A Real Cliff-hanger

Peter begins to wrap this sermon up

Bringing it to a rather stunning conclusion

He starts by addressing them as “brothers”

That’s a change…from the start of this sermon he seems to have NOT identified himself with them

“Men of Judea and Jerusalem” in v. 14

“Men of Israel” in v. 22

He had tossed out a startling accusation: “…you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men!”

Now, they’re brothers? Remember that the were

“Devout Men!”

Devout, but wrong!

This is the first post-resurrection display of the concept of reconciliation

A Stunning Comparison

Note that Peter spoke with confidence--

David—the cultural hero

He’s dead!

Secular historian, Josephus noted that his tomb was a known spot among Jews

Current site may or may not be the proper spot—this known since 9th century

He was a prophet—many of his Psalms were, even then, considered prophetic

Some of last week’s message text among them

Looking back on David’s writings we see the prophetic nature even more clearly…but they had been looking forward to the fulfillment

Bottom line, no one disputed that he’d died, and stayed dead!

David, compared to Jesus

Jesus—the newcomer…trouble-maker…recently put to death

He was the descendant of David to receive the throne

He was NOT abandoned to Hades (the grave)

His flesh did not rot in the ground, but rose again from the grave by the Power of God

The Apostles were witnesses John 1 14

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Now, ascended to Heaven

...at the right hand of the Father

Pouring the Holy Spirit out on the Earth—as they were seeing that day

A Singular Command

A final piece of the argument

English Standard Version Chapter 2

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

In its source, The LORD said to my Lord

Greek translation doesn’t show that as clearly—stay tuned a minute...

The writer of Hebrews, arguing for Jesus’ supremacy over the angels, quotes the rest of that in Heb 1 13

Hebrews 1:13 ESV

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

Could be understood as “sit yourself down;” middle or passive imperative

He had the power to put himself there

Jesus now is at the right hand of the Father, awaiting the time the Father gives the command

At which time He will return, and we will see all things being made right

A Sure Conclusion

V. 36

English Standard Version Chapter 2

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The slam dunk, the cymbal crash…whatever you want to call it

In my mind, the crowd was stunned, silenced for a moment

This statement, as a conclusion to all the message so far had to put the crowd’s collective heart in its throat

Let all the house of Israel...

We know that Jesus came to redeem Israel

He was their Messiah, the anointed one, the Christ

But his own people rejected Him

…know for certain...

There’s a certainty that has been with Peter since the beginning of the this sermon

When he began, he addressed them with a degree of certainty, clarity and power in v.14

As he move through his presentation, he quoted powerful passages from the prophets and Psalms

He uses words of power

..a man attested—there’s a forensic component, put on as an exhibit

…by mighty works, wonders, signs...

He speaks with confidence in v. 29

No waffling in any of his statement through this concluding portion of the message

They have killed the Son of God

The slam dunk, the cymbal crash…whatever you want to call it

At that, in my mind, the crowd was stunned, silenced for a moment

This statement, as a conclusion to all the message so far had to put the crowd’s collective heart in its throat

Acts 2:37 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

We leave the story here…just kidding!

We could call it a mic-drop…but Peter didn’t walk away

In the face of their guilt, he offered hope

He gives them the answer:

Repent and be baptized

We will pick up at v. 37 next week

WITFM?

We don’t know how long the events of Pentecost took to unfold

An hour? Two? All day…? but we see the tension building through the entire event until it got to this point

This was all orchestrated by the mighty hand of the Almighty God

From last week’s text:

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men

This was all no accident

This is also not just a group of simple, yet dead facts

And it took the powerful words of Peter to get the attention of these devout, but WRONG men

There are a LOT of folks out there who are devout in their beliefs

They may even be seemingly among our “camp” Christians, church-going ones even

They may even believe all the facts

But never understood that it was for their sins Jesus died

Never understood that there needs to be a personal saving relationship with Christ

It took the mighty events of Pentecost

It took Peter’s powerful, even accusing, sermon

…to bring them to the point of repentance

Most here, have come to this point—I don’t know what got you there

If not, what will it take to get you there

If you are there, isn’t it time to take this message of salvation to your friends…who my be sincere; but sincerely wrong

Additionally…comment on the devout, but wrong!

The Asbury Revival…is it real? Only time will tell

This Pentecost was real

Our faith must be based upon fact, not feeling.

Fact, nothing else

Why not here? Why not now? Why not us?

A.W. Tozer

What God in His sovereignty may yet do on the world-scale I do not claim to know, but what He will do for the plain man or woman who seeks His face I believe I do know, and can tell others. Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days.