Daily devotion -It was just the beginning!
The Church Bursts Into the World
Acts 2:38–47
After the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost—just as the Lord had promised—Peter stood up and preached a message that pierced the hearts of the crowd. That day, 3,000 souls were saved, and the Church of Jesus Christ burst into the world!
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”
– Acts 2:38–39
Peter didn’t stop there. With many other words, he testified and exhorted the people:
“Be saved from this perverse generation.” – Acts 2:40
Those who gladly received the Word were baptized. And from that day forward, the Church began to live in a new, Spirit-filled rhythm:
- They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.
- They gathered in fellowship, broke bread, and prayed.
- They experienced awe, witnessed wonders, and met each other’s needs with generosity.
- They met daily, not just on a weekend.
- They ate with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God.
- And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved.
The Book of Acts is the only book in the Bible without a formal ending—and that’s no accident. The Church Age continues to this very day, and you and I are a part of it!
Verse 46 tells us they met daily and shared meals from house to house. They were truly becoming a family—the family of God.
When people are filled with the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, there is a joy that can’t be hidden. It spreads. It uplifts. It draws others in. Imagine the buzz and excitement—especially among these early Jewish believers, soon to be joined by Gentiles, as the Gospel reached farther and farther by the Spirit-empowered preaching of the apostles.
Evangelism is not just a program—it is the natural outflow of Spirit-filled lives. Jesus told us in Acts 1:8:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…”
We often make evangelism harder than it needs to be. If we are walking closely with Jesus, living in obedience, and filled with His Spirit, then our very lives become a witness to those around us. A light in a dark world. A testimony of hope in the midst of despair.
So let us draw closer to God. Let us live in faithful obedience to His Word. And as we do, we can trust that God will take care of the rest—and just like in Acts, the Lord will add to the Church daily those who are being saved.
Amen.