Typically, when I read this passage, I tend to focus on the communal aspects of living the early church exemplified.  But this time, when reading this passage, what struck me was the last line: “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”  How miraculous and wonderful this must have been to experience!  And I wondered to myself why this might have happened.

Upon review of the passage, we can see the things the early apostles and believers did to aid in such a harvest of new believers: devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (perhaps in studying the apostles’ teachings themselves or perhaps in teaching it to others), fellowshipped together, broke bread, prayed, performed signs and wonders, lived together in community, gave to those in need, spent time together in the temple—and did all of this with glad and generous hearts, goodwill towards others, and while praising God.  In other words, they were living out the teachings of Jesus in community with each other.

This is the type of community that would have stuck out amidst the culture.  Living this way would make it obvious to others that they had something different going on.  The fruit of the Spirit overflowed in a way that served as a magnet to others.  Today, we the church have this same opportunity.  Are we willing to embrace these actions of the early church?  Can we live it out to the point that those we encounter are drawn in to meet this Jesus who would inspire us to live in such a way?  My prayer is that we can and that we will.  Let us go live it out for all the world to see.