1 Corinthians 11:17

Verse 17. Now this I ordain, and so forth Saint Paul found that several abuses had crept in among the Corinthians at their Church meetings, where before the holy mysteries (though Saint John Chrysostom thinks after them) they used to have those charitable suppers, called the Agape. For as our Saviour eat first a common supper with his apostles, before he instituted the holy sacrament, so the Christians in many places brought meats with them, and eat a supper together, in token of that friendship and union, which they had with all their brethren, before they began to celebrate the holy mysteries. It is this supper, which according to the common interpretation Saint Paul here (verse 20) calls the Lord’s supper, [3] (though Saint Augustine and some others by the Lord’s supper, understand the holy sacrament itself of Christ’s body and blood.) The apostle tells them, he hears there are divisions among them at their meetings, which he says will happen, as there must be also heresies, which God permits, that they who are approved, may be made manifest, that is, that on such occasions, the just may shew their fidelity and constancy in their duty to God. The apostle tells them, that it is not now to eat the Lord’s supper, that is, there were such abuses among them, that it was not now to imitate the supper, which Christ made with his apostles, or, according to the exposition of Saint Augustine this was not becoming persons, who, before the end of their meetings, were to partake of the divine mysteries. Witham.