SUMMARY
The community of those baptized by the HolyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine Spirit in the name of Jesus gathers around prayer, meals, fellowship, and apostolic teaching. They share material goods to meet one another’s needs and experience the signs and wonders performed by the apostles.
ANALYSIS
This short passage is key to the book’s understanding of Christ-centered community. The community is a haven of strength for those who gather as forgiven, baptized believers. They experience a “time of refreshing” (3:20) as they participate in teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers–activities that mark the church to this day.
These activities are twice described in these few verses. The heart of the passage highlights the apostles’ wonder-working ability and the congregation’s mutual generosity that safeguards anyone from being in need. Since wonders and signs most often refer to healing activities, we can see that the community is dedicated to human well-being, made possible through the Lord. These communal practices are underscored again in 4:23-34, fueled by a fresh infilling with the Holy Spirit (4:31).
