Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath Day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphas and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about 120) (Acts 1: 12-15a)

When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1 and 3-7)

They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching:

Although Peter and John are two most mentioned, there were, including Matthias who was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot, 10 other apostles who had traveled with Jesus and had been taught by him. They had experienced Jesus among them after his resurrection; they had received the Holy Spirit and were each enabled to speak a language not their own that could minister to groups of people in the crowd of new believers. I can imagine them scattered among the various groups of people mentioned in Acts 2:9-11, teaching them about Jesus and thereby preparing them for the time those new believers would return to their own nations.

And they devoted themselves to the fellowship:

That leaves 108 disciples who were not designated as apostles, who also received the Holy Spirit and were enabled to speak in a language not their own. I can imagine those 108 scattered among the new believers, welcoming them, encouraging them, maybe even weeping with them, being with them in the wonder of this totally new way of life. This experience of fellowship, those new believers would also carry back to their own nations.

As part of our church, we have those who preach, teach, lead us in worship and lead in a variety of other capacities. In addition, with them, we have many people who welcome, encourage, sometimes weep with and for each other, and who are devoted to the fellowship of other believers who are desiring to grow in the way of Jesus with his heart. We also are being prepared to carry what we learn and the fellowship we experience out into our community.

My community context includes: family, neighbors, grocery stores I frequent, restaurants where the people have become family, my auto mechanic and post office, hardware store, coffee shop and fabric store. Carrying fellowship out into my community means getting to know the people, their names, sometimes their concerns, families, and ways I can pray for them. Also, I can receive, with gratitude, the service and encouragement the people in my community give me. I can as well, ask them to pray for me.

This week make a list of people you would consider as your community that you do, or can fellowship with. Ask the Holy Spirit for enabling grace as you carry fellowship out into your community.