Acts 2:37-47
A People Devoted to One Another
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
41Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
44All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Berean Standard Bible
Peter's sermon leaves the crowd cut to the heart. They ask what they should do, and Peter calls them to repent, be baptized in Jesus' name, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The new community is marked by teaching, shared life, meals, prayer, awe, signs, generosity, and daily praise. Those with possessions sell and share as needs arise. The passage does not present a fundraising technique; it shows people who have been gathered around Jesus learning to treat one another's needs as their own concern.
The Lord adds to their number, but the community's daily practices are visible before the growth is counted.
Peter's call is both personal and communal. Repentance means turning toward God, and baptism marks belonging to Jesus Christ; the promise is for the hearers, their children, and those whom God will call from far away. Luke then shows what that new belonging looks like in ordinary time. They listen to teaching, share meals, pray, and keep gathering even when no dramatic event is taking place.
Their generosity is connected to worship rather than separated from it. They do not merely admire the apostles' teaching while protecting every possession from their brothers and sisters. They notice need and respond. At the same time, Luke does not turn one act of selling into a rule that erases personal responsibility; he shows a people whose hearts have been changed enough to hold resources open to one another.
Questions
1 How did the crowd respond to Peter's message?
AnswerThey were cut to the heart and asked what they should do.
2 What did Peter tell them to do?
AnswerHe told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
3 What practices marked the believers?
AnswerThey devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
4 How did they respond to one another's needs?
AnswerThey shared their possessions and gave to anyone who had need.
What This Means for Us
Ask whether your household's faith is visible in its rhythms. Choose one practice of teaching, prayer, shared meals, or generosity that helps people experience belonging rather than merely hear about it.
Prayer
Father, make us a people devoted to your word, fellowship, meals, prayer, and generosity. Teach us to notice needs and respond with glad hearts. Amen.