Continued from above as it was too long for one post.
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (
Acts 5:14-16)
Even when the great persecuted began Saul had to enter into the homes of believers to arrest them (
Acts 8).
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (
Acts 8:3)
Scripture declares that Saul of Tarsus went into homes to find "the church" to drag them to prison. Then after his conversion he would be found planting churches that would meet in private homes including his own rented house.
As a result of this early persecution the church spread into other areas of the region and “a great number believed” and “much people was added”; yet, the church (ekklesia) continued to meet in private homes.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (
Acts 11:20-24)
Scripture declares the early church grew by leaps and bounds they truly had revival. We have seen from Scripture that an untold number of believers were added. The Book of Acts records these events with the use of words like “thousands” “multitudes” and “much people.” Churches (local expressions of ekklesia) were everywhere. The Book of Acts doesn’t record the whereabouts of all the apostles going forth and planting churches, but we know they did, yet we have no record of any of them starting a building program. The record we do have (Paul) shows the church (ekklesia) meeting in homes.
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
The wise men came and where the first to worship in a private home. The first time the Lord’s Supper or communion took place it was in a private home. Jesus preached and healed many sick in private homes. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was in the “upper room” of someone’s home. The gospel was preached to the gentiles for the first time in the house of Cornelius (
Acts 10). When Peter was in prison for preaching the word of God the church held a prayer meeting in someone’s home. And the first churches that Paul started were all in houses. We can see from God’s word “Meeting in Homes” has the Lord’s approval.
Looking at the epistles Paul wrote we can see the early church (ekklesia) meet in private homes of believers.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. (
Romans 16:3-5)
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (
1 Corinthians 16:19)
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (
Colossians 4:12-15)
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (
Philemon 1:1-2)
They early Christians knew they were the church. Church wasn’t a place for them to go, and neither was it something they did. They knew from Scripture that they were the temple of God who didn’t dwell in temples made with hands of men.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (
1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (
1 Corinthians 6:19)
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (
2 Corinthians 6:16)
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (
Ephesians 2:19-22)
The word temple in these verses is referring to that holy or sacred place. Nowhere in the New Testament is there the idea or concept that some special building constructed by man is the church. It is not the temple, and it is not a special holy place. There is nothing special about that building. You can call it a sanctuary all you want to, but the truth of the matter is it leaves people thinking the building is the church. The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, and this word is never used to describe a building, as I stated in my earlier post. The apostle Paul told the early believers over and over they were the temple of God.
Let us be honest with ourselves, the New Testament Church never had a special building, a sanctuary or platform until after the special building concept was brought in by the pagan Emperor Constantine (who was never truly converted from paganism) in the fourth century. It was Emperor Constantine who exalted the clergy system, and holy Christian shrine concept. The idea did not come from the early New Testament church. It did not come from the apostles, or those who shortly followed. History declares it was a later (4th Century) development.
Two books I highly recommend to further your study in this area are Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and Ante-Pacem by Graydon F. Snyder.
Of historical note: “The first recorded use of the word ekklesia (church) to refer to a Christian meeting place was penned around A.D. 190 by Clement of Alexander (150-215). Clement is the first person to use the phrase “go to church” which was a foreign thought to the first century believers.”
Any student of history will tell you that in the fourth century with the rise of Emperor Constantine great changes were brought into the church, most of them with origins in paganism. Then to add insult to injury money from state funds was used to build special buildings (now called churches).
Finally, Christianity was declared to be the state religion. While all this was taking place, The Edict of Milan came into being which resulted in thousands of pagans “joining” the church because it was politically correct, after all their Emperor embraced Christianity. This great influx resulted in the adoption of many false doctrines and practices. They (Constantine and the pagan masses) were never spiritually converted. The final result, many pagan practices were woven into Christianity, changing it to the point the apostles would find it unrecognizable. From Constantine onwards the state began to mingle in church affairs. The saddest part is many of these customs, traditions and practices are still in the church today.
the church stopped meeting in the temples because the Word of God was not welcome there.
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