Once reading all 5 verses in the section you can easily understand what’s going on. People are listening to the apostles and are becoming a family in religion. They became a community they follows the laws of God ,it says in verse 42
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” Acts of the Apostles 2:42 NLT
So we can see they are doing what is right here and if you also look back to verses 46 and 47 you can see other acts the people was doing .
“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts of the Apostles 2:46-47 NLT
So right from the first verse in this section you can see these people who believed are starting to become one in the Lords eyes, for they are doing what is right, they are changing their ways and listening to what the apostles have to say. It says they devoted themselves to the apostles teachings, and to fellowship now what does the word devoted mean?
The word devote or devoted means to give all or a large part of one’s time or resources to ( for example ,a person, activity, or cause).
So not only was they listening to what the apostles had to say, but they were giving a large part of their time ,their energy , and their lives to do what the apostles was teaching them. Such as fellowship, praying sharing their meals ,participating in the lords supper and worshiping at the Temple.
Now anyone can say they’re devoted to something, but as I always say, words without actions are merely empty air if you’re going to say something or not, do it might as well save your breath but here in verse 45 it shows us that these believers were actually devoted They didn’t just say it
“They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” Acts of the Apostles 2:45 NLT
They physically sold their property and possessions, and shared the money with those in need. Now if that’s not really devoted I don’t know what is, because I know for a fact, none of yous or me would sell our property and possessions and give the money to somebody In need.
When you put this chapter in a different translation, this section I studied on, comes up as “ a vital church grows”
The word vital means absolutely necessary or important.
So that title means a very important church grows, and upon reading it, you can really see how a church is forming . Some people may think a church Has to be in a building but it doesn’t the building doesn’t make it a church. The people do, without people the church would just be a building. Now without a building, a bunch of people praising God is still a church.
In Matthew, chapter 18, verse 20 it says
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”” Matthew 18:20 NLT
And in 2 Corinthians chapter 6:16 it says
“And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16 NLT
These people were creating a very important church. They devoted themselves to what the apostles were saying. They were believers. They did what we think we can do. We think when the time comes, we will be able to sell our jewelry our house, our clothes, and then give the money to people who need it but in all reality, you’re only lying to yourself when you say that.
We need to be more like these people. We need to devote our self to God. We need to make time to join that livestream ,to join that Bible study ,to do the Bible homework ,to read the Bible ,to pray we need to devote ourselves to make time for him.
In John chapter 3 verse 16 it says
““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT
He gave his son for you , at least make time for him.