The Book of Acts Commentary

Dr. Harley Howard

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What is the apostles’ doctrine? The simple answer is that it is what the apostles taught, or the teaching of the apostles to the church. So far, when we have seen the Apostle Peter preaching it has been the Word of the Lord. More specifically, it was the Old Testament and the gospel of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, spoken by one who was filled with the Holy Spirit. It is safe to conclude, therefore, that this would be the standard teaching for the apostles. There was no New Testament as we know it today. It is also obvious that the Lord spoke directly to and through the apostles for a period of years. This is seen in the letters and books written by them and those associated with them. These letters and books to churches and individuals were formed into what we now call the New Testament.

But at this juncture – in Peter’s case and in the case of the other apostles – they taught the Old Testament. They took the Old Testament and applied it, relating it to Christ Jesus and specifically to His resurrection. This was how they presented the gospel. The apostles’ teaching of the Old Testament included divine revelation as well, given to them directly by the Lord. When saints gathered together, the emphasis was on the doctrine from the apostles. For the church to function properly or at all, it needed to be taught. What good is a gathering of people together if there is nothing to learn? What purpose is served if people gather together and ignorance rules the day? Here the Bible reveals to us the supremacy, preeminence, and dominance of doctrine – and the need of the congregation to continue in it. This should be done with great devotion to it. Notice, this is not for the sake of learning alone, but to continue in it.

Look at the verse again: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” This does not mean that they continued in the hearing of doctrine, but they themselves continued in the doctrine from the apostles. Let us examine this word “doctrine” and see its absolute importance in the church. The point just made need to be reiterated so we may understand the importance of doctrine as it relates to us and the entire church world. As far as continuing “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” is concerned, this does not mean that they continued in the hearing of doctrine, but they themselves continued in the doctrine from the apostles.

When the Scriptures emphasize the word “doctrine,” it is assumed that hearing alone is not the proper response of those who have received it correctly. The proper response should be that we ourselves continue steadfastly with our lives in the apostles’ doctrine. “Doctrine” is translated “teaching or Christian instruction to the church.” The apostles emphasized teaching. Those who embraced the gospel message of the Apostle Peter were believers. As we have already stated, when they believed the gospel they demonstrated their belief by a corresponding lifestyle. This truth is clearly and irrefutable evident in the text itself.

To “continue steadfastly” means that those believers were “devoted, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give constant care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere and not to faint.” In simpler words, they devoted their lives to what they were taught. Those new converts to Christianity devoted themselves. With equal zeal, they devoted themselves to four areas of Christian life. What were those areas?

1. Doctrine
2. Fellowship (association, community, joint participation)
3. Breaking bread (bread shared at the love feast and at the Lord’s table or any kind of food)
4. Prayers (a place set apart, or suited for the offering of prayers)

One of the most salient characteristics of this new church in Jerusalem was their loyalty. They were loyal to Jesus Christ and to one another. They were committed to meeting each other’s needs. They were committed to gathering together (continually devoting themselves). Day after day these saints were committed to the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Day after day they went to the Temple and ate from house to house. Today’s church is totally different. People journey from church to church looking for a group that most serves them. And when it is not convenient, they stay at home. We need little or no excuse for “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25). We need little prompting to do things that are more immediately gratifying to our wicked flesh.

As was previously stated, these new converts to Christianity devoted themselves to four areas of Christian life with equal zeal. However, I want to emphasize what I consider to be the main focus in this portion of truth. It is the priority of doctrine in the church and what that doctrine will do to those who embrace it. Notice that doctrine, or teaching, is first on this list of the priorities that the saints followed. So what is doctrine? What does the word truly mean? Why are so many people confused about it and why do many others count it as irrelevant? Why do many so-called preachers and pastors de-emphasize doctrine as that which is antiquated and outdated?

Much of this wrong thinking comes out of a willful ignorance of doctrine and a failure to teach it. No matter how people de-emphasize doctrine, it is important to know that everyone has a doctrine. The question is whether the doctrine is sound or not. As we saw, the word “doctrine” means “that which is taught.” It is the act of teaching something. So we can conclude that all of us have a doctrine, even those who reject sound doctrine as petty and insignificant. They have a doctrine that is false, but they do have a doctrine and teach that doctrine nonetheless.

By teaching this false doctrine and by refusing to teach the Scriptures they reveal themselves to be lost and not Christians at all. As much as the early church emphasized the absolute necessity for true doctrine, it is unbelievable that many so-called churches place the emphasis on other things rather than the need of sound teaching in the church. Unsound, unbalanced, unstable churches are symptomatic of weak theology and unhealthy or unsound biblical doctrine. A weak pulpit will produce an impotent church body. In fact, if there is no truth in the place that is called a church, it is not a church at all according to the Scriptures.

Let’s see how important the supremacy, preeminence, and dominance of doctrine is in the church and the need of the congregation to continue in it with great devotion.

Romans 6:16-17
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Paul said in verse 16 that every person shows what master they serve by their behavior. A slave of sin is a lost person. They have no regenerated lifestyle. They are under the dominion of the devil. They are bound to the flesh. They have no supernatural restraints to withstand the onslaught of sin, within or without. They are helpless and hopeless – doomed and damned without salvation. Then in verse 17 Paul thanked God that though these saints had been slaves to sin, they have now been made free because they have submitted to the doctrine which embodies the sum and substance of Christianity. That doctrine began with the gospel and continuing with the teachings of the Scriptures. They did not submit just with their intellect, but with their heart (the “heart” being the seat of their soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors). Their whole man had been submitted to the doctrine of the Scriptures.