The Emerging Church; Acts 2:42-47 – Part 5

Church History: The people were influenced by it; those that were without it, the standers by, the spectators.

1. They feared them; They had a profound respect for them (Acts 2:43): Fear came upon every soul, that is, upon very many who saw the wonders and signs done by the apostles, and were afraid lest their not being respected as they should be would bring desolation upon their nation. The common people stood in awe of them, as Herod feared John. Though they had nothing of external pomp to command external respect, as the scribes' long robes gained them the greetings in the market-places, yet they had abundance of spiritual gifts that were truly honorable, which possessed men with an inward reverence for them. Fear came upon every soul; the souls of people were strangely influenced by their awful preaching and living.

2. They favored them. Though we have reason to think there were those that despised them and hated them (we are sure the Pharisees and chief priests did), most of the common people were kind to them. they were in favor with all the people. Christ was so violently run upon and run down by a packed mob, which cried, Crucify him, crucify him, that one would think his doctrine and followers were never likely to have an interest in the common people any more. And yet here we find them in favor with them all, by which it appears that their prosecuting Christ was a sort of force put upon them by the artifices of the priests; now they returned to their wits, to their right mind.

3. They fell over to them. Some or other were coming in daily, though not so many as the first day; and they were such as should be saved. Those that God has designed for eternal salvation shall one time or other be effectually brought to Christ: and those that are brought to Christ are added to the church in a holy covenant by baptism, and in holy communion by other ordinances.