Acts 2:42–47 is the final passage in the section of Acts where Luke explains the identity and witness of Jesus’ followers as the new people of God. Previously he has covered the reconstitution of the Twelve as Jesus’ witnesses to the people of Israel (Acts 1:15–26), the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–13), Peter’s explanation of the coming of the Spirit and the significance of Jesus of Nazareth who is Christ and Lord (Acts 2:14–36), and finally Peter’s missionary sermon in which he urges the crowd to repent and commit themselves to Jesus (Romans 8:12–17).1
In Acts 2:42–47 Luke provides the pattern of the life of the church to which every generation ought to aspire. When we compare what is written in these verses with what is prescribed in the Gospels and Acts, we notice that the example of the early church is perfectly consistent with what God commands.2 Three characteristics in particular are to be seen: the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of sacraments, and communion in true love.3
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.