praising GodThe early believers were characterized by their continuous worship and adoration of God. This reflects the Jewish tradition of praising God in the temple and synagogues, as seen in Psalms. Their praise was a response to the mighty works of God, including the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This act of worship was central to their community life and mirrored the heavenly worship described in Revelation.
and enjoying the favor of all the people.
The early church's communal life, marked by love, generosity, and unity, earned them goodwill among the broader Jewish population in Jerusalem. This favor can be seen as a fulfillment of Jesus' teaching inMatthew 5:16, where believers are called to let their light shine before others. The church's positive reputation was crucial for its growth and acceptance in a society that was often hostile to new movements.
And the Lord added to their number daily
The growth of the early church was attributed to divine action rather than human effort. This aligns with the biblical theme that God is the one who gives the increase, as seen in1 Corinthians 3:6-7. The phrase emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation and the fulfillment of Jesus' promise inMatthew 16:18 that He would build His church.
those who were being saved.
Salvation is presented as an ongoing process, not just a one-time event. This reflects the New Testament understanding of salvation as involving justification, sanctification, and future glorification. The phrase also highlights the communal aspect of salvation, as individuals were added to the church, the body of Christ. This echoes the prophetic vision of a restored people of God, as seen in passages likeEzekiel 36:26-28.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Early ChurchThis refers to the community of believers in Jerusalem shortly after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. They were characterized by their devotion to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
2.
The ApostlesThe primary leaders of the early church, who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. They played a crucial role in teaching and guiding the new believers.
3.
JerusalemThe city where these events took place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple.
4.
The LordRefers to Jesus Christ, who is actively involved in the growth of the church by adding to their number those who are being saved.
5.
The PeopleThe broader community in Jerusalem, including both Jews and Gentiles, who observed the lives of the early Christians and were impacted by their witness.
Teaching Points
The Power of PraiseThe early church was characterized by praising God. Our lives should also be marked by continual praise, which can be a powerful witness to those around us.
Community FavorThe early believers enjoyed the favor of all the people. Living out our faith authentically and lovingly can lead to positive relationships with those in our communities.
Divine GrowthIt is the Lord who adds to the church. While we are called to be faithful in sharing the gospel, we must trust God for the increase.
Daily SalvationThe early church experienced daily growth. We should pray and work towards seeing people come to faith regularly, trusting in God's timing and provision.
Witness Through UnityThe unity and love within the church were attractive to outsiders. We should strive for unity in our churches, as it serves as a powerful testimony to the world.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 2:47?
2.How can we "praise God" daily in our personal and communal lives?
3.What does "having favor with all the people" teach about Christian conduct today?
4.How does Acts 2:47 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
5.In what ways can we contribute to "the Lord adding to their number" today?
6.How can our church community reflect the early church's growth and unity?
7.How does Acts 2:47 relate to the concept of salvation by grace through faith?
8.What does Acts 2:47 imply about the role of the church in salvation?
9.How does Acts 2:47 support the idea of divine election?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 2?
11.What defines church growth?
12.What defines an attractional church?
13.What do customers say about their experience with us?
14.What defines lifestyle evangelism?What Does Acts 2:47 Mean
praising God“praising God” (Acts 2:47) captures the heartbeat of the newborn church.
• Their worship was constant, not confined to a particular place or day (Acts 2:46;Psalm 34:1).
• Praise flowed from gratitude for redemption accomplished at the cross (1 Peter 1:18-19) and the Spirit just poured out (Acts 2:33).
• This public exaltation of God fulfilled Jesus’ promise that true worshipers would worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
• Such praise also became their witness; joyful words about God naturally invited questions from onlookers (Hebrews 13:15;Colossians 3:16).
enjoying the favor of all the peopleThe same believers were “enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47).
• Their unity, generosity, and integrity were attractive (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-33).
• Like Jesus, they grew “in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
•Proverbs 3:3-4 promises that steadfast love and faithfulness win favor; the church modeled both.
• Good deeds done before others caused observers to glorify God (Matthew 5:16;1 Peter 2:12).
• While persecution would soon rise (Acts 4:1-3), in this moment their authentic community earned widespread respect.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47) highlights God’s active role.
• Growth came from the Lord, not slick strategy (1 Corinthians 3:6-7;John 6:44).
• It was continuous—“daily”—showing the gospel’s power for every ordinary day (Acts 5:14; 11:24).
• Salvation is explicitly mentioned; this was more than attendance, it was genuine conversion (Romans 1:16;Ephesians 2:8-9).
• The pattern fulfills Jesus’ promise to build His church (Matthew 16:18) and the Great Commission’s call for disciple-making (Matthew 28:19-20).
• Healthy worship and loving witness positioned the congregation as God’s instrument, but He alone produced the harvest.
summaryActs 2:47 paints a vibrant portrait of the first believers: hearts lifted in continual praise, lives lived so well that neighbors took notice, and a fellowship God kept expanding every single day. When worship is genuine and community is Christ-centered, God still delights to draw people into salvation and add them to His family.
(47)
Having favour with all the people.--The new life of the Apostles, in part probably their liberal almsgiving, had revived the early popularity of their Master with the common people. The Sadducean priests were, probably, the only section that looked on them with a malignant fear.
The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.--Many of the better MSS. omit the words "to the Church," and connect "together," which in the Greek is the first word inActs 3:1, with this verse--The Lord added together . . . The verb "added" is in the tense which, like the adverb "daily," implies a continually recurring act. "The Lord" is probably used here, as inActs 2:39, in its generic Old Testament sense, rather than as definitely applied to Christ. For "such as should be saved"--a meaning which the present participle passive cannot possibly have--read,those that were in the way of salvation; literally,those that were being saved,as in1Corinthians 1:18;2Corinthians 2:15. The verse takes its place among the few passages in which the translators have, perhaps, been influenced by a Calvinistic bias;Hebrews 10:38, "ifany man draw back," instead of "ifhe draw back," being another. It should, however, be stated in fairness that all the versions from Tyndale onward, including the Rhemish, give the same rendering. Wiclif alone gives nearly the true meaning, "them that were made safe." . . .
Verse 47.- To them day by day for
to the Church daily, A.V. and T.R.;
those that were being sated for
such as should be saved, A.V. Added to them day by day. The R.T. has instead of
τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ the words
ἐπὶ τὸαὐτό, which in
Acts 2:1 are properly rendered "in one place," but do not seem to be rendered at all in the R.V. of this verse. In fact, they have no sense unless you construe them with
τοὺς σωζομένους, "those who escaped to the same place,"
i.e. to the Church. But it seems most probable that the words
ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό do really belong to
Acts 3:1, where they are found in the T.R. If
τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ does not properly belong to the text (it is wanting in A, B, C,
א, and many versions), then
προσετίθει must be taken absolutely, as
προσετέθησαν is in ver. 41, the Church, or the disciples, being understood.
Those that were being saved. The exhortation in ver. 40 was "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." Those who were added to the Church were those who complied with the exhortation, and escaped from complicity with their unbelieving countrymen. They were the remnant that escaped. (See the use of
οἱσωζόμενοι in the LXX. (
2 Chronicles 20:25, etc.), and see
Mark 16:16.)
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
praisingαἰνοῦντες(ainountes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 134:To praise. From ainos; to praise.GodΘεὸν(Theon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.enjoyingἔχοντες(echontes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.[the] favorχάριν(charin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485:From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.ofπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.allὅλον(holon)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3650:All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.people.λαόν(laon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992:Apparently a primary word; a people.Andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.LordΚύριος(Kyrios)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962:Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.addedπροσετίθει(prosetithei)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4369:To place (put) to, add; I do again. From pros and tithemi; to place additionally, i.e. Lay beside, annex, repeat.toἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.theirτὸ(to)Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.numberαὐτό(auto)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.dailyἡμέραν(hēmeran)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250:A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.those whoτοὺς(tous)Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.were being saved.σῳζομένους(sōzomenous)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4982:To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.
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NT Apostles: Acts 2:47 Praising God and having favor with all (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
