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A SINGLE HEART (I)
THURSDAY, MAY 20
Acts 2:41-47

Acts 4:32-37

 

“…the multitude of them
that believed were of

one heart and of one soul…”

 

A SINGLE HEART (I)
 
The first picture of the early church is truly beautiful. That initial company of “three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41), to which “the Lord added… daily” (v 47), was united in the truth and power of the Spirit: “they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (v 42). Their unity is strongly emphasized: “all that believed were together, and had all things common” (v 44); and this joy and generosity are described as a “gladness and singleness of heart” (v 46).
 
Even after the early church’s first experience of persecution, when Peter and John were arrested and “put… in hold” (Acts 4:3) by the priests and rulers of the Jews, the unity of the church was not shaken. When news of the persecution reached them, “they lifted up their voice to God with one accord” in prayer (v 24), which He graciously answered (v 31). Thus even in the face of external threat and opposition, “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul” (v 32). There was the same mutuality and sense of community.
 
What a shock, then, to read that only a short time later, “when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1)! That community which had seemed so united, was so easily put in danger of division ‒ and it was that very same generous spirit, which became the cause of controversy! The “daily ministration” seems to refer to the “distribution” that was “made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:35). The contention here, then, was that the “distribution” was not equal; it was not apportioned strictly according to need, but there was a bias in favour of the “Hebrews” over against the “Grecians.”
 
Now we do not intend to minimise the issue in this case, nor to suggest that the Grecians were necessarily wrong to raise it. But we must recognise the reality and danger of division in every community of fallen human beings ‒ including the church. And recognising this danger, we must work diligently to avoid it.
 
THOUGHT: A single heart is not easy for a church, or even a family!

PRAYER: Bless Thy church, O Father, with singleness of heart!

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