Fellowship Lifestyle of the Infant Church of Jesus and Its Implication - Exegetical Analysis of Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37

Abstract

Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37 record the fellowship lifestyle of the first church. Together, they give a broad account of the outcome of a spirit-filled life of the new believers. The narratives provide information about the centralized authority of the apostles and the nature of the power of the apostles over the infant church. In Luke’s account, the first Christians came together as members of the spiritual family of Jesus after Pentecost. The experience united them into a community, whose bond of unity Luke described in the passage. Their fellowship lifestyle was expressed by their togetherness, a lifestyle motivated by love for one another. They lived as if they had one soul and mind, having all things in common, selling and sharing the proceeds as each had need. The result was that there was no needy person among them. Luke’s account has prompted some scholars to suggest that the author presents the infant church as practicing a form of communism. To others, this account provides a model for Christian relationships. Some suggest that the example set forth is meant to be “prescriptive for Christian communities”. However, others hold the view that this is only described rather than prescribed and that the author presents this as mistaken. This article shows that this lifestyle of the infant church was voluntary and not dictated by any legislation. It was a lifestyle that flowed out of love for Jesus and their new community, and the first Christians were able to do this through the help of the Holy Spirit.