WEEK TEN
COMMUNION AND FELLOWSHIP
Communion is a joining together of minds or spirits while fellowship is a company of people that share the same interest or aim. After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples were staying together waiting for the promise of the Father.
a. Election of the successor to Judas Iscariot – Acts 1:15-26
In Acts 1:15-26, Peter stood up among the other brethren, numbering about one hundred and twenty disciples and stated why Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus must be replaced in fulfilment of the scriptures. He stated that Judas has fallen headlong and his abode has become the Field of Blood (Akeldama). It was in fulfilment of the what Psalmist said when he said, ‘Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘His office let another take.’ So they nominated two men, Justus Barsabbas and Matthias, who had been with them all through the ministry of Jesus. They prayed and cast lots for them and the lot fell on Matthias. So he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
b. Characteristics of the early Christian community Acts 2:41-47, Acts 4:32-37
After Peter’s speech, about three thousand people joined the apostles and they were baptized having received the word of God. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, they broke bread and prayed together.
They experienced a lot of miracles, signs and wonders through the apostles. They shared things in common. Many of them who had possessions, land houses and goods sold them and brought the proceed and laid it at the apostles’ feet to be used to meet needs of the people. In fact, in Acts 4:36-37, one Joseph whom the apostle surnamed Barnabas, which means Son of encouragement, a Levite and native of Cyprus sold a field which belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. They were attending the temple together and breaking breads and eating together with glad and generous hearts in their homes. They praised God together and had favour with all people. They also kept increasing in number.
The Characteristics of the early Church were;
1. sharing the word of God, that is listening to the teachings of the apostles
2. Sharing what they have in common, including food
3. praying and praising God together
4. they had fellowship with one another
5. they experiences signs and wonders through the apostles.
c. Problem of the early Christian community – Acts 5:1-11; Acts 6:1
Where there is gathering of the people, there is likelihood of having conflicts. The Bible recorded two problems witnessed during this period which include the death of Ananias and Sapphira and the dissatisfaction of the widows as a result of favouritsm.
In Acts 5:1-11, there was a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira. They sold a piece of land belonging to them and kept back some of the proceeds. Ananias, the husband brought a part of the proceed and laid it at the apostles’ feet claiming that was the whole proceed. Peter then answered him saying, “Anani′as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Anani′as heard these words, he fell down and died immediately. The people who heard of it became sore afraid. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
At about three hours interval, his wife unaware of what had happened came in. Peter turned and said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She also lied as she had agreed with her husband to tell the apostles. Peter replied and said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately Peter said that, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, they carried her out also and buried her beside her husband. The church became really afraid when they heard of this unfortunate incident.
In Acts 6:1-7, there was a situation where the Hellenists complained bitterness against the Hebrews that they were being neglected. The disciples are increasing in number and the daily distribution didn’t go round as the Hellenist widows were being neglected. The twelve apostles called the other disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” So they directed them to pick seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, who will be appointed this duty of seeing that there is equitable distribution, while the apostles would devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The people were pleased with what the apostles said so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch′orus, and Nica′nor, and Timon, and Par′menas, and Nicola′us, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
The word of God continued to increase as the disciples also multiplied in number and the multitude were obedient to the faith.
d. Solution to the problem of the early Christian community
The measures taken by the apostles to address this issue are;
1. Appoint people to look into the problems
2. Take objective steps to address every societal problem
3. Eliminate the division among tribal or cultural lines.
4. Appoint neutral people who have the fear of God and are full of the Holy Spirit.
5. The leaders must avoid distraction from the central goal and purpose of the community.
6. Allow the people to choose their own leaders.
7. Put people who have capacity to act in the position of authority.
Unprecedented 