Careful! That book is alive!
If Paul visited your assembly for a time, and then wrote an epistle to you all, what would it say?
It shouldn’t surprise us that the early believers “turned the world upside down.” After all, they had the promised co-laboring of the Son of God, who would be with them to the end of the age. In addition, He told them He would be in their prayer circle, interceding for each of them with His mighty prayers. And, as instructed, they had waited for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit of God. What wonders He performed—convicting, enlivening, filling, guiding, equipping, comforting, teaching, and a thousand things more!
They had in their hands a sword so remarkable because it was alive, making its own deft moves “to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Imagine having a weapon that could read the minds and motives of those on the enemy’s side? By such an armoury, these first century believers were able “through God” to “[pull] down…strong holds…and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:4-5). God always led them in triumph.
And the people themselves were remarkable. Why, they opened their hearts to one another as Christ had said, showing their discipleship of the Master by their practical love for each other. They didn’t just sing about it, and preach about it. They actually proved it!
Acts Become Facts
You know the record. Daily salvations. Steadfast continuance. Godly fear sweeping before them. Sacrificial care of every saint. Unity. Open homes where they “ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47).
There is so much more in this amazing book. Prayers were answered in mighty ways. Miracles happened. Baptisms occurred, always within days of conversion. The gospel rescued people from the clutches of the enemy. Wherever they went there was either a riot or a revival. Prisons could not hold them. Persecutors became preachers. Assemblies welcomed into fellowship once demon-possessed women, former drunkards, and religious hypocrites. A bonfire burned three-quarters of a million dollars worth of witchcraft books and amulets on the streets of Ephesus. And Gentiles rode over 1000 miles to find the God of the Bible (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is 1580 miles or 2543 km from Jerusalem).
Where did they hold gospel meetings? In theatres and markets, in schools and synagogues. Rich people like Erastus, treasurer of Corinth, and Manaen, Herod’s foster brother, were saved. So were slaves like Secundus, Tertius, and Quartus (Numbers 2, 3, and 4). What days they were! Should we expect this today? All of it? Any of it? If so, what parts?
Take the Test
How can we sort through this amazing book? It’s not so much “The Acts of the Apostles” as it is the ongoing acts of the Lord Jesus by His Spirit through His people. In other words, how can we reclaim New Testament Christianity as the Lord intended it? Let me suggest a series of filters—questions to ask that may help us determine the subtle (or not-so-subtle) differences. May the Lord give us good help to see the very heart of the risen Christ for His people in this age. And may we joyfully embrace all that He has for us.
1. What is Apostolic; What is Exemplary?
The men featured in the Acts and the Epistles were apostles—witnesses of the resurrection, tutored personally by the Lord (Acts 1:21-22), and selected by Him (Gal. 1:15-16), with confirmatory signs (2 Cor. 12:12), along with the writing prophets for this foundational task (Eph. 2:20). On occasion, they stated they were acting in this official capacity (e.g., at the beginning of their letters). But when we encounter an action of an apostle which we may not want to do ourselves, can we write it off by saying, “But he was an apostle”?
Paul, for example, stated in 1 Corinthians 9 that he, as an apostle, had certain rights he could claim. Specifically, he should be financially cared for, so that he might give himself fully to this work. Do soldiers have to buy their own bullets? Shouldn’t oxen and hirelings receive fair compensation for their work, enjoying some of the fruits of their own labor?
But Paul was concerned that the saints were not only taught but shown (Acts 20:20). “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensemble to you to follow us” (2 Thess. 3:8-9). I would venture to say that, unless Paul, or the other apostles, specifically claimed apostleship, they were providing an example, not an exception.
2. What is Transitional; What is Permanent?
Again, the NT was written clearly, not cryptically. You see the transition between Old and New Testament approaches in John 16:25. Our Lord declared, “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language…” (NKJV). The disciples saw the obvious transition, stating, “Now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!” (v. 29).
Therefore, we can expect to see indications in either the immediate or general context if it is to be treated as a transitional form. An example already cited is the apostles and prophets who were foundational, although their ministry is still with us in the Scriptures. Other examples: the gifts of knowledge and tongues (1 Cor. 13:8), and law-keeping as a rule of life (Gal. 3:24-25).
On the other hand, the believers were in each others’ homes daily. Is there any indication that this was not to be a permanent feature of assembly life? Or the way they were all pouring their financial resources into the work of God (Acts 2:45-46). Was this a temporary arrangement, or was it in fact a response to the teaching of the Master (Mt. 6:19)? If some of these characteristics turned out being temporary, perhaps it was through the failure of the church, not by the intent of the Spirit. Maybe we need to heed the Savior’s warning: “Remember…from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5).
3. What is Descriptive; What is Prescriptive?
There are many features of first century living included in Luke’s account of the early church. Paul always travelled on foot or by sailing vessel, for example. Are these merely described or are they being prescribed as the way we should continue to do it? Again, context is key.
While Paul does not cite these features as “the only way to go,” he does describe his teaching (not evangelism here) as carried on both “publicly, and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). Is it possible that the hollow nature of some public teaching is the result of teachers not being in the homes of God’s people, and therefore not really knowing the needs of their audience? I recall a story in which J.N. Darby observed that Mr. F.W. Grant would do better if he knew less about Bible numbers and more about the street numbers on the houses of God’s people.
4. What is Mechanics; What is Dynamics?
This is not so much a matter of choosing between things we do or don’t do. It is a matter of seeing the roles of both and making sure that both are included. It was the tragedy of the Ephesian assembly that they cared very much about mechanics, but were destitute in the dynamics department. They knew about doing what they should do, but failed in being what they should be. I fear it is a common malady. It is like having a car with all the options, but no gas.
How often I have heard outlines on the characteristics of the New Testament church. It was all good. Yet it never seemed to be mentioned that love for the Lord and for one another were the chief characteristics! Stated plainly, we cannot pretend to have New Testament churches if we do not have New Testament life. It is of little use to have form without function. This is the difference between a store mannequin and a living body.
It’s good to know about NT priesthood; it’s also good to know about how to visit the widows. It’s good to know about the Headship of Christ; it’s also good to know about caring for strangers. After all, some day the One will say about the other: “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me” (Mt. 25:45).
5. What is General; What is Particular?
Again, the details of Scripture are so important. There are general responsibilities and privileges that encompass the whole Body. In the areas of prayer and worship, fellowship and stewardship, we are all accountable. What about gospel witness? One of those details to be noted is the absence of evangelism listed as a gift in Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12. Why? The early church understood the Great Commission to include them all. Note Acts 8 where those scattered abroad “went everywhere preaching (euaggelizo) the word” (v. 4) yet verse 1 tells us that this did not include the apostles, who remained in Jerusalem.
Two qualifying details. First, evangelists are mentioned as a special gift from Christ in Ephesians 4. But as noted in an article in the last Uplook, the evangelist mentioned there is to equip the saints so they can do the work. Secondly, while everyone was involved in evangelism, they did it in an amazing variety of ways.
Every saint should be actively, joyfully, sacrificially involved in the work of God. But it is always a danger when people see things only through their gift. If we do, we expect everyone to be doing what we see as the great need. We see it as the great need because God has burdened us to do it. But there is great need in every sphere. Thankfully there are also great resources in the church by the engrafting of the Spirit to meet those needs.
6. What is Cultural; What is Universal?
When the Lord visited the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk. 7), He said to him, “…thou gavest Me no water for my feet:…Thou gavest Me no kiss…My head with oil thou didst not anoint…” (vv. 44-46). Do we do exactly these three things to our guests today? No, but we ought to do something similar. We might take their coats, provide them with fresh towels and show them the washroom, give them the best chair and perhaps a drink of water or cup of tea.
Yet we must not be too hasty in rejecting any of it as directly transferable. What about the verse, “Greet one another with an holy kiss” (2 Cor. 13:12). Did I say verse? It’s found four times in Paul’s epistles (here; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 1 Thess. 5:26). Peter calls it a kiss of love (1 Pet. 5:14). These were not verses my Scottish/Irish assembly majored on! But what do you do with them?
Even though a kiss might not work in Japan, or an embrace in Scotland might be akin to hugging a fence post, the purpose of such a directive is easily translatable. When you greet another believer, do it in both a holy and loving way. Be real; be caring; be brotherly.
7. What is Local Church; What is Whole Body?
One of the ways to distinguish the gifted men in Ephesians 4 from, say, the elders of a local assembly is by understanding the breadth of their burden and vision. Notice the difference between these two verses: “If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” (1 Tim. 3:5). “…that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).
I would suggest that the Ephesian 4 men are to be loosed from local church ties and, while working with other similarly gifted men, become directly accountable to the risen Head. Is this not the force of the Spirit’s words: “Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then…they sent them away (apoluo, loosed and let go)” (Acts 13:2-3). Elders should be watching for such men. They are part of the New Testament pattern for the strengthening of existing assemblies and helping with the starting of new ones. Or so the book of Acts shows.
An article like this can’t provide all the answers, but perhaps these questions may encourage us. Rather than excusing or explaining away our dissimilarity to early church life, may we eagerly embrace (and in some cases adapt) all we can from this vibrant, thrilling book.