Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Acts 20:7-11 – Intent and Purpose
An examination of the text reveals certain interesting nuances and facts. For example, there is no denying the fact of the intent of their assembly – “On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread.” For some reason, the Christians in Troas thought it was important to assemble for this purpose, and just as interesting, Luke thought it important to record this intent and purpose of their assembling.
Part of the nuance of the text is in recognizing this intent of their assembly. Therefore, if Paul preached to midnight, I doubt his preaching took precedence over their intent.
It is obvious to me, though, that while assembling to break bread and Luke’s notation of such intent, it is actually secondary to the main purpose of this record, which appears to me to be the death and resurrection of Eutychus. Ironically, that was incidental to the planned purpose of the meeting. Personally, I believe this served as a visual reminder of what the Lord’s Supper is all about – the death and resurrection of Jesus. In fact, that may be the very connection we are looking for contextually. Luke mentions the breaking of bread on the first day of the week, resurrection day, because Paul performed a resurrection on the first day of the week.
My observance of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week is not “patternism,” it is a reenactment of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The bread and fruit of the vine represent body and blood. What represents resurrection? The day we take it – resurrection day. Taking the Lord’s Supper on a day other than the resurrection is missing out on the symbolism and power of the resurrection. It would be like burying someone in baptism, but not resurrecting them! In baptism there is a death and a resurrection. In the Lord’s Supper there is a death and a resurrection.
There are two undeniable facts. The Christians assembled on the first day of the week to break bread, and Luke thought it was important enough to emphasize that was the intent of their meeting.
Comments