Acts 2 · Verse 46

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,
Acts 2:46, King James Version

Acts 2:46 in other translations

BSBWith one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
WEBDay by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
ASVAnd day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
YLTDaily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food in gladness and simplicity of heart,
DARBYAnd every day, being constantly in the temple with one accord, and breaking bread in the house, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
BBEAnd day by day, going in agreement together regularly to the Temple and, taking broken bread together in their houses, they took their food with joy and with true hearts,
WebsterAnd they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

What does Acts 2:46 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 2:41-47

Ac 2:41-47. Beautiful Beginnings of the Christian Church. 41-47. they that gladly received his word were baptized--"It is difficult to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion; and the more as in Jerusalem there was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools. The difficulty can only be removed by supposing that they already employed sprinkling…

Read the full comment on Acts 2:41-47 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 46. With one accord. Comp. Acts 1:14, 2:1.

In the temple. This was the public place of worship; and the disciples were not disposed to leave the place where their fathers had so long worshipped God. This does not mean that they were constantly in the temple, but only at the customary hours of prayer; at nine o'clock in the morning, and at three in the afternoon.

And breaking bread. Acts 2:42.

From house to house. In the margin, "at home." So the Syriac and Arabic. The common interpretation, however, is that they did it in their various houses; now in this, and now in that, as might be convenient. If it refers to their ordinary meals, then it means that they partook in common of what they possessed. And the expression in this verse, "did eat their meat," seems to imply that this refers to their common meals, and not to the Lord's Supper.

Did eat their meat. Did partake of their food. The word meat, with us, is applied to flesh. In the Bible, and in old English authors, it is applied to provision of any kind. Here it means all kinds of sustenance; that which nourished them--τροφης-- and the use of this word proves that it does not refer to the Lord's Supper; for that ordinance is nowhere represented as designed for an ordinary meal, or to nourish the body. Comp. 1Cor 11:33,34.

With gladness. With rejoicing. This is one of the effects of religion. It is far from gloom; it diffuses joy over the mind; and it bestows additional joy in the participation of even our ordinary pleasures.

Singleness of heart. This means with a sincere and pure heart. They were satisfied and thankful. They were not perplexed or anxious; nor were they solicitious for the luxurious living, or aspiring after the vain objects of the men of the world. Comp. Rom 12:8, 2Cor 1:12 Eph 6:5.

(1) "breaking bread from house to house" or, "at home" (+) "their meat with gladness" "Consent"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 46 They, continuing daily with one accord in the temple - They were present at all the times of public worship, and joined together in prayers and praises to God; for it in not to be supposed that they continued to offer any of the sacrifices prescribed by the law. Breaking bread from house to house - This may signify, that select companies, who were contiguous to each other, frequently ate together at their respective lodgings on their return from public worship. But κατ' οικον, which we translate from house to house, is repeatedly used by the Greek writers for home, at home, for though they had all things in common, each person lived at his own table. Breaking bread is used to express the act of taking their meals. The bread of the Jews was thin, hard, and dry, and was never cut with the knife as ours is, but was simply broken by the hand. With gladness and singleness of heart - A true picture of genuine Christian fellowship. They ate their bread: they had no severe fasts; the Holy Spirit had done in their souls, by his refining influence, what others vainly expect from bodily austerities. It may be said also, that, if they had no severe fasts, they had no splendid feasts: all was moderation, and all was contentment. They were full of gladness, spiritual joy and happiness; and singleness of heart, every man worthy of the confidence of his neighbor; and all walking by the same rule, and minding the same thing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 2:42-47

In these verses we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it; its state of infancy indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence. They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in piety and devotion; for Christianity, when admitted in the power of it, will dispose the soul to communion with God in all those ways wherein he has appointed us to meet him, and has promised…

Read the full comment on Acts 2:42-47 →

Acts 2:46 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καθ᾽kath᾽EveryG2596
ἡμέρανhēmerandayG2250
τεteandG5037
προσκαρτεροῦντεςproskarterountessteadfastly continuingG4342
ὁμοθυμαδὸνhomothumadonwith one accordG3661
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
ἱερῷ,hi'erōtemple,G2411
κλῶντέςklōntesbreakingG2806
τεtethenG5037
κατ᾽kat᾽at eachG2596
οἶκονoikonhouseG3624
ἄρτονartonbreadG740
μετελάμβανονmetelambanonthey were partakingG3335
τροφῆςtrophēsof foodG5160
ἐνenwithG1722
ἀγαλλιάσειagalliaseigladnessG20
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀφελότητιaphelotētisincerityG858
καρδίαςkardiasof heartG2588

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 2:46

  • Acts 5:42

    And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

  • Acts 2:42

    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

  • Psalms 86:11

    Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

  • Acts 20:7

    And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • Acts 16:34

    And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

  • Colossians 3:22

    Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

  • Acts 1:13-14

    And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

  • Romans 12:8

    Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • Nehemiah 8:10

    Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

  • Luke 24:53

    And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

  • Luke 24:30

    And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
daily.
1:14; 3:1; 5:42; Lu 24:53
breaking.
42; 20:7
from house to house. or, at home.
1:13; 1Co 11:20-22
did.
16:34; De 12:7,12; 16:11; Ne 8:10; Ec 9:7; Lu 11:41; 1Co 10:30,31
singleness.
Ps 86:11; Mt 6:22; Ro 12:8; 2Co 1:12; 11:3; Eph 6:5; Col 3:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 2:45

    And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

  • 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,

  • Acts 2:47

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

Read all of Acts 2

Acts 2:46 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y perseverando unánimes cada día en el templo, y partiendo el pan en las casas, comían juntos con alegría y con sencillez de corazón,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et tous les jours ils persévéraient d’un commun accord dans le temple; et, rompant le pain dans leurs maisons, ils prenaient leur nourriture avec joie et simplicité de cœur,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und indem sie täglich einmütig im Tempel verharrten und zu Hause das Brot brachen, nahmen sie Speise mit Frohlocken und Einfalt des Herzens,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quotidie quoque perdurantes unanimiter in templo, et frangentes circa domos panem, sumebant cibum cum exsultatione et simplicitate cordis,