“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:40-42
From a textual standpoint, there are a couple of things to note about verse 41 of this text. First, in many versions the word “gladly” is followed by an asterisk. A footnote states, “NU omits gladly.” NU is the most prominent modern Critical Text of the Greek New Testament, published in the twenty-sixth edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament and in the third edition of the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament.
It is interesting that this text omits the word “gladly” because a simple word study indicates that gladly is inherent in the Greek word in the text. The Greek word is apodechomai and by definition means, “to accept gladly, welcome (Strong’s word number 588). It comes from apó, “from” and 1209 /déxomai, “to receive heartily, welcome”) – properly “receive from,” i.e. as the prior circumstance (or individual) inspires glad reception (“gladly welcome”). Thus, even though there is no equivalent of our English word “gladly” in the text; nonetheless the Greek word itself contains the idea.
Another textual consideration is that in most translations the words “to them” at the end of the verse are in italics indicating that they are not in the Greek text. The text says that about three thousand were added. To what were they added? Verse 42 goes on to state that they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The context clearly shows that these who were baptized were added to the believers who comprised the early church in Jerusalem. Verse 47 goes on to say that “the Lord added daily those who were being saved.” Again, NU omits the words “to the church” in verse 47; however, once again the overall context indicates that these who were being baptized were saved and they were being added. The context demands that they were being added to the other believers who comprised the early church. Thus, for the sake of clarity the New King James Version supplies the word “gladly” in verse 42 and the words “to the church” in verse 47.
There is something more important that should capture our attention in this text. Those who received the word were baptized. They were not forced to receive the word that day. It was not mandated by the state or any other human agency. They responded to the loving invitation of the gospel and were obedient to the faith. Following the example of the Lord who saved them (Matt. 3:16), they were baptized. There is no indication that they argued or quibbled about why they had to be baptized. In fact, the Greek word indicates that they “gladly received” the invitation, they “welcomed” it.
In the parable of the Sower (Matt. 13, Mk. 4, Lk 8), Jesus teaches that there are four kinds of hearts into which the seed of the gospel is sown. They are the wayside, the stony, the thorny, and the good ground. Three out of the four types of soil did not produce a crop. It is so important that we gladly receive the word when we hear it. We must accept it into our hearts and allow it to germinate and produce a healthy plant that will bear the fruit of the kingdom. When Jesus gave this parable he cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Lk. 8:8) In explaining it to his disciples, Jesus said, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Lk. 8:11) Will we welcome the preaching of the gospel? Will we be added to the saved?
L Scott Gage
