We will be looking at several passages of Scripture to answer your questions. We will consider: 1) The institution of the Lord’s Supper; 2) Those who broke break after the Lord’s ascension to heaven, and 3) The day or days of the week that they broke bread.

1) The institution of the Lord’s Supper. In Luke 22:19-20 we read, “And He (Jesus) took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to THEM, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for YOU.’” The Lord had just eaten the Passover Supper with His DISCIPLES (verses 7-18) and as soon as THEY finished it, the Lord Jesus used the bread and cup of wine on the table to institute the Lord’s Supper. He passed each emblem (the bread and the cup) to THEM, which clearly teaches us that this “Remembrance Meeting” was meant to be observed by His DISCIPLES. This was an act of “collective fellowship” where THEY would look back, by faith, to the cross where Jesus laid down His BODY in death (Luke 23:46; John 10:17-18) and shed His BLOOD as a payment for our sins (John 19:34; 1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

2) Those who broke bread after the Lord’s ascension to heaven. In Acts 2:42 we read, “And THEY continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD, and in prayers.” Shortly after the Lord’s ascension, the DISCIPLES came together regularly for fellowship and in this passage, we see that THEY had meetings to: 1) study the apostles’ teachings, 2) to break bread, and 3) to pray. Earlier in the chapter we learn that the DISCIPLES had been filled with the Holy Ghost and as they preached the gospel, some believed and were “added unto THEM” (verse 41). Verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as were being saved.” Believers had now become a COLLECTIVE body called the “Church” (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The meetings referred to in Acts 2:42 were “meetings of the CHURCH, which is the BODY of Christ.” Those “church meetings” were never meant for ONE PERSON, but for all believers in each city. Jesus promised them (and us!) that He will be with us during such meetings. “For where TWO or THREE are gathered TOGETHER in My name, I am there in the midst of THEM” (Matthew 18:20). Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasize this need for collective fellowship, “And let US consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

3) The day or days of the week that they broke bread. In Acts 2:46 we read, “So continuing DAILY with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house.” Initially they broke bread EVERY DAY! In Acts 20:7 it says, “And upon the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, when the disciples came together to break bread…” In time, it became the custom of believers to break bread on Sunday (the DAY that the Lord rose from the dead; see Matthew 28:1-6), which was not only fitting because of the victory Christ won on that day, but it was practical given people’s jobs during the week. Lastly, we read in 1 Corinthians 11:26 (after Paul has instructed believers to continue observing the Lord’s Supper in verses 23-25), “For as OFTEN as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” This verse teaches us that we are NOT limited to once a week. An example of this is when we are visiting an “isolated saint” (who doesn’t have the opportunity to break bread in a local church) and their desire is to “remember the Lord.” We can surely break bread with them, even if it’s not on Sunday.  (DO)  (738.1)