Without any thought of raising questions, but with the simple desire to edify, the following, thoughts are suggested for the prayerful consideration of my beloved brethren.
After the resurrection of the Lord, and before the formation of the assembly, we find the disciples gathered in one place — an upper room, the doors being shut (John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)). After His ascension they returned to Jerusalem, and are found again in an upper room (Acts 1:1313And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (Acts 1:13)). At the descent of the Holy Spirit, “They were all with one accord in one place.” “It filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1, 21And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1‑2)). The multitude was attracted to that place, but we are not told whether the first preaching continued at that house, or in the city, or temple. “The same day there were added about three thousand souls.” “And all that believed were together.” “And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home.”
Their public place for teaching and prayer was the temple, for some time (Acts 2:46; 3:1; 4:146And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (Acts 3:1)
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, (Acts 4:1)). And for the moment this was the will of the Lord “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20-4220Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:20‑42)).
But besides the temple and every house, there was also the place of the assembly: — “And being let go, they went to their own company.” “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together” (Acts 4:23-3123And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23‑31)). This was after the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:44Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)). Thus, besides the temple for teaching and prayer, and every house, there was a special place of the assembly. The case of Ananias implies the same thing. They came to a place to lay the money at the apostles’ feet. “And great fear came upon all the assembly.” This did not hinder the testimony in Solomon’s porch, or in the streets where Peter passed. Neither did it hinder their entering into the temple in the morning to teach (Acts 5:12-2112And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (Acts 5:12‑21)).
The murmuring of the Hellenists as to their widows in the daily ministration, and all that follows, seems to have been in the same well-known place of the assembly (Acts 6). As to Jerusalem, a great change, no doubt, took place after the scattering of Acts 8:11And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1). The gospel is preached to the Gentiles, and the assembly is found at Antioch as well as Jerusalem. (Acts 9:19-2619And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. (Acts 9:19‑26)). And though much people are taught, yet there seems to be one distinct place of the assembly (Acts 13:1-41Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:1‑4)). The servants of the Lord are gathered together, and there the Holy Spirit specially acts. To that one place they return, and gather the whole assembly (Acts 14:2727And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)). It might be felt to be a difficulty as to how such multitudes could be gathered thus together to one place.
Such was the case, however, as may be seen. “And it came to pass, in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue (or meeting-room) of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude... believed” (Acts 14:11And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. (Acts 14:1)). In a similar manner a great multitude heard, and believed, in a synagogue at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-41Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. (Acts 17:1‑4)). Also many of them in the synagogue at Berea heard, and believed (Acts 17:10-1210And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10‑12)). Many, also, of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized. And the place where Paul preached was this — “He reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath,” and this for a year and six months. Still more striking is the ease at Ephesus. After speaking boldly in the synagogue for three months, we find him in one place in the school, or hall, of one Tyrannus; “and this continued for the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” It is not to be supposed that they were all together at one time. Something like this takes place to this day in the East. The servant of the Lord enters a town, takes a room. The people begin to come in the morning, and continue for days or weeks, scarcely giving time to eat, until the town and district hear the glad tidings. It would be profitable, to compare much of the modern machinery of man with God, and that poor traveler, the ambassador of Christ in that one place, the school of Tyrannus.
A careful study of the Acts will show remarkable unity in the Spirit’s work in these cities, at the beginning, in every case. A fountain of living water gushed forth, and watered all around. Multitudes drank of the stream. In like manner there seems to have been in each case recorded one place recognized as the gathering-place of the assembly, and all was connected with that, both for ministry and administration. (See Acts 6; 12; 15)
Shall we now examine what light is thrown upon this question in the epistles, after great numbers had been converted, and added to the Lord?
We will take Rome. In Rome there would be doubtless more believers than would be allowed to, or able to gather together at one time, in one house or place. Yet it is not a little remarkable, it is only respecting one house that the expression, the assembly, is used. It appears, when the Epistle to the Romans was written, those honored laborers and companions of the apostle, Priscilla and Aquila, were at Rome. The apostle sends his first greetings to them: “Likewise the assembly that is in their house” (Rom. 16:3-53Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (Romans 16:3‑5)). He also sent salutations to many other brethren, helpers, and laborers, and those with them, evidently in different parts of the city. There were those of, or who belonged to, Aristobulus; to Narcissus; again, “Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren with them; salute Philologus, and Julias Nereus, and his sister, and Olympus, and all the saints with them.” Now why does the Holy Spirit speak of the assembly.only in one house, and of all the rest of the fellow-laborers by name, and the saints with them? The same principle may be noticed in 1 Corinthians 16, and remarkably these same honored servants of the Lord, Aquila and Priscilla, his wife, “with the church that is in their house.”
The same principle is observed at Laodicea: “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.” Note, there are the brethren, and also the assembly, in the house of Nymphas. Is it not, then, clear that the assembly in such a house, in one place in each city, is not the same thought as the assembly of God in such a city, which must embrace all the brethren, whether in Rome or Laodicea? (Col. 4:1515Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (Colossians 4:15)). Still more: — “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans.” It does not say in the separate assemblies, but, in the assembly; and we see the house of Nymphas as the one place named, as the assembly place. It would follow it was to be read there, until all the brethren heard it. The unity of the Spirit may have been thus maintained in every city, however many thousands may have composed the assembly of God in that city. One place, marked out by the Lord, and recognized by all, as the center, or assembly, for all purposes of administration. Such a place there was, evidently, in Jerusalem. This did not set aside the breaking of bread in other places, or preaching in the temple, or in every house. So in Rome, although there were so many local companies, perhaps converted through the persons named, at all events under their spiritual care, but one place only called the assembly in their house. There was evidently one place in Jerusalem for deliberation (Acts 15).
Was it not a beautiful sight at Antioch to see all the servants of the Lord Jesus in that city met together in one place, fasting, and waiting on the Lord, He guiding them by the Holy Spirit, as to all service, whether in that city, or far away? It is by no means implied that the whole assembly of God was assembled together, but the Holy Spirit specially acting in that one place for the whole. How simple, and how effective also, would discipline have been in such a case. It would not require, say the whole of the saints, in such cases as Jerusalem and Rome, and probably Corinth, to have been together in one (physical) place. The same may be said now of even those gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus in London. If it requires, the whole to be actually together, then calm deliberation and discipline would be impossible; and since Jude wrote his Epistle; unanimity would be still more impossible.
And yet the act of discipline was evidently in one place, and surely binding on all. And note, though the apostle is writing to the whole church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia, yet he says, “Sufficient to such a man is this punishment which was inflicted of many.” It therefore does not follow that either all were present, or that all were unanimous. But the punishment was inflicted by many If we have here the principle on which the Spirit of God acted in the beginning, we see at once how the perfect unity of the Spirit would be maintained, as to fellowship, administration, discipline, and service, however large the city, or great the numbers; and it would. be very difficult to explain the scriptures we have looked at, and many others, on any other principle.
It is, however, evident that, though there was one recognized place of the assembly in every city, yet all the saints were free, surely, to go to that place, and when anything unusual occurred, great numbers did assemble together, as in Acts 15.
In applying these scriptures to our present time, and the Lords present testimony, it is true we must remember the present ruin of the church (viewed in responsible testimony) as a witness of Christ, looked at in its profession, but the question is this: are these scriptures to guide those gathered to Christ, in whatever weakness? and if not, what scriptures will meet the case of a large city, with several meetings in it, say like London? If the scriptures do not speak of assemblies in a city, can we?
May we all have spiritual discernment to understand the Lord’s mind from His word, by the Holy Spirit. Let the mind of the Lord, in any case, be thus known by the saints gathered (together) to the name of Jesus in one place in a city, and admitted to be binding on the whole church of God; let that one place be the recognized place of the whole assembly’s deliberations, for administration, discipline, and service; and, above all, let the Lord be owned and waited upon there for the whole church of God in that city; then surely none who own Him, and meet together on the ground of the one body, would refuse to bow to the decision of such an assembly, open to all, but not requiring all to be present, to arrive at His mind.
[We have inserted the above in our pages, not as endorsing the views expressed, but as desiring, with others, prayerfully in the light of scripture, to consider the important and intensely practical question raised in them. They are, by the wish of the writer, put before our readers as simply suggestive, and in no sense as direct teaching. -Ed.]
From Words of Faith, 1883, vol. 2, pp. 47-52.
(The reader should consult the subject index to Letters of J. N. Darby, under Assembly, and the sub-heading “in a city” for more on this subject. )