The interpretive question of normativity is a challenge that confronts the reader of the biblical text, particularly as it relates to the book of Acts. The task of reading the biblical text in a way that allows it to speak its message and that enables it to make the transition from the first-century into the twenty-first century is often anything but straightforward and as such requires a responsible approach to reading on the part of the interpreter. Based upon the challenges directly associated with reading the book of Acts, with special attention paid to the contribution of sociological criticism, four principles for reading that are characterized by cultural analysis, narrative structure, theological impact and personal faith have been developed in order to assist the reader in considering essential elements related to the quest for normativity. By holding these principles in balance, the reader will be given the opportunity to construct a meaningful foundation for interpretation that may be followed by application of five guidelines for normativity identified as a subset of the proposed principles. Analyses of Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35 demonstrate the application of the principles for responsible reading and the guidelines for normativity by considering normative versus non-normative practices of the early church in the context of the community of goods. Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the principles for responsible reading identify the positive contribution of this thesis as well as areas that require further study and development. / Thesis / Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Jésus de Nazareth accordait beaucoup d’importance à la commensalité, au point de faire du repas en commun le contexte particulier du double geste sur le pain et le vin accompli à la dernière Cène. Après avoir été réitéré dans son contexte d’origine par plusieurs générations de chrétiens, le rappel de la Cène s’est ensuite complètement dissocié du contexte d’un repas. Le terme koinwnia utilisé au verset 2,42 du livre des Actes des apôtres désigne-t-il ce repas communautaire autour duquel se déroulaient les rassemblements chrétiens? Grâce à une analyse structurelle réalisée en entonnoir sur les chapitres 2 à 5 du livre des Actes, le présent mémoire met en relief l’importance des repas communautaires dans la vie de la communauté primitive, tout en montrant que le terme koinwnia a un sens plus étendu que le seul repas en commun, mais tout aussi concret et actif que les trois autres éléments énumérés au verset 2,42. / Jesus of Nazareth used to place much importance on commensality, so much that he wished the common meal to be the particular environment for both actions on bread and wine Jesus did during the Last Supper. For several generations, the memorial of Jesus Last Supper kept on being celebrated in its original context by Christians. But it was later separated from the communal meal. Does the word koinwnia in Acts 2:42 denote those communal meals during which Christian gatherings were held? The importance of common meals in the early community will be highlighted here through a funnel-type structural analysis of Acts 2-5. But it will be shown also that the meaning of koinwnia is more extended than the common meal alone, and just as concrete and active as the three other elements listed in verse 2:42.