Acts:2:42-47

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rwp @Acts:2:42 @{They continued steadfastly } (\ˆsan proskarturountes \). Periphrastic active imperfect of \proskarture “\ as in strkjv @Acts:1:14 | (same participle in verse 46 |). {Fellowship } (\koin “ni ƒi \). Old word from \koin “nos \ (partner , sharer in common interest ) and this from \koinos \ what is common to all . This partnership involves participation in , as the blood of Christ (Phillipians:2:1 |) or co-operation in the work of the gospel (Phillipians:1:5 |) or contribution for those in need (2Corinthians:8:4 ; strkjv @9:13 |). Hence there is wide diversity of opinion concerning the precise meaning of \koin “nia \ in this verse . It may refer to the distribution of funds in verse 44 | or to the oneness of spirit in the community of believers or to the Lord 's Supper (as in strkjv @1Corinthians:10:16 |) in the sense of communion or to the fellowship in the common meals or \agapae \ (love-feasts ). {The breaking of bread } (\t ˆi klasei tou artou \). The word \klasis \ is an old word , but used only by Luke in the N .T . (Luke:24:35 ; strkjv @Acts:2:42 |), though the verb \kla “\ occurs in other parts of the N .T . as in verse 46 |. The problem here is whether Luke refers to the ordinary meal as in strkjv @Luke:24:35 | or to the Lord 's Supper . The same verb \kla “\ is used of breaking bread at the ordinary meal (Luke:24:30 |) or the Lord 's Supper (Luke:22:19 |). It is generally supposed that the early disciples attached so much significance to the breaking of bread at the ordinary meals , more than our saying grace , that they followed the meal with the Lord 's Supper at first , a combination called \agapai \ or love-feasts . "There can be no doubt that the Eucharist at this period was preceded uniformly by a common repast , as was the case when the ordinance was instituted " (Hackett ). This led to some abuses as in strkjv @1Corinthians:11:20 |. Hence it is possible that what is referred to here is the Lord 's Supper following the ordinary meal . "To simply explain \t ˆi klasei tou artou \ as ='The Holy Communion ' is to pervert the plain meaning of words , and to mar the picture of family life , which the text places before us as the ideal of the early believers " (Page ). But in strkjv @Acts:20:7 | they seem to have come together especially for the observance of the Lord 's Supper . Perhaps there is no way to settle the point conclusively here . {The prayers } (\tais proseuchais \). Services where they prayed as in strkjv @1:14 |, in the temple (Acts:3:1 |), in their homes (4:23 |). rwp @Acts:2:43 @{Came } (\egineto \). Imperfect middle , kept on coming . {Were done } (\egineto \). Same tense . Awe kept on coming on all and signs and wonders kept on coming through the apostles . The two things went on \pari passu \, the more wonders the more fear . rwp @Acts:2:44 @{Were together } (\ˆsan epi to auto \). Some MSS . \ˆsan kai \ (were and ). But they were together in the same place as in strkjv @2:1 |. {And had } (\kai eichon \). Imperfect active , kept on having , a habit in the present emergency . {Common } (\koina \). It was not actual communism , but they held all their property ready for use for the common good as it was needed (4:32 |). This situation appears nowhere else except in Jerusalem and was evidently due to special conditions there which did not survive permanently . Later Paul will take a special collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem . rwp @Acts:2:45 @{Sold } (\epipraskon \). Imperfect active , a habit or custom from time to time . Old and common verb , \piprask “\. {Parted } (\diemerizon \). Imperfect again of \diameriz “\, old verb for dividing or distributing between (\dia \) people . {According as any man had need } (\kathoti an tis chreian eichen \). Regular Greek idiom for comparative clause with \an \ and imperfect indicative corresponding precisely with the three preceding imperfects (Robertson , _Grammar_ , p . 967 ). rwp @Acts:2:46 @{With one accord in the temple } (\homothumadon en t “i hier “i \). See on ¯1:14 | for \homothumadon \. They were still worshipping in the temple for no breach had yet come between Christians and Jews . Daily they were here and daily breaking bread at home (\kat ' oikon \) which looks like the regular meal . {They did take their food } (\metelambanon troph ˆs \). Imperfect tense again and clearly referring to the regular meals at home . Does it refer also to the possible \agapai \ or to the Lord 's Supper afterwards as they had common meals "from house to house " (\kat ' oikon \)? We know there were local churches in the homes where they had "worship rooms ," the church in the house . At any rate it was "with singleness " (\aphelot ˆti \) of heart . The word occurs only here in the N .T ., though a late _Koin ‚ _ word (papyri ). It comes from \aphel ˆs \, free from rock (\phelleus \ is stony ground ), smooth . The old form was \apheleia \. rwp @Acts:2:47 @{Having favor } (\echontes charin \). Cf . strkjv @Luke:2:52 | of the Boy Jesus . {Added } (\prosetithei \). Imperfect active , kept on adding . If the Lord only always "added " those who join our churches . Note verse 41 | where same verb is used of the 3 ,000 . {To them } (\epi to auto \). Literally , "together ." Why not leave it so ? "To the church " (\t ˆi ekkl ˆsi ƒi \) is not genuine . Codex Bezae has "in the church ." {Those that were being saved } (\tous s “zomenous \). Present passive participle . Probably for repetition like the imperfect \prosetithei \. Better translate it "those saved from time to time ." It was a continuous revival , day by day . \S “z “\ like \s “t ˆria \ is used for "save " in three senses (beginning , process , conclusion ), but here repetition is clearly the point of the present tense .

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