The first believers met in homes and in the temple, continuing in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, while sharing all things in common under the apostles' direction.
Scripture records that these believers were "continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house" (Acts 2:46). They also sold their possessions and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet so that distribution could be made to every one according to his need (Acts 4:34-35). Les Feldick emphasizes that this Jerusalem assembly was a called-out group of Jewish believers who were still practicing the law and worshipping at the temple, while separating from mainstream Judaism because they recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Acts 2:46 — This verse directly shows the early believers meeting daily in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, answering the question of how they met.
Acts 2:42 — It lists the core activities of their gatherings: the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
The book of Acts records that the first believers "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). They "were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts 2:44-45). They continued daily "with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house" (Acts 2:46). Later, Acts 4 repeats the practice: "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts 4:34-35). The believers' shared life was directed by the apostles, and their gatherings took place both in the temple and in homes. Acts 8:1 records that when persecution arose, the believers "were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles," which shows that these early Jewish believers were spread beyond Jerusalem even as the apostles remained.
Les Feldick teaches that the gatherings described in Acts 2-5 are not the Body of Christ or the church as we know it, but a "called out group of Jewish believers" who had recognized Jesus as their Messiah. He points out that they were "still within the confines of Judaism," still practicing the law and worshipping at the temple, even though they were separated from the mainstream of Judaism. Their close fellowship, meals, doctrine, and prayers happened in their own little groups and homes, not in large church buildings. He emphasizes the communal "common kitty": the believers sold their possessions and placed everything into a shared fund from which everyone lived, and the apostles directed the distribution. Les says this was not church ground because no salvation based on Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection had been mentioned yet; the message was only that He was the promised Messiah. He also notes that the common fund eventually ran out, which is why Paul later had to take collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Les makes a careful distinction over the word "Christian": the Bible never calls the Jerusalem Jewish believers "Christians." It was at Antioch, when Jews and Gentiles were first assembled together, that "the disciples were called Christians first" (Acts 11:26). His point is that the early Jerusalem assembly is a transitional group within Judaism, not the beginning of the Body of Christ.
It was both. Scripture says they continued daily "with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house" (Acts 2:46). Les Feldick explains that these Jewish believers remained within Judaism, still practicing the law and worshipping at the temple, but they were separated from the mainstream of Judaism because they believed Jesus was the Messiah. Their closer fellowship — meals, doctrine, prayer, and breaking of bread — happened in their own small groups and homes.
According to Acts, "all that believed were together, and had all things common" and sold their possessions and goods, distributing to all as every man had need (Acts 2:44-45). Acts 4 adds that those who owned lands or houses sold them and laid the money "at the apostles' feet," with distribution made to each according to need (Acts 4:34-35). Les calls this the "common kitty," saying everyone lived out of it and the apostles directed the whole arrangement. He notes that it eventually ran out, which is why Paul later took collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Les teaches that Acts 2-5 describes a "called out group of Jewish believers" who believed Jesus was the Christ, but they were still within Judaism and had no gospel of salvation based on His death, burial, and resurrection yet. He says Pentecost was strictly a Jewish holiday and the body of Christ did not necessarily begin there. The believers were not called "Christians" in Jerusalem; Acts 11 says the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, where Jew and Gentile met together. This is why he treats the Jerusalem assembly as distinct from the church/Body of Christ.
Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained
he could. He and his wife. And so he heard me teach. He knew what I was teaching. But he told me one night after class, he says, you know, Les, I had an interesting experience several weeks ago. He says, my own pastor stopped me on the street. Now I can say this because all the players are gone. They're no longer around. I don't even know where they've gone.
Home Fellowship and the Breaking of Bread
Les describes how the early believers, separated from mainstream Judaism, gathered in their own little groups of fellowship, sharing meals in homes.
Temple Worship and the Common Treasury
Les explains that these Jewish believers met in the temple and had all things common, selling their possessions and giving to all who had need.
Pentecost Was Jewish, Not the Church's Birth
Les clarifies that the Body of Christ did not necessarily begin at Pentecost because Pentecost was a Jewish holiday, helping distinguish the early Jerusalem assembly.
Jerusalem Assembly, Not Church Ground
Les says Acts 4 describes the Jerusalem assembly of Jewish believers, not the church as we understand it, since salvation based on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection had not yet been mentioned.
Still Worshipping at the Temple
Les states these Jewish believers were still within Judaism, practicing the law and worshipping at the temple, yet set apart by their faith in their Messiah.
The Common Kitty Ran Out
Les notes that the shared fund eventually ran out, which is why Paul later collected money for the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Christians First Called at Antioch
Les emphasizes that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, not in Jerusalem, reinforcing that the early Jewish believers were not the later Gentile church.
Acts 2:42: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
This verse gives the basic activities of the early believers' gatherings.
Acts 2:44-45: And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
This shows the communal sharing of goods among the early believers.
Acts 2:46: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
This directly describes the believers meeting both in the temple and in homes.
Acts 4:34-35: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
This shows the apostles directing the distribution of resources to those in need.
Acts 11:26: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This is the first place in Acts where believers are called Christians.
Acts 8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This shows the early believers being scattered beyond Jerusalem while the apostles remained.
The evidence in Acts describes them meeting in the temple and from house to house, not in separate church buildings. Les Feldick says they gathered in their own little groups of fellowship in homes because they were separated from the mainstream of Judaism.
The apostles directed it. Scripture says the believers sold their lands and houses and laid the money "at the apostles' feet," and distribution was made to every man according as he had need.
Les Feldick explains that their common fund, or "kitty," eventually ran out because it was not being replenished. That is why Paul later took collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained