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Old 02-28-2009, 07:56 PM
Pastor DTSalaz Pastor DTSalaz is offline
They that wait upon the Lord


 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Salinas, CA
Posts: 344
Where did the early church meet? Houses or Church

The early church followed the pattern of the Jews meeting in Synagogues outside of Jerusalem. This happened throughout the book of acts as we will see. Much has been said about how we today are not following the early church pattern. Are they corect?

During the dispersion they developed the use of the synagogue for meeting. They were far away from Jerusalem for Juda to worship at the Temple or in Samaria to worship at Sychar/Mt Gerazim. So they built synagogues to meet and worship at. Even the early Jewish christians still regularly met at the Temple for prayer, worship, and study. As persecution began the meetings house to house became one of the the means as well as the synagogues and this spread the gospel.

Act 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,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Act 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Act 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Here we find that those from different areas which were from synagogues in differing countries as they came to Jerusalem began to dispute with Stephen. Throughout the regions the place of worship was in synagogues.

Act 6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Act 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.

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Once again the disciples as they were known as people of "THE WAY" did not meet in houses but went where they were used to going, the synagogues.

Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
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