Tidings for Tuesday
And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42
Where did the apostles get their doctrine? And what was so special about the apostle’s fellowship? These are important questions when we realize that the first ever Assembly in the New Testament made these two factors their chief occupation. Did the apostles suddenly acquire wisdom and information that they did not have before Pentecost? Did they assemble in that upper room and draft a catalogue of doctrinal statements and principles? Did they issue doctrinal proclamations and publish them among the rest of the believers. What was their doctrine, and how did they obtain it? And what was so special about their fellowship that the rest of the believers made it a point to stay close to them? The simple answer, I believe, is that these men had spent the past three years with Jesus.
The past three years had been filled with amazing events. Miracles, sermons, long discussions about parables and their meanings, interactions with all types of people, including ordinary folk, religious leaders, high-ranking officials, publicans and other Roman government employees, and Gentiles. During this time, the disciples were able to witness the perfect life of God’s perfect servant. Uppermost in their experiences were the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection. All of these experiences had taught the disciples much, although at times it seemed they had no taken much in. But now, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, these men could gather the other believers around themselves and pass on what Jesus had taught them. That was the sum and substance of the apostle’s doctrine. It also sums up the apostle’s fellowship.
Spending those years in Jesus’ company had made its impact on those men. Now that they had greater reason to be like him, they would recall the things that Jesus enjoyed and disliked, the situations that He sought and avoided, the speech that He employed, His personal habits and mannerisms. As these other believers gathered around the apostles, they appreciated how much they had become like their Lord. Being with the apostles was almost – not entirely, but almost – like being with Jesus Himself.
We don’t have the apostles with us today expounding their doctrine. But we have the Word of God, the witness left by those same apostles. We don’t have the fellowship of those apostles, but we do have the fellowship of those men and women whose words and character give proof that they have been with Jesus. Let us seek their doctrine and fellowship. -Jim MacIntosh