📜 Introduction: One Bread, Two Purposes
When reading the Book of Acts, you’ll find that Paul often breaks bread, yet wine isn’t always mentioned. This raises an important question:
Was Paul observing Communion, or was he simply sharing a fellowship meal?
Understanding the difference between Communion and Christian fellowship is crucial to interpreting these texts correctly—and applying them wisely in today’s Church.
This blog explores:
- The biblical meaning of bread and wine
- The distinction between fellowship and Communion
- Why wine may be absent in certain texts
- What it all means for modern believers
🍽️ Fellowship Meals vs. Communion: What’s the Difference?
🤝 Fellowship Meals
These were daily or regular meals shared among believers. They were rooted in love, hospitality, generosity, and unity—especially in the early Church.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” – Acts 2:46
✝️ The Lord’s Supper (Communion)
This was a sacred ordinance instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19–20), involving both bread and wine to remember His body and blood.
Key difference?
Fellowship nourished the body and community. Communion nourished the spirit and covenant.
🥖 Bread: A Foundational Symbol in Both
Bread had deep meaning in both fellowship and Communion:
- Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
- He broke bread to feed the crowds, share meals, and institute Communion
In all contexts, bread symbolized provision, presence, and unity.
📍 When Paul Broke Bread Without Wine
🏠 Troas – Acts 20:7–11
Paul speaks late into the night, a young man falls and dies, but Paul revives him. Then:
“He went upstairs again and broke bread and ate.” – Acts 20:11
This appears to be a fellowship meal, not formal Communion. The purpose was likely to encourage the people and share life, not necessarily to observe the Lord’s Supper.
⛵ On a Ship – Acts 27:35
Paul is in a storm with a frightened crew. He encourages them and:
“He took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.”
Here too, wine isn’t mentioned. The focus was on thanksgiving, not on observing a sacrament. It was a powerful witness of faith and trust in God during crisis.
❓ Why Was Wine Sometimes Absent?
1. Practical Limitations
- Wine wasn't always accessible during travel, storms, or imprisonment
- Bread was more common and easily stored or baked
2. Fellowship vs. Formal Ordinance
- Some bread-breaking events were meals of encouragement, not sacramental observances
- The focus was on community and mission, not always ceremony
3. Avoiding Abuse (1 Corinthians 11)
- In Corinth, misuse of wine in Communion caused division and disorder
- Paul corrected the practice, possibly leading some gatherings to intentionally avoid wine when not formally observing Communion
👣 The Road to Emmaus: Recognition in Bread Alone
In Luke 24:30–31, Jesus walks with two disciples post-resurrection. He sits with them and:
“He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened.”
No wine is mentioned—but bread alone revealed Jesus to them.
This moment illustrates:
- Jesus’ presence is not limited to ritual
- Bread, as a symbol, can reveal truth and intimacy
- Not every meal had to be formal Communion to be sacred
🙌 Final Thoughts: Learning from the Early Church
In the Book of Acts, we witness a Church that broke bread often—in fellowship and in sacrament. The key is knowing the context.
- Fellowship meals expressed love and unity
- The Lord’s Supper remembered Christ’s sacrifice and covenant
🍷 What About Today?
Jesus gave us both bread and wine at the Last Supper. Many churches rightly uphold this full expression of Communion. However:
In the early Church, when wine wasn’t available or appropriate, the heart of worship—faith, remembrance, and unity—remained central.
This reminds us:
- Communion is sacred, but not bound by ritual alone
- Fellowship is vital to Christian life
- The presence of Christ can meet us even in the simplest act of breaking bread