We have finally reached the 4th DEVOTION of the early church which was “and they devoted themselves to …THE prayers”!

Now this wording does not appear in the majority of English translations, but it should because it does in all of the earliest copies of Acts 2! The phrasing, (Greek: ταῖς προσευχαῖς, tais proseuchais) [Pronounced – tays pro-soo-chays] found in manuscripts like Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, includes the definite article.

This points to two conclusions:
Specific, established, or routine times of prayer rather than an unspecified, general spirit of prayerfulness.
That the prayers prayed were themselves liturgical and known, rather than spontaneous, informal and highly personalized communications with God.

This syntax of “the prayers” (ταῖς προσευχαῖς) provides a direct window into a life lived by the earliest of Christians which was a structured life of devotion.

When translations exclude things like this from a desire to make the text flow more naturally in English they do a huge disservice! It is a deletion of a very important clue in the text which invites investigation. I dare say most people, even Pastors and Teachers do not know this, since there is nothing in the typical English text to illicit further investigation.

If I were to say that I every day I listen to songs, it would not encourage questions. But if I were to say that everyday I listen THE songs, it begs the question, “What songs”? The same is true with this text.

The early church, unaided by church programs and denominational traditions, FOUND themselves inexorably drawn by the Holy Spirit to DEVOTE themselves to 4 things 0 the last of which were these prayers.

What were these prayers? The daily prayers were prayed 3 times a day and included the Lord’s Prayer, the Shema, the 18-19 blessings and a Psalm corresponding to each day of the week. In addition to this were seasonal prayers which corresponded to the Jewish calendar, the Feasts and the Festivals.

This happened throughout the 1st century. However due to difficulties in understanding, a concession was eventually made which unified the Jew and Gentiles so that their daily prayers were in unity. The Apostles who walked with Christ, condensed the 18-19 blessings down to the Lord’s Prayer which I address in the message. Everything else remained the same.