They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

After the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Spirit, and after the 3000 who were saved in an afternoon through Peter’s stand and preaching, this short verse describes what they considered important.

This verse has several similar to it in the New Testament, as a word study on such words as “devoted” demonstrates, but it is the first, listing four parts that were what they “devoted themselves to”.  Whether it was an exhaustive list is not the point, but simply that these four were important enough to be mentioned.

1. The Apostles’ Teaching
2. The Fellowship
3. The Breaking of Bread
4. Prayer

Much is covered on these last three today, although more could probably be said about all of these.  Yet, the apostles’ teaching is listed first.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.  It is God’s Word, perfect, pure, and Holy, and it all has its place, and none to disregarded

But, let us consider for a moment what this concept of the Apostle’s Teaching, or Apostolic Doctrine, would have meant to the believers in Acts 2:42.

Using traditional time frames, the disciples had been with Jesus for approximately 3 1/2 years.  They walked, slept, ate, and lived with the man.  They took turns using the Galilean form of the outhouse together (whatever that was).  They knew Him, perfect, humble, unstoppable, and pure.

And, when He died, for a moment, their life was shattered.  They didn’t seem to have much faith in Him rising from the dead as He said he would do, as it was the women who found the tomb first, and came back to report it.

But, after His resurrection, and appearing to the twelve and others numerous times, it was at Pentecost, 50 days later, that the Spirit was out-poured from above as cloven tongues of fire, each of them speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And as people looked on, and mocked, Peter preached and the church was born.

It was in the context of this, the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the true Passover Lamb was sacrificed, that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine and such.

Obviously, although it often seem either overlooked or too simple to assume such at times, the only thing the Apostles would have been teaching to the Early Church, not even 3 months from the resurrection of Christ Himself, would have been precisely what He had taught them.  They had no other doctrine or teaching!

Rules were of course set, governmental order for the church could have a place (Stephen was put in charge of handling tables and so forth), and the Apostles stayed in the Word.  But, it was the content of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that must have comprised the bulk of their actual teaching.  Not the actual text of these gospels, as this came later, as a summary of what the apostles were continuing to teach, but the substance of them.  This was what the Master taught, He knew how to do it best.  His teaching was the teaching of the Kingdom, and the object is to abide in His Words.

I have rarely seen the teachings of Jesus taught as solid core doctrine, if at all, yet they mark the most sound, comprehensive, and perfect way in which to live in and belong in the Kingdom of Heaven, not as a new legal code, but as a way of being forced to, if by no other means than coming to the end of yourself, look to Jesus.  Yet, the whole of the New Testament is marked by signs, wonders, deliverances, and power.  It was the nature of Jesus’ ministry and it is the mark of the Authentic Kingdom of Heaven upon the Earth (no physical evidence can ever be the absolute proof of a spiritual happening, but wherever there is a spiritual change, there will always be SOME physical evidence, proof, or demonstration, no matter how small).  If it weren’t for the Apostolic doctrine of Peter, which He received from the Great Apostle of our Faith, Jesus Himself, He would have not been able to stand on that day of Pentecost and say “This is that”, referring to the prophecies of the Spirit being outpoured in Joel 2.  He would not have been able to later walk down the street and have people be healed by His shadow.  You would not have the apostles of Acts and the Epistles without the teaching, the doctrine, the foundation of the Gospels, and its fruit is immediately demonstrated in the following verse.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 2:43

It was only twelve men, whom in the course of the Ministry of Jesus, had had Christ formed within them (Galatians 4:19), until they could receive directly from the Father (Matthew 16:17), so they could both see and enter into the Kingdom themselves (John 3:3-5).

It was only after Simon had his revelation of who Jesus was, and Jesus called him “Peter” that Jesus began to talk about building His church.  The revelation was essential, required.

So, what did the early Christians, before they were even called that, devoting themselves to?  They were devoting themselves to the retelling of the very teachings of Jesus, more or less as we have them recorded through the Gospels, to the point that some time later they were written down first hand accounts to be preserved for those who would follow after them.

The soundest way to build the Church of the book of Acts is to found it upon the teachings of Jesus found within the Gospels.  The surest way to do it, is to find Jesus, to fall upon Him, again, and again, and again, out of desperation, out of brokenness, out of poverty of Spirit, until He makes His way of faith known to you.  Or, if you know some of it, to be so faithful with it until they want to kill you for it.  Be so obstinate with the Truth, they want to spear you, and string you up with it.  Be so righteous, they burn with fury.  Most Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.  The best way is simply to start believing it.

Matthew 7:15-29

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.