“How do you explain Acts 20:11?”

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Originally published 02/12/17

Is right to eat in a church’s meeting place? This verse often comes up. Paul and the brethren gathered on the first day of the week to take the Lord’s Supper (verse 7). Paul had preached until midnight, and a young man fell out of a window and died (verse 9). After Paul raised him from the dead, they went back up into the upper room. Paul nourished himself with food and then continued speaking until he had to leave that day by ship (verses 11-13).

This is a far cry from the “fellowship meals” people hold at buildings today. The brethren allowed Paul to be refreshed with food as they supported his missionary work. Paul spoke about times he was hungry and full (Phil. 4:12). Brethren gave him support to supply his needs (Phil. 4:16). This would include food. It would seem odd to be able to support a preacher with funds but not food directly.

In religious discussions, the focus is often lost. It is silly to think that a mother giving a bottle to a young child is sinning because one is “eating” in the building. If a brother came to preach and became weak from a lack of food, would it be wrong to feed him? Of course not.

However, using this text to conclude that the brethren can have potlucks at a church-owned building or holding “fellowship meals” in conjunction with worship goes far beyond the text of Acts 20. Paul ate, spoke and then departed that day. To establish a need to organize meals at the building based upon this text would be an abuse. After all, this is the same apostle who rebuked brethren for turning the Lord’s Supper into a meal (I Cor. 11:17-22). They were told they had houses to eat and drink in.

People cannot see the truth (II John 9) if they do establish proper authority for their actions or follow the doctrine of Christ. The key is to search the scriptures when facing questions (Acts 17:11). No one passage of scripture is “greater” than another – instead, we must rightly divide the word by consistently harmonizing them together (II Tim. 2:15). By doing this, we can lead lives with the confidence that we are pleasing the Lord.

                                                                                               Chuck 

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