first Timothy 5 verse 17 let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

This was the Apostles teaching those who watch with Jesus who are eyewitnesses of his resurrection. Teaching these new 3 ,000 souls it was teaching. It was a body of doctrine of truth that they were given them.

But thirdly the Apostles teaching refers to the Old Testament. Wasn't that the scriptures they possessed. In Peter's sermon at Pentecost he quoted from three Old Testament scriptures Joel chapter 2 Psalm chapter 16 and Psalm 110.

We can go ahead to Acts chapter 7 before the martyrdom of Stephen. If you read that chapter alone it's like Old Testament history 101. Or how about Philip in chapter 8 with the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from where the prophet Isaiah chapter 53 the suffering servant foreseeing the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the Apostles who walked with Jesus taught these new disciples about Jesus who he was what he did. What did the Old Testament do. It foresaw Jesus who he was what he did. This was the content of their doctrine the body of truth that they taught these 3 ,000 souls.

But why. What is the purpose of teaching. I'm sure as the Apostles are teaching and disseminating this truth to these 3 ,000 they are thinking of Christ. Final words to them in Matthew 28. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to know.

Jesus didn't say that he said teaching them to obey. The purpose of teaching the Apostles teaching even was not for knowledge alone was for obedience. Remember what Peter told them to repent because of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said recorded by the same writer Luke in Luke 6 46 the words of Christ. Why do you call me Lord Lord. And do not do what I say. The purpose of the Apostles teaching was for the sake of obedience to the Lord the Master the Sovereign One.

And notice again that these 3 ,000 all of them were devoted. Remember that means to aggressively pursue something you desire. What were they. Aggressively pursuing the word the Apostles teaching. They all had a hunger for the scriptures.

Lloyd-Jones puts it well. Quote. Wanting to listen to the word is inevitable of men and women who are born again and have become Christians. A babe has an instinct for milk. He wants it he is alive and wants his mother's milk.

And rightly so the point is clear. One simply cannot be a Christian and have no desire for knowledge of the truth. It is impossible. End quote. But this was 3 ,000 souls quite a number of people to come to faith in Christ and to repent at once.

Can you imagine the baptism that were happening. 3 ,000 were baptized and there was a lot of issues that arose. But the Apostles never wavered from the promise of their teaching. Notice with me if you turn to chapter 6 of the book of Acts there was an issue here that arose within the flock within this local body this church in Jerusalem that could have easily swayed the Apostles from what the new believers were devoting themselves to the Apostles teaching Acts chapter 6 beginning in verse 1.

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number so more disciples besides the 3 ,000 and chapter 4 records of more numbers. So the church is growing numerically. Verse 1 continues a complaint by the Hellenist.

The Greek-speaking Jews arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the 12 summoned the full number of the disciples and said it is not right that we should give a preaching the Word of God to serve tables.

Therefore brothers pick up from among you seven men of good repute full of the Spirit and of wisdom whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves. Same Greek word as chapter 2. Verse 42 we will devote ourselves.

We will aggressively pursue this desire to what. To prayer and to the ministry of the word. Exposition of the Word of God is a primary mark of a true biblical church. That is why the Prince of preachers said the moment the church despises the pulpit will be the moment God despises her.

A third mark of a true biblical church from our text. Devotion to the family of God. Devotion to the family of God. Verse 42 continues. They devoted themselves to the apostle teaching and the fellowship.

The article signifies a commitment to a local body of believers not people who are church. They were committed. This was a church in Jerusalem. As we found out later in chapter 8 of Acts the local body in Jerusalem they were devoted to the family of God.

The Greek term for fellowship is you know Nia coin onia which means to share in common to to have in common and notice. Luke highlights what they had in common beginning in verse 44 of our passage. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Luke makes a general statement that they had all things in common. And then he continues in verse 45 and 46 with some specifics. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need and day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.

They receive their food with glad and generous hearts. What did they have in common their possessions. They realize that after all they were stewards of what God had given them. There were to be faithful managers of God.

God had given them. So they shared as they as people had need in the body with those who did. In verse 46 they opened up their homes and they received food and with hospitality entered each other's homes.

Later on even in the book of Acts in chapter 4 it says. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and one soul. And no one said that any of the things that belong to him was his own.

But they had everything in common. That's devotion to the family of God. Even the Apostle Paul exhorts us in Romans chapter 12 verse 13 contribute to the needs of the Saints and seek to show hospitality.

But what other things do we have in common. What other things do these new 3 ,000 repenters and believers have in common. The scripture teaches us on this what they had in common. And what we have in common is a common salvation.

Jude writes in the epistle verse 3. Beloved. Although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation the fellowship of salvation we have. These 3 ,000 were saved at the same time by the God of the universe who called them to himself.

They all receive forgiveness of sins. They receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. That's what they have in common. We're familiar with the expression when we talk about family ties right are we not that blood is thicker than water but the blood of Jesus is even thicker than that because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

And this is the commonality that these 3 ,000 had their new salvation. Secondly the commonality the fellowship of the gospel. That is why Paul writes in Philippians 1 verse 5. Because of your partnership or fellowship in the gospel.

This is what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost the gospel the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is what they had in common. This is what they fellowship was around. And finally it's the fellowship of suffering.

Paul writes in Philippians 310 that I may know the fellowship of his sufferings. They went through a number of persecutions as we read through the book of Acts. And I'm sure the Apostles remembered the words of the Lord Jesus.

If they persecuted me they will also persecute you turn with me briefly to chapter 4. So we can see a brief picture of how this fellowship that they were devoted to this local body in Jerusalem. What they had in common in their suffering.

Chapter 4 verse 18. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God.

You must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. We cannot. Chapter 5. The persecution escalates as they have put him in jail beginning in verse 28 the high priest saying we strictly charge you not to teach in his name in this name.

Yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the Apostles answered we must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

And the chapter ends in chapter 5 in verse 40 when they had called in the Apostles they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. And what was the their response. Verse 41.

Then they left the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day in the temple. And from house to house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

You see the early fellowship. Their devotion to each other was forged in the furnace of persecution. But there is more to a biblical church. Number four the fourth mark of a true biblical church as our text in chapter 2 reveals.

Communion in remembrance of the work of God. Communion in remembrance of the work of God. They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread. This is not the same breaking of bread that Luke referred to in verse 46 where they were receiving their meals in each other's homes.

In the original text there's the definite article the breaking of bread signifying communion. I'm sure as the Apostles were teaching these 3 ,000 souls they must have been talking to them about the upper room.

They sat and celebrated the Lord's Supper and remembering the words of Jesus Christ. Do this in remembrance of me. What is the work of God that we celebrate in communion. The cross that Jesus Christ gave his body and his blood.

The cross which God had predetermined. Right. Didn't Peter say that clearly in verse 23 to this crowd this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and for knowledge of God. It was a plan of God from the beginning.

Question. Why did Jesus die. All you might say for to save sinners. Yes the Prophet Isaiah gives us this answer. Isaiah 53 10. It was the will of the Lord to crush him. He died because it was the will of the Sovereign Lord the Father from eternity past.

This is what this fellowship in Jerusalem celebrated as a celebrated the breaking of bread communion remembering the one who may crucified. This is the one who delivered them and gave them forgiveness of sins.

But number five a fifth mark of a true biblical church. Supplication before the throne of God. Supplication before the throne of God. They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread.

And the prayers. This is what they were devoting themselves to all 3000. They were pursuing aggressively intently with a passion prayers. That's why early in the book of Acts Luke uses the same term of devotion to prayer.

In Acts chapter 1 verse 14 he writes. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer the Apostles as they taught through the Apostles teaching the Lord Jesus Christ what he taught them to these new 3000 repenters and believers they were recalling of Jesus's time of prayer.

I'm sure they recalled Mark 1. Jesus's busiest day of ministry is recorded in the Gospels. He spent the day preaching and teaching casting out demons healing people who were sick and with diseases so much so that the text says in Mark 1 that the whole city gathered to see him.

Everyone was looking for him. And in verse 35 Mark records. While it was very early in the morning he got up went to a lonely place and prayed. And even then the disciples were looking for him. Where are you.

They said everyone's looking for you. He was praying to the father. And this is what the disciples taught these new believers. And therefore this is what they were devoted to turn with me if you will to chapter 4.

This is one of the prayers the biggest prayers that is recorded in the book of Acts by dr. Luke. And here we get a sense of what the content of their prayer was about in Acts chapter 4 beginning in verse 24 23.

Rather when they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. This is of course after a time of persecution as we talked about earlier verse 24.

And when they heard it they lifted their voices together to God and said sovereign Lord who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them who through the mouth of our father David your servant said by the Holy Spirit.

Why did the Gentiles rage in the people's plot in vain. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. For truly in this city they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

And now Lord look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal. And signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

Was this a prayer of supplication. Of course it was. They were bringing their request before God in the time of persecution. But nonetheless notice how they began their prayer. They didn't just come idly before the God of heaven and say this is our need.

They made sure they knew who they were addressing. Notice in verse 24 sovereign Lord. This is not the same Greek as what Peter mentioned in his sermon at Pentecost when he said the Father has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ.

That's the Greek term Kyrios. This is a Greek term for a despot literally a ruler of the household. And the Lord's household is the universe. He has absolute authority and unbridled power as the despot.

Of course in our Western culture we can't fully understand that because when we think of the term despot we think of an ogre somebody who's tyrannical. But this is the despot who is in control of everything.

And that is why they're calling out to him in time of persecution the ruler of the universe. That's why verse 24 who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. So they know who they're addressing.

They were devoted to prayer to bring in their supplication before the throne of God. But they remembered that it is still the throne of God. And what did they ask for. As we saw in their prayer. Did they ask God deliver us from this persecution.

No they said God give us boldness to continue to testify. And why were they able to do that. Verse 28 of their prayer to do whatever your hand and your plan have predestined to take place. They knew for certain without a shadow of a doubt that God Almighty the Sovereign Lord the despot had planned.

All this changed their whole perspective on how they came to the throne of God. That is why the scripture is replete with this word of devotion to prayer. Paul says in Romans 12 verse 12. Be constant in prayer.

Kaleah Colossians 4. Verse 2 continues steadfastly in prayer. And this is a genuine mark of a biblical church. They devote themselves to prayer to more. Number six the sixth mark of a true biblical church.

Adoration of the character of God adoration of the character of God. And I want you to note that these last two simply are an overflow of what's going on here in verse 42. Verse 42 tells us that all 3 ,000 souls who repented who had believed were devoting themselves were aggressively pursuing with a passion intently the Apostles teaching the fellowship the breaking of bread and communion and the prayers.

And what's the overflow of all that. The overflow is adoration of the character of God. He gets the glory because he's the one who called them. He's the one who saved them. He's the one they remember when they celebrate communion.

Notice what it says in verse 43. And ah came upon every soul. I didn't just come upon the 2009 -99. All came upon all 3 ,000 souls. The Greek literally reads. And they came to every soul. Fear. Fear. A holy reverential respect of the Sovereign Lord.

What is one of the things we said they shared in common their common salvation the forgiveness of their sins. Someone 30. Oh Lord if you should mark iniquities who could stand but with you there is forgiveness.

Why. So that you may be feared. And this fear continued in Acts chapter 5 with the first church discipline in church history where because of a couple in a nice of fire lied to God the Holy Spirit. God killed them on the spot.

And Luke records in Acts 5 verse 11. Great fear came upon the whole church not just some of the church the whole church. And upon all who are heard of these things. This is replete throughout the first New Testament church.

Is that what we see today. Is there any resemblance of that today this holy out of respect for God. Pastor John MacArthur in the intro to his book on preaching writes this. Our people can only rise to heights and worship proportional to the depth to which we have taken them into the profound truths of the word.

You can actually worship without music. If you have seen the glories and the depth of what the Bible teaches they were in adoration of the character of God. There was fear in our for who God is and for what he's done.

And that's why in this portion Luke finishes in verse 47 by saying that all of these were what praising God when man built his church by man's methodology. Guess who gets the praise man when God built his church.

When Christ the head built his church. When God calls people to himself in genuine salvation. Guess who gets the praise God. And you and I are in awe and fear of him and him alone. Last mark of a genuine biblical church.

Evangelization of those who are under the wrath of God. The evangelization of those who are under the wrath of God. Luke finishes in verse 47 this section by saying praising God and having favor with all the people.

And watch this. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who are being saved. We found last week. In verse 41 there were added that day about 3 ,000 souls who did the addition the Lord did.

Luke says the Lord added to their number. He says it in that way to highlight this truth that salvation is a sovereign work of God. Salvation is a sovereign work of God. And he says not only was the Lord the one who added to their number day by day those who were being what saved.

What do people say from Matthew 1. You shall give the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. But also they were being saved from what the wrath of God. God's holy and divine punishment through his holy justice would be poured out upon people.

That is why as these apostles taught these new believers they might have recalled the story of Jesus Nicodemus where Jesus told Nicodemus everyone who does not believe in me stands condemned already. They were being saved from the wrath of God.

And the Lord was doing this work. He was building his church is not acts a testimony of the work of Christ we said acts 1 1. The Lord began to do and teach of all that Luke wrote in his first gospel. And now he continues through his Holy Spirit.

You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. And the evangelization continues as an overflow of what these new disciples were being taught. In his book famine in the land.

Steve Lawson puts it very well. He says. Quote. These first gatherings of the church were designed primarily for edifying believers not for evangelizing on believers. Of course they were reaching out to the unsaved.

For verse 47 the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. But this evangelism explosion was the result of their teaching not the stated purpose of it. They gathered for edification they scattered for evangelism.