Acts 2:14-36
Have you ever felt inadequate for an important task? I have often felt that way. What about Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
Think about the apostle Peter, when did say, “I swear I do not know the Man?” How long ago from Acts 2 was that… a little over 50 days… When did Jesus ask Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?” After Jesus resurrected and appeared by the shore of Galilee… Again a little over 50 days ago.
And now we will see Peter standing up preaching the very first full gospel sermon. Peter is using the keys of the kingdom for the 1st time. Has Peter had a heart change? The Holy Spirit is working in Him. And he will basically charge the Jews of Killing their Messiah.
- Acts 2:14-15
- 14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.
- What is Peter’s posture here? He stood. Jewish usually sat to teach. So this is the Roman style to stand and teach or speak. Peter quickly brushed aside the drunk charge pointing out it is not 9AM yet.
- Peter responded to the questions and accusations of the crowd by calling attention to the OT prophet Joel. He would not let stand the uninformed charges of skeptics. With a boldness typical for Peter, he stepped forward to represent the other apostles and addressed the crowd
- His first words were intended to refute the accusations of drunkenness. With a hint of humor, he calls attention to the early hour. 9 AM was usually the hour of prayer, after which Jews would take their first food
- Acts 2:16-21
- 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
- What does Peter use to explain the people hearing these Galileans speaking their own language? A Prophecy from the Prophet Joel… which was over 930 years old.
- What makes up the last days? From this day of Pentecost until Jesus returns.
- The Jews would see the last days as how is God dealing with His people.
- So last days for Joel doesn’t mean the End is coming soon, but rather God is going to deal with us in a new way… For us we see it as, God making His New and last Covenant with His people. So we have been in the last days for 2000 years.
- What is the new way God is going to deal with us according to Joel? I will pour out my Spirit on all people. (All Flesh, All people) This prophecy may have shocked the Jews to hear this… WHY? Because God is doing something for all people. Because this was not the message of Judaism… it was for the Jews only.
- Do you see any miracles in this prophecy? See Verse 17 …prophecy, Visions and dream. Can God speak thru these? (It is thought that about 60% of Muslims that have converted to Christianity in the last few years has been because they have experienced visions and dreams.)
- Who is the Spirit going to pour onto? Both men and women… This including women in that ancient culture would be surprising to the Jews.
- If everyone is going to have access to God by way of His Spirit, what do you not need any more as a Jew? A priest or high priest… is a major change for the Jews! Jesus becomes our high Priest.
- The true explanation of this even was what Joel had foretold. At this point Peter launches into a discussion of themes which appear in many o fit sermons recorded in Acts. The emphasis on the dawning of the age of the Messiah, the universal appeal of the gospel, and the hope of restoration by a merciful God are themes which appear again and again
- Even the structure of Peter’s address shows similarities with other sermons in Acts. His explanation of the sign from God is followed by an affirmation hf the central facts of the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and an exhortation to repentance and baptism
- In 19-20 several signs are described which may be understood either as figurative or literal. The wonders in heaven may be figurative language which pointes to a new cosmic order being instituted by God in Christ Jesus. On the other hand, Jerusalem had experienced some of these signs literally on the day Jesus was crucified. It may be, however, that these words are best understood in connection with the final appearing of Jesus and the day of judgment
- What is verse 21 telling us? 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Verse 21 means more than just calling out the Lord’s name, but to submit to the Lord and obey Him. Peters tell the people at the end of the sermon how to call on the name of the Lord. One point is ALL PEOPLE can come to the Lord and be saved. The Gospel is open to all people. But they must believe and act on it. In Acts 9 where Paul is confronted by the risen Christ. Jesus tells him to go into Damascus. And Paul during the next three days, while waiting to meet with Ananias, Paul fasted and prayed. When Ananias didn’t say you are good to go. Paul gives the account in Acts 22:14-16 4 “Then he (Ananias) said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
- Acts 2:22-28
- 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. 25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence.
- Was Jesus know for the miracles He worked? Yes, some were private like raising Janis Daughter from the dead. But far more were public.
- What were the purpose of these miracles other than showing compassion?
- John 20:30-31 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
- Is Peter right, when says, “as you yourselves know”? Did anyone ever deny or prove Jesus didn’t do a miracle. No! But this led the leaders of the Jews to say the miracles are by the devil rather than God.
- Who put Jesus on the Cross? See verse 23 You- Jews & Wicked men –Jewish leaders- Judas & Romans because of the Cross- But Also God. God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge… Shocked that God has His own Son, the Messiah put to death. We know our sin put Him there too.
- But what amazing thing does God do after the death of Jesus? Verse 24 Raises Him from the dead.
- God was not caught by surprise in all of this. Peter insisted that while Christ was crucified by human hands, he was handed over to them by God’s set purpose. The crucifixion was also God’s decision. His decision predated that of the Jews and Romans. While they had intended to do away with Jesus in the crucifixion, God foiled their plans by raising Him from death
- The language used to describe the liberation of Jesus from death is viivd here. In raising Jesus from the dead, God freed Him from the agony of death. Death is thus portrayed as a fearful infliction of misery which attempted to keep its hold on Jesus. From death’s unwelcome clutches Jesus was released since God’s power could not be resisted
- Turning to the Psalms, Peter established the point from Scriptures. Reproducing the Septuagint version of Psalm 16:8-11, he began by noting David’s authorship and the fact that he could not have been speaking of himself. The Psalm was originally an expression of David’s confidence in escaping the grave
- David wrote this, some 900 years before Jesus was born where is David’s body? See verse 29 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
- How can David write this? He was writing prophetically for someone else, whether he realized it or not. All those Jews would have known where David was buried. Jesus fits this prophecy because he is in the line of David. People know Jesus was crucified that happened about 50 days ago. The tomb Jesus was laid in is only about a 10 minute walk from the temple. Let’s go if the body of Jesus is in there. All of this validation from the Psalm, and the empty tomb.
- Acts 2:29-36
- 29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay. 32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
- What was the promise or covenant God had made with King David? that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. So Peter applies the prophecy to Jesus, who is from the line of David.
- Where is Jesus? At the right hand of God… Peter moves from the resurrection to the ascension. All of it gospel good news.What would a Jew think of that? This statement would have bordered on blasphemy… Because for the Jews there is one God… How is Jesus there?
- Who received the Holy Spirit from the Father? This would have been a shocker because the Holy Spirit from the O.T. was considered the power of God. Whom seems to direct the Holy Spirit here? See Verse 33 Jesus is, pouring the Spirit out…evidenced by the apostle speaking in foreign languages.
- Where is this quote from? Psalm 110 God said to God sit at my right hand.
- Note: Jesus used this quote to ask a question after Jews had asked many trick questions (3). Jesus then asks the experts this Mark 12:35-37 35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ 37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
- Note: In Jewish culture the Father is always greater than the son… So here we have the son of David Greater than his father. This would blow the Jewish mind, call Lord Jesus (God). Peter is defining who the Messiah is, many leading Jews thought David was the Messiah. This Jesus is no mere man but the Son of God. And God Himself.
- Who is the only Person who can fulfill this prophecy? Jesus a son or descendent of David and also the Son of God. Proven by the Resurrection.
- What is Peter assured of? God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
- How do the Jews respond and why? they were cut to the heart… Why? Because they have crucified their Messiah. Maybe not personally but there would be shared guilt of God’s people rejecting their savior and king.
- TAKE AWAY
- What does the teaching and preaching of the gospel produce in people hearing it for the first time? Faith in Jesus as the Christ
- Who is working with the gospel message on the hearers?
Thoughts from a Crosseyed Jesus Freak 