2:46-47 Is this teaching as some claim that God determines who should be saved?
2:46-47 Is this teaching as some claim that God determines who should be saved?
No, this is simply teaching that as a result of the expression of love and community spirit among the new Christian converts, and the miracles that were being preformed in their midst, every day more people were won to Christ and added to the church (CP 2:43-47; 5:12-16).
Christ places great importance on the working of miracles by Christians as a sign to awaken others to a consciousness of the presence and the power of God, and to raise their faith in Jesus for salvation (CP Jn 10:37-38; Mk 16:15-20). Over five thousand got saved as a result of one man being healed in Ac 3 (CP Ac 3:1-16; 4:1-4).
See also comments on Mt 21:17-22; Mk 16:17-18; Jn 14:12-14, 15:7; Ac 3:1-16, 4:4, 5:14-18; 2Cor 1:19-20; 1Jn 5:14-15, and author's studies Faith, Confessing God's Word and Healing in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith, Signs and Wonders in God's Redemptive Plan in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Making the Impossible Possible in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).
It should be noted here that at this early stage of the New Testament church, the only converts were Jews who did not immediately cut their ties with Judaism or the temple, even though they also met in homes to partake of the Lord's supper and listen to the apostle's doctrine. Even Peter and John at that time still observed the Old Testament prayer times in the temple (CP Ac 2:42, 46 with 3:1).