Last Supper Fellowship
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When I look at this picture, I see the fellowship that Jesus longed for with those who loved him. Even though that particular night was chaotic, the basis of the night was to bring the disciples together in unity. The passage in Acts 2 revitalizes the fellowship that Jesus wants for his followers. The scholars that I read about looked at the passage in a different light. Maddox spoke about how repentance and baptism were the focus of this particular faith community (Maddox, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, v. 19). To me, it seemed that Maddox thought repentance and baptism were the center of their attention so he focused more on the increase of their number. Krodel made a point of saying that true fellowship could only come through the sharing of their worldly goods: They had “all things in common (koina)” (Krodel, Augsburg’s Commentary of the New Testament). I do believe that repentance and baptism are two necessary things in our salvation life, thus the start of their community; however, I believe that their focus was patterning what Christ did with his disciples throughout his life. To show their devotion to his teaching and the salvation that he’d given them, they participated in communion and fellowship. Relationships are very important in our lives. The believers saw that and surrounded themselves with fellow believers so they could be encouraged and grow together.
Also, I focused more on a point that believes that all the things they did was a result of their transformation; they were unified under God, that’s why they had everything in common. Krodel and I share a same view on why their prayers were so powerful. Their prayers weren’t “I need this, I need this, God, give me this.” Their prayers were praises to God. Because of their selfless prayers, God blessed them and added to their number daily.
Krodel brought up a point that I hadn’t thought about, but I find it very interesting and very symbolic. He brought to my attention that the community worshipped in the temple which was important because the temple was the center of Israel’s life that connected them to their past and their solidarity to the Israel that had not yet repented (Krodel, Augsburg’s Commentary). This made me realize that their meeting at the temple is significant in a symbolic way. By using the temple, the center of Israel’s life, as their place of worship, they showed Israel that Christ was the center of their lives.
When I look at this picture, I see the fellowship that Jesus longed for with those who loved him. Even though that particular night was chaotic, the basis of the night was to bring the disciples together in unity. The passage in Acts 2 revitalizes the fellowship that Jesus wants for his followers. The scholars that I read about looked at the passage in a different light. Maddox spoke about how repentance and baptism were the focus of this particular faith community (Maddox, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, v. 19). To me, it seemed that Maddox thought repentance and baptism were the center of their attention so he focused more on the increase of their number. Krodel made a point of saying that true fellowship could only come through the sharing of their worldly goods: They had “all things in common (koina)” (Krodel, Augsburg’s Commentary of the New Testament). I do believe that repentance and baptism are two necessary things in our salvation life, thus the start of their community; however, I believe that their focus was patterning what Christ did with his disciples throughout his life. To show their devotion to his teaching and the salvation that he’d given them, they participated in communion and fellowship. Relationships are very important in our lives. The believers saw that and surrounded themselves with fellow believers so they could be encouraged and grow together.
Also, I focused more on a point that believes that all the things they did was a result of their transformation; they were unified under God, that’s why they had everything in common. Krodel and I share a same view on why their prayers were so powerful. Their prayers weren’t “I need this, I need this, God, give me this.” Their prayers were praises to God. Because of their selfless prayers, God blessed them and added to their number daily.
Krodel brought up a point that I hadn’t thought about, but I find it very interesting and very symbolic. He brought to my attention that the community worshipped in the temple which was important because the temple was the center of Israel’s life that connected them to their past and their solidarity to the Israel that had not yet repented (Krodel, Augsburg’s Commentary). This made me realize that their meeting at the temple is significant in a symbolic way. By using the temple, the center of Israel’s life, as their place of worship, they showed Israel that Christ was the center of their lives.
