Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:21

"for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken." — 1 Corinthians 11:21 (ASV)

The Christian common meal (agape feast) apparently followed the pattern of public sacred feasting among the Jews and Greeks. The food was brought together for all to share (a sort of “potluck” supper), with the rich bringing more and the poor less. As Paul describes it, however, cliques were established and the food was divided inequitably. The rich took their “lion’s” share and became gluttons, and the poor remained hungry. So they were bringing contempt on the church of God and humiliating the poor.