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 More Spirit in the name of JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity More gathers around prayer, meals, fellowship, and apostolic teaching. They share goods to meet one another’s needs and experience the signs and wonders of the apostles.
ANALYSIS
This short passage is key to the book’s understanding of Christian 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 gather around 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 with insignificant variations of expressions. Between the two repetitions, at the heart of the passage and the community, are the wonders and signs done by the apostles and the sharing that prevents anyone from being in need. Since wonders and signs most often refer to healing activities, we can see that the community is one dedicated to human well-being and wholeness, made possible through the Lord. There is another peek at this community in 4:23-34, where all these activities are again underlined, along with the very presence of the Spirit itself.
Acts presents this ideal community while also showing readers that human beings continue to fail to live fully repentant lives. The story of AnaniasThree different people in the New Testament are named Ananias. More and Sapphira, who attempt to defraud the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11), makes this clear. Furthermore, the traveling witnesses of Acts are often deprived of life in such a well-established community. But where there is success in mission, households become such communities of welcome, teaching, sharing of meals, and hospitality to others.
