Acts 2:46,47 - With glad and sincere hearts

2:46

They met together daily in the temple courts. This was presumably the most convenient place for them to meet as a group. They also met in each other's homes, and that is where they broke bread “with glad and sincere hearts”. When we try to prove our own righteousness it means we are living a lie, and we find no peace. When we confess our sins and put our trust in Christ instead of ourselves, we are living according to the truth, and we have joy.

2:47

The church would soon endure persecution, for now they found favour with the people, and were praising God. In the life of the church as a whole, and in our lives as individuals and as families, there are good times and there are difficult times. This is normal. “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. So we see again how the sovereignty of God works. If we ever make a sharp distinction between God’s action and our responsibility and involvement then we are mistaken, as we are if we think the two are somehow contradictory. It is clear from the Bible that the two go together.

Joshua 2:12-16 - Our lives for your lives

2:12,13

The woman knows the truth, and has acted on the truth. She asks the spies to ensure that Israel will spare her life, and that of her family. We see hear that God’s salvation extends beyond Israel, it goes to all who trust in Him, who fear Him. Israel was meant to be a beacon, a light, and the same applies to us. 

2:14-16

The spies agree to Rahab’s request, as long as Rahab did not tell the king what they were doing there. So Rahab let them down by a rope.Clearly, her house was on the city wall. She told them to head for the hills and remain there for three days. By that time the king’s men would have given up searching for them.

Acts 2:43-45 - Everyone was filled with awe

2:43

While life was just going on, the apostles were doing signs and wonders, probably healing and casting out demons. We need a proper balance of just getting on with life, and seeing God’s visible intervention.

2:44,45

“All  the believers were together and had everything in common.” There was a sharing of goods, and some sold property to provide for the needs of others. This is not a “communist manifesto” but it does challenge much of our thinking and attitudes towards money and possessions. We should have a generous spirit.

Joshua 2:4-11 - I know God has given you this land

2:4-7

The woman did not tell the king’s men that she was keeping the men safe, nor that she knew where they had come from, i.e. who they were. Now there are some very silly debates about whether she was lying or not, and if she was lying was it a sin. It is quite plain that she did not tell the men the truth. Any attempt to try and prove otherwise is sheer sophistry. It is also clear that she was not sinning. Nowhere does the Bible criticise her, indeed it speaks well of her (e.g. Heb 11:31). This is perhaps akin to the situation that sometimes happened in countries occupied by the Nazis in the Second World War where brave souls hid Jews from the Nazis. So Rahab sent the King’s men on a wild goose chase.

2:8-11

The woman went to see the two spies and told them why she had taken the action she had done. She had heard what the Lord had done for Israel, and that He had given them the land. Indeed, she was not the only one who was aware of this. They had heard of the Red Sea incident, and the defeat of Sihon and Og. They knew that the Lord was with Israel. Consider how different this situation was compared to that of the twelve spies who went in under Moses. Then it was ten of the spies who were filled with fear. We often think about “how am I feeling”, it is often useful to consider how the opposition is feeling. We also see that the fear the people of Jericho had was because of what the Lord had done. Too often churches seem to have a God who does not act. This is blasphemous, the Bible knows nothing of a God who does not act.

Acts 2:40-42 - Save yourselves from this corrupt generation

2:40,41

We have only a brief digest of Peter’s message, obviously focusing on the key elements. We are told here that Peter “warned them” with many other words. The gospel is a serious message, it is not a “nice” message. Warning is part of the gospel proclamation. So Peter urges them to “save yourselves from this corrupt generation”. This is a message that is at least equally applicable to our generation.

2:42

The church cannot be a continual series of dramatic events, neither can your life. There will be some dramatic events, but they are few and far between. Indeed, we couldn’t stand it if it was one dramatic event after another. A lot of the time it is just a matter of getting on with life, and doing this in a fruitful manner is just as important as the dramatic times. So here we read of how the early church “got on with life”. So they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship with one another, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. The “apostles’ teaching” would presumably include recounting the life and teaching of Jesus, especially the teaching He gave them in the last forty days.

Joshua 2:1-3 - Go look over the land

2:1

Joshua sent two spies into the land. Now Moses had sent twelve spies into the land, and this was done at the Lord’s command (Num 13:1). Now we know that it ended badly, but the sending of spies was not in itself the problem. Jericho was seen as a key city. Why two spies? Was it because of the twelve spies Moses sent, two gave a good report? The two spies entered the house of Rahab the prostitute. There is no indication that they made use of her sexual services. Indeed, Rahab is mentioned in Matt 1:5, and Hebrews 11:31.

2:2,3

One way or another the king of Jericho became aware that Israelite spies were in the land. In contrast to the Moses situation, where it was the Israelites who were filled with fear. Now it is the Canaanites who are worried. Somehow the king seems to know that Rahab had something to do with this. Perhaps a neighbour had seen the Israelite spies go to her house.

Acts 2:38,39 - Repent and be baptised

2:38

“Repent and be baptised”. Peter gave them a very clear answer. Some people argue about the exact order of the work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life and of repentance. We should note that the Bible does not seem to concern itself overly much with these matters, and when the Holy Spirit works in a person's life He gives “agency” to that person. Moreover, one of the marks of the work of the Spirit in our life is repentance. So we should repent! Moreover, we should call on people to repent, that is part of the proclamation we are commanded to make. We are also called to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then there is the promise that we will receive the Holy Spirit. 

2:39

Peter then tells them that “the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off”. This was not a one off situation, but the way that things would work from now on. It would cover all future generations, and would reach to the whole earth. In Deut 30:19,20 Moses’s charge to Israel applies to future generations, here the applicability is extended to all people. “For all whom the Lord your God will call”. We have to make a response, and should call on others to do so, but the initiative lies with the Lord.