Acts 2:40–47

Verse 40. And with a great many other words did he testify and exhort them. Saint Luke only gives an abridgment of those exhortations, which Saint Peter, and the apostles frequently gave to all the people. Saint Peter, as Saint John Chrysostom observes, and as we see in these Acts, was the mouth of all the rest. And on this first day of Pentecost, about three thousand were converted. Witham.

Verse 42. In the communication of the breaking of bread, by which some understand their ordinary meals, and eating together; others, of the celestial bread of the holy Sacrament, του αρτου, panis illius, scilicet Eucharistiæ. The Eucharist is called both by Saint Luke and Saint Paul, the breaking of bread. Menochius. in verse 42 and 46.—In the Syriac, for αρτου, is a term that means Eucharist, both here and in Acts 20 as the learned Joannes Harlemius remarks in Indice Bibliorum.—Saint Luke also gives here some account of the manner of living of these first Christians. 1. They were together, united in perfect charity. 2. They were frequently in the temple, and praying together. 3. They had all possessions in common. 4. They went from house to house to convert souls, taking the food they found with joy, and simplicity of heart, their number daily increasing. 5. Saint Luke says they were in favour, and esteemed by all the people. 6. The apostles did many prodigies and miracles, to confirm their doctrine, which struck others with great terror and horror for their past lives. Witham.

Verse 44. This living in common is not a precept for all Christians, but a life of perfection and counsel, for such as are called to it by heaven. See S. Augustin in Psalm cxii. and ep. cix. the practice of which is a striking proof of the one true Church, which has come down from the apostles.

Verse 46. In the temple. Although by the death of our Saviour, the ceremonies and sacrifices were abrogated, and the new alliance had succeeded to the old, still it was not in the design of God, that the faithful should separated themselves from the rest of the Jews, or entirely give up the observances of the law. They continued to observe them, as long as the utility of the Church required it, but they observed them not as Jews. Thus they avoided giving scandal to the weak, and driving them from submitting to the doctrines of the Church. They disposed them insensibly to a more pure and spiritual worship. Saint John Chrysostom in Act. hom. vii.—This was burying the synagogue with honour.

Verse 47. More and more he added daily to the Church, as it is clearly expressed in the Greek, προσετιθει τη εκκλησια, that we may see the visible propagation and increase of the same. We may here, and throughout the whole book, observe a visible society of men joined in Christ, which visible society may be traced through ecclesiastical history, down to our days, and which will continue, in virtue of Christ’s promise, to the end of time, as the point of union, by which the true disciples of Jesus Christ are to be connected together in one body, and one spirit; “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5. This book can shew the true Church ever visible, and ever speaking with authority to all that do not willingly shut their eyes, as plainly as the gospel doth shew the true Christ. “Every where the Church proclaims the truth; she is the candlestick, with the seven lamps (Exod. 25); bearing the light of Christ, επταμυκος,” says S. Irenæus; which light nothing can obscure. Hence S. Chrysostom says, “sooner shall the sun be extinguished, than the Church be obscured;” ευκολιοτερον τον ηλιον σβεσθηναι, η την εκκλησιαν αφανισθηναι.