Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 2]
\agapai\ or love-feasts. "There can be no doubt that the
Eucharist at this period was preceded uniformly by a common
repast, as was the case when the ordinance was instituted"
(Hackett). This led to some abuses as in 1Co 11:20. Hence it is
possible that what is referred to here is the Lord's Supper
following the ordinary meal. "To simply explain \t•i klasei tou
artou\ as='The Holy Communion' is to pervert the plain meaning of
words, and to mar the picture of family life, which the text
places before us as the ideal of the early believers" (Page). But
in Ac 20:7 they seem to have come together especially for the
observance of the Lord's Supper. Perhaps there is no way to
settle the point conclusively here. {The prayers} (\tais
proseuchais\). Services where they prayed as in 1:14, in the
temple (Ac 3:1), in their homes (4:23).
2:43 {Came} (\egineto\). Imperfect middle, kept on coming. {Were
done} (\egineto\). Same tense. Awe kept on coming on all and
signs and wonders kept on coming through the apostles. The two
things went on \pari passu\, the more wonders the more fear.
2:44 {Were together} (\•san epi to auto\). Some MSS. \•san kai\
(were and). But they were together in the same place as in 2:1.
{And had} (\kai eichon\). Imperfect active, kept on having, a
habit in the present emergency. {Common} (\koina\). It was not
actual communism, but they held all their property ready for use
for the common good as it was needed (4:32). This situation
appears nowhere else except in Jerusalem and was evidently due to
special conditions there which did not survive permanently. Later
Paul will take a special collection for the poor saints in
Jerusalem.
2:45 {Sold} (\epipraskon\). Imperfect active, a habit or custom
from time to time. Old and common verb, \piprask•\. {Parted}
(\diemerizon\). Imperfect again of \diameriz•\, old verb for
dividing or distributing between (\dia\) people. {According as
any man had need} (\kathoti an tis chreian eichen\). Regular
Greek idiom for comparative clause with \an\ and imperfect
indicative corresponding precisely with the three preceding
imperfects (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 967).
2:46 {With one accord in the temple} (\homothumadon en t•i
hier•i\). See on ¯1:14 for \homothumadon\. They were still
worshipping in the temple for no breach had yet come between
Christians and Jews. Daily they were here and daily breaking
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC2.RWP.html (16 of 17) [28/08/2004 09:06:06 a.m.]