When the New Testament mentions music in the worship of the 1st century disciples, it is always a specific kind of music-singing. In their order of occurrence, the following list includes each New Testament reference (NKJV) to the music of the 1st century disciples in worship:

• Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26: "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."
• Acts 16:25: "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."
• Romans 15:9: "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, 'For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name."
• 1 Corinthians 14:15: "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
• Ephesians 5:18-19: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
• Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
• Hebrews 2:12: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you."
• Hebrews 13:15: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
• James 5:13: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."

The term, "a cappella," is defined as "without instrumental accompaniment." This Italian term literally means, "in the manner of the chapel." Originally, when people wanted to describe singing without instrumental accompaniment, their reference was to say, "in the way they sing in a church building"-a cappella. The early history of church music was simply unaccompanied singing.

The New Testament authorizes in worship a specific kind of music-singing. In the absence of New Testament authority for mechanical instruments in worship (1 Peter 4:11; 2 Peter 1:3), we sing a cappella. For several centuries of early church history, the practice in worship remained a cappella. Nearer to our own time, even denominational preachers such as John Calvin, Adam Clarke, John Wesley, and Charles Spurgeon opposed instrumental music in worship. (See The Spiritual Sword, January 2004).

The New Testament does, however, authorize a non-mechanical kind of instrument to be used in our worship in song: the human heart (Ephesians 5:19). With both heart and voice attuned, may we always be known as a church with beautiful a cappella singing in worship to God.