Acts 2:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

NIV: praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

NASB: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

CSB: praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

NLT: all 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 saved.

KJV: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

NKJV: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

This is the first wave of believers in the new church. In addition to the three thousand who accepted Jesus on the first day the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2:41), more come daily. The verse says that "the Lord added" new believers. This is consistent with other passages. Jesus called the apostles to be His witnesses, but He didn't tell them to convert people (Acts 1:8). Later, Paul will tell the Corinthians, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). Even in the Great Commission, Jesus doesn't tell the disciples to make converts but to make disciples (Matthew 28:19–20).

The church is in a kind of incubation period. Peter and John haven't been arrested (Acts 4:1–3), Stephen hasn't been murdered (Acts 7:54–60), and the young Pharisee-trained hitman Saul hasn't driven the Jesus-followers out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3). Jesus warned that persecution would come (John 15:18–21). The early church wisely uses this time of peace and favor to build the foundation of the church. They learn from the apostles, grow in unity, and pray (Acts 2:42). They sacrifice for each other and accept what they receive gladly (Acts 2:45–46). They have repented from their sins and received the Holy Spirit—they have a lot to praise God for.

This section is immediately followed by a story in which all people are proven not to show the new church favor. Specifically, the Sanhedrin objects to the preaching that resurrection from the dead is possible (Acts 3:1–4:22). Acts 4:32–37 is a similar section to Acts 2:42–47. It speaks of the unity and growth of the church and ends with an example of extreme generosity, but it's immediately followed by an example that belies that trend as Ananias and Sapphira stoop to equally extreme selfish deceit (Acts 5:1–11).

Faith can't grow without opposition. In this moment, God balances favor and persecution in a way that builds a church which has lasted, so far, for nearly 2000 years. The modern church is indebted to those who built that foundation.

Acts 2:42–47 describes the routine of the early church. One morning, about nine days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit indwelt 120 of His followers (Acts 2:1–4). By that evening, three thousand devout Jews and proselytes had joined them (Acts 2:41). Most of the newcomers had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost from other countries. Many decide to stay in Jerusalem, to learn more about Jesus and be part of the phenomenon we now call ''the church.''

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2 describes the creation of Jesus' church. Forty days after Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). One hundred and twenty disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 2–15). In Acts 2, they receive the Holy Spirit and share the gospel with a crowd of people who have come to celebrate Pentecost. Three thousand believe, and the church comes to life. In the following chapters, Jesus-followers fulfill Jesus' promise that they will be His witnesses ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.