Did the Early Church, the First Christians celebrate the Eucharist. Are there any references in the Bible to support this claim?

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist during the Last Supper and “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19).  This verse essentially captures the actions of the Eucharistic celebration. The actions “took bread”, “gave thanks”, “broke bread” and “gave it to them” represent the Eucharistic celebration. Also Jesus clearly instructs the disciples to do this in remembrance of Him.

Jesus after His Resurrection, again breaks the bread with the disciples who were walking to Em’maus. “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.“Luke (24:30). Here again the four key Eucharistic actions are followed, “took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them”.Therefore “breaking of the bread” is synonymous with the Eucharistic Meal.

In Acts 2:42, the following is described about the Early Christians “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”Again in Acts 20:7 , “And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread ….” This also denotes that the Early Christians assembled together to celebrate the Eucharist on Sundays.

St Paul received the words of the Eucharistic Institution from Jesus, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you”(1 Cor 11:23).  In 1 Cor 10:16-17, he explains by the breaking of the bread we are partaking of the Body of Christ, “And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”

St Paul also emphasizes that we should not receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in an unworthy manner! “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Cor 11: 27 – 29). This also shows that the Early Church believed that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

These verses clearly indicate that the Early Christians celebrated the Eucharist as instructed by our Lord Jesus Christ!