The text in today’s meditation is part of a passage recounting the apostle Paul’s visit to the saints in the city of Troas. This city in Asia Minor, which is today in the country of Turkey, was the site of ancient Troy and of the Trojan War, memorialized in Greek lore. Paul visited Troas because there was a small Christian assembly there, small enough for the believers in Christ to meet in an upper room (v. 8).

This is the only account in the New Testament which actually describes an assembly of believers functioning in real time. Of course, Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians explains how an assembly should function, but in Acts 20 we get an historical snapshot of an assembly in action.

What immediately stands out in this account is the simplicity of the early Christians. When they came together on the first day of the week, which had been the habit of the believers since Christ’s resurrection, their purpose was to break bread. This is the Lord’s Supper. No details are given about its observance as they are in 1 Corinthians 11—simply the fact. The believers in Troas “came together” to break bread. It was the purpose of their assembling together; it was not to see a man, as gifted as he may be, but to see Jesus.

This Supper was the highest expression of their fellowship as members of one body and the basis of their worship: to adore the One who died for them, and to worship the Father in spirit and truth. Notice what is absent: there is no great religious architecture, no entertaining musical productions, and no special priesthood clothed in clerical garb. All of the believers themselves were priests! Oh, may we appreciate this simplicity more and more!