Acts 2:46

46 And day by day, 1attending the temple 2together and 3breaking bread in their homes, they received their food 4with glad and generous hearts,

Acts 2:46 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 2:46

And they continued daily with one accord in the temple,
&c.] Every day they went up to the temple, at the time of prayer, or whenever any religious service was to be performed; this was their constant practice, and in this they agreed:

and breaking bread from house to house;
either administering the Lord's supper in private houses, as the Jews kept their passover, sometimes administering it at one house, and sometimes at another; or because their number was so large, that one house could not hold them, they divided themselves into lesser bodies; and some met, and had the ordinance administered to them in one house, and some in another: or this may be understood of their common meals, which they ate together at one another's houses in great love and friendship; for

they did eat their meat with gladness;
with great thankfulness to the God of their mercies for their daily food, acknowledging that all came from him, and that they were undeserving of it, and with much cheerfulness and affability one among another, without murmuring and repining at their lot, or envying each other, or grudging what each other partook of:

and singleness of heart;
without deceit and hypocrisy; either in their thanksgivings to God, or in their welcome and entertainment of each other; and with great sincerity, openness, and frankness before God, and one another. The Syriac version joins this clause with the beginning of the next verse, "with singleness of heart, praising God".

Acts 2:46 In-Context

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Acts 3:1; Acts 5:21, 42; Luke 24:53
  • 2. See Acts 1:14
  • 3. [ver. 42]
  • 4. [Acts 16:34]; See John 16:22
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.