Denis the Carthusian's Commentary on Acts 2:42-47 (includes catechism links)

 

Acts 2:42

“And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles,” listening to it meekly and diligently and promptly fulfilling it. According to that of James: “Casting away all uncleanness, with meekness receive the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). So too subjects ought to remain stable in the doctrine of their pastors. “And in the communication of the breaking of bread,” that is, in the perception of the sacrament, according to what Paul says: “The bread which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). In the primitive Church, however, they communicated frequently, and many daily. “And in prayers.” Nor is there any doubt but that they also [persevered] in the praises of God, since it is greater and more divine to be intent on the praises of God than on prayers. For by praising God we are more simplified in Him and reflect less upon ourselves. But since praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner, whoever desires to devote himself to divine praise should first persevere in prayers so that he may be purified, and with a clean heart do what is written: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be always in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1 [33:2 Vulgate]).

CCC: 1324–1327 (Eucharist as “source and summit”), 1341–1344 (breaking of bread), 2626–2643 (praise and prayer), 2655 (perseverance in prayer), 2037 (docility to Church teaching).

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Acts 2:43

“And fear came upon every soul” in all the Jews and others who saw these things. A certain fear was instilled on account of the novelty of the thing and the eminent surpassing of all miracles, and also from the preaching of the Apostles, by which they threatened unbelievers with eternal damnation (cf. Matthew 10:28; Mark 16:16). “Many wonders and signs, greater and lesser miracles, were done by the Apostles in Jerusalem” (Acts 2:43), which Saint Luke, studious of brevity, does not recount. “And great fear was upon all” (Acts 2:43) on account of the aforementioned causes. In which the divine power is evidently shown, namely that the disciples, who before the mission of the Paraclete were timorous (cf. John 20:19), were now intrepid (cf. Acts 4:13), and their adversaries so terrified. For so great a splendor of grace, vigor of power, and operation of divinity shone in them that the emulators of truth were forced to fear, who a short while before not only did not fear them but were disposed to kill them (cf. Acts 4:1–3; John 16:2).

CCC: 1831 (gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially fortitude), 2628 (adoration and holy fear of God), 547–550 (signs and wonders manifesting divine power), 425 (apostolic preaching of salvation and judgment).

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Acts 2:44–47

“And all who believed were together, mind and body, and had all things common” (Acts 2:44). “Possessions and substances they sold,” namely immovable and movable goods, “and divided them to all, as every one had need” (Acts 2:45). For the fuller they were in spiritual riches, the less they cared for carnal wealth, and the more they burned in the love of God and neighbor, the more liberally they communicated their goods to one another (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 3:17). For charity makes all things common, and impends not only its own but itself (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7). From this it is gathered that each has less of divine love the more avaricious he is (cf. 1 Timothy 6:9–10), and the more he seeks earthly things, the poorer he is in soul (cf. Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19–21). “Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread around houses” (Acts 2:46), on their return from the temple they took bread for food “with gladness,” spiritual not carnal, “and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46), as being immune from all simulation and deceitful vanity (cf. Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 1:12). So great was the fervor of charity and instant devotion in them that in external occupation and necessary bodily refreshment they remained with minds suspended to God and glorying in the contemplation of Him (cf. Colossians 3:1–2). In them was fulfilled that of the Psalmist: “Let the just eat and rejoice in the sight of God, and be delighted in gladness” (Psalm 68:3 [67:4 Vulgate]). In whom and many other prophetic promises were truly and spiritually fulfilled (cf. Luke 4:21; 2 Corinthians 1:20), which carnal and obstinate Jews do not yet think fulfilled and await to be fulfilled corporally. “Praising God, and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47), so that they were acceptable and honored by all on account of such evident abundance of grace shining in them (cf. Luke 2:52). As is read of Saint Sebastian: “It was necessary that he whom God had so infused with grace should be loved by all” (cf. Acts 2:47, thematic parallel).

CCC: 949–953 (communion of goods and charity), 2402–2405 (universal destination of goods), 2544–2547 (poverty of heart), 1329, 1342 (breaking of bread in homes), 2842 (charity and forgiveness), 2003 (grace manifested in the faithful), 2013 (call to holiness expressed in charity).

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Conclusion of the passage (Acts 2:47)

“And the Lord increased daily those who were to be saved,” that is, He converted some and joined them to the number of the faithful (Acts 2:47; cf. Acts 5:14), “daily together into the same college of believers,” or into God Himself, the immutable good, to which they tended in mind and in which they rested (cf. John 10:16; 1 Corinthians 1:9). Of which it is said in the Psalm: “But You are always the same” (Psalm 102:27 [101:28 Vulgate]); and again: “In peace in the selfsame I will sleep and I will rest” (Psalm 4:8 [4:9 Vulgate]).

CCC: 759–766 (the Church as the People gathered by God), 836 (incorporation into the Church), 1045 (rest in God), 2794 (communion and unity in God), 2012 (growth in holiness and union with God).