"Gathering" & "Going"
Patterns in the Book of Acts

Gathered Long Enough to Be Sent.
Sent Far Enough to Bring Them In.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Context: Jesus is speaking post-resurrection, just before His ascension, giving the mission scope after promising the Spirit.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Context: This is the immediate pattern of the newborn church right after Pentecost and the first wave of conversions.
Acts 2:46–47 And 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, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Context: The church lives publicly in Jerusalem with daily temple presence and house-to-house life as new people are continually added.

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Context: Soon after Pentecost, the apostles keep the prayer-hour rhythm and enter the temple courts where crowds are present.
Acts 4:31 And 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.
Context: After threats from the authorities for preaching Jesus, the believers gather and pray for boldness rather than safety.

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Context: After Stephen’s martyrdom and rising persecution, many believers flee Jerusalem and carry the message into new places.

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Context: Philip is led to a desert road where an Ethiopian official is reading Isaiah and needs the gospel explained.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Context: Peter is sent to the Gentile household of Cornelius, and God confirms the gospel is for the nations.
Acts 11:26 …And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Context: A major Gentile church forms in Antioch, where Barnabas and Saul teach the church for an extended season.

Acts 13:2–3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Context: Antioch becomes a sending base as leaders worship and fast, then commission the first major missionary team.

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Context: Near the end of the first journey, they return through newly reached cities to stabilize churches with local leadership.
Acts 14:27 And 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.
Context: They return to Antioch and publicly report what God did, especially the widening mission to Gentiles.

Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Context: After the Jerusalem council settles major unity issues, Paul begins strengthening established churches before further expansion.

Acts 19:9–10 But when divers [many] were hardened, and believed not… he departed from them, and separated the disciples… And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Context: In Ephesus, Paul shifts from synagogue resistance to sustained disciple-training, and the gospel spreads across the province.

Acts 28:30–31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Context: In Rome under house arrest, Paul continues receiving people and preaching, showing the mission is not chained.

The church gathers to be filled, goes out to bear witness, brings people in to be formed, strengthens what has been built, and is sent again.