Acts 2:22-47 : Peter's Sermon at Pentecost continued

Introduction

Last week, we witnessed the incredible events of Pentecost. We saw some of the unexpected effects of God’s out-pouring of his Holy Spirit, and we saw the beginning of this great ripple through church history.

But is this really the beginning of the great ripple in the narrative of scripture? Of course not!

It’s actually kind of difficult to sort out the origin and inspiration of the events on Pentecost, isn’t it? Do we start at Jesus’ ascension? His crucifixion, or his trial? what about his ministry, or his baptism, or his birth… what about the OT prophets?!

(Slide —> crowd wave video) You see, it’s all connected…

In fact, the events we are reading about today are the continuation of this great ripple that we can trace all the way back to Genesis.

We can especially relate to these seminal events because we belong to the same church that we see forming in the scenes of Acts. We are sitting in the same stadium, cheering for the same team

We are still experiencing the ripples from these events that we can see in scripture! (Slide)

This week, we will be finishing up Peter’s sermon to the gathered crowds on the day of Pentecost, and we will be teasing out the answers to some very foundational questions around our faith.

(Slide) Why would we believe in Jesus?

(Slide) What makes Jesus such a big deal?

(Slide) What do we do if we believe?

(Slide) These three seemingly obvious questions are almost universal to the new or not-yet believer, and how we answer these questions often defines whether we come to faith or not.

Peter, with very apparent help from the Holy Spirit, gives what I think are some very satisfying answers to these questions in our passage for this week!

If you have found satisfying answers to all of these questions for yourself, Great! But you can still benefit from this lesson!

(Slide) We can use Peter’s holy-spirit inspired method to improve how we relate the answers to these questions to unbelievers in our lives.

We can learn something from these scenes to help us better take part in the wave we see in scripture

Ok, let’s pray and get into it!

Peter’s Sermon Continues

We will be beginning in Acts 2:22 this week, but just to recap, Peter has just used Joel’s prophecy (vv. 17-21), which was potentially written as far back as the 9th Century BC, to describe the events occurring on that day as well as potentially giving a nod to eschatological events that we have yet to witness ourselves.

Just to clarify my own view on this, Peter has made minor modifications to this passage from Joel so that it more immediately relates to the events and the audience at hand. The immediate relevance is certain!

This doesn’t mean that it can’t also relate to future eschatological events

So often we ask either/or questions of God from scripture, only to find the answer is yes!

“Is Joel’s prophecy referring to cataclysmic events during the post-exilic period for the Jews, or is it referring to the events of Pentecost? Or is it referring to a future event yet unseen?” “Yes!”

It’s almost as if… the inspirer of biblical prophecy isn’t confined by our linear and conventional notions of time...

It’s almost as if…

(Slide) 2 Peter 3:8 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

It’s almost as if… all scripture works in this way! There is an immediate author, an immediate audience, and an immediate purpose, but also an eternal source of inspiration that is capable of speaking into the life of every individual reader ever!!!

We’re going to see Peter interpreting scripture in this way, drawing an eternal message from the Holy Spirit out of Scripture, one that the Holy Spirit certainly could see the full breadth of!

Keep this in mind as we move on today (Slide)

Question (i) Why Believe in Jesus??

(Slide) Acts 2:22-24“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Peter and his audience clearly seem to give some credit to these attestations.

So, why should we believe in these accounts about Jesus?

This is a diverse crowd, including locals who would have witnessed the life and acts of Jesus, as well as faithful adherents to Judaism who have made a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Pentecost.

(Slide - 2:22) Peter is appealing to the knowledge and experience (v. 22 - as you yourselves know) of the present witnesses to Jesus’ miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection (Slide - 2:23- you crucified) as evidence for the other members of his audience.

But why should we trust this??? Why would we seriously consider eye-witness testimony with our high-minded, “modern” standards for evidence? Let’s talk a bit about Luke to find our answer.

(Slide - Luke) Luke, the author of Acts, was a physician (educated, intelligent, literate) and a scientifically minded individual for his time.

Luke compiled both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles from eye-witness testimonies as well as his own experiences as a companion of Paul.

But why would we trust eyewitness testimony?

Because, this is as solid as any evidence we have for any historical event ever!

When you answer this question for unbelievers, not-yet believers, curious minds... ask why they believe in any single event of American history prior to the invention of the photograph?

( Slide -GW) Why believe in George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River? (add photo)

(Slide - NB) Why believe in Napoleon Bonaparte and the events of the Napoleonic Wars? (add photo)

(Slide - Leo) Why believe in King Leonidas and the battle at Thermopylae? (add photo)

(Slide - Uriah) Why believe in Uriah the Hittite (Bathsheba’s husband) and the existence of the ancient Hittite empire?

I mention the Hittites b/c were considered to be a biblical fiction by many secular archaeologists right up until the late 1800’s, until too much evidence of their existence surfaced for a principled denial to persist!

We believe in all of these characters and events based solely upon contemporary eye witness testimonies that are corroborated by multiple sources.

(Slide) I say all of this to say that the faith that we hold in the events of scripture is in no way less founded than the secular belief in any historical event.

Luke’s evidence is a report of Peter’s evidence, which is a report corroborated by numerous eye witnesses to the life and miracles of Christ in the crowd at the time of his sermon.

This is an aspect of progressive revelation, in which evidence builds upon existing and verified evidence to strengthen the case for Christ made by scripture.

So when we answer (1) why we believe in Jesus (or why someone else should)...

We can use scriptural events like Peter’s sermon to explain and defend our belief.

And if you don’t like putting your faith in historical accounts, you really can’t believe in any history prior to the invention of the camera. And with the development of modern photography editing and video editing software, you can’t trust any of that evidence either!! Every belief system, secular or religious, is ultimately a matter of faith!

We can believe in Jesus because of the evidence!!

(Slide) Ok, so now let’s move on to our next question: Why is Jesus such a big deal?

Question (ii) What’s the Big Deal??

Acts 2:25-28 “For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’”

(Slide) So Peter (Luke/me) is here building a progressive case:

He is using the prophecy of Joel to interpret the significance of the events that are currently playing out

He is using those present witnesses and their corroborative testimony for the life, death, and resurrection of Christ

and now he is referring to a centuries’ old Davidic prophecy (Psalm 16:8-11), making a case for the resurrection as proof for Jesus’ status as the Messiah (note the hyperlinks and note the effect!)

( Slide) Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand(hyperlink!), I shall not be shaken. (Slide) 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. (Slide) 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption(hyperlink!). (Slide) 11 You make known to me the path of life(hyperlink!); in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand(hyperlink!) are pleasures forevermore.”

Let’s read on:

Acts 2:29-35 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (Slide) 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, (Slide) 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. (Slide) 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (Slide) 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (Slide) 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “(Slide) 35 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 

There is another very interesting point being made here in this quotation from Psalm 110,

one that had a resounding impact for the original audience on the day of Pentecost

one that had a resounding impact for the early audiences of Luke’s account

one that should have a resounding impact for us today! (remember the ripples?)

David, for the devout Jew, was a figure of immense importance.

He was God’s chosen King for Israel, and the recipient of a covenant to put an eternal king on the throne of Israel.

(Slide) 2 Samuel 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

He cites a Psalm of David as prophecy, making the claim that the plan always involved resurrection.

(side note)Today, we don’t always consider David as a prophet, but Peter very clearly insists that the Holy-Spirit inspired Psalms were an intentional revelation from God with a specific purpose in mind (which is to say, prophecy).

This was a common theme of Palestinian Judaism, one which we’ve already seen noted

(Slide) Acts 1:16 ““Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”

We will see this again in Acts 4:25 “who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?”

Holy-Spirit inspired OT

(Slide) Acts 2:29 ““Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.”

He then… makes a bit of a joke about David being dead…

I can’t prove this was a joke!

But really, Peter is drawing out a salient point to his audience:

If David was chosen by God for this covenant

If David stated that his Lord would ascend to sit at the right hand of God

If Resurrection would be a necessary component of this Eternal kingdom coming to fruition...

BIG IF HERE If Jesus, a descendant of David, was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his wrongful execution and his fulfillment of, like, a bajillion prophecies...

What does that make Jesus???

kind of a big deal!!

(Slide) Acts 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.”

Did everyone in this audience physically take part in the crucifixion of Christ?

Did everyone in this audience spiritually take part in the crucifixion of Christ?

Did everyone in this audience take part in the crucifixion of Christ?

The principles of this sermon apply today just as they applied to the audience in this scene in Acts, and we can with good reason and conviction convey the historical reality of the events described in the Gospels, as well as relate the eternal significance of these events in the scheme of human history.

Question (iii): So what do we even do about it now?

(Slide) Now that we’ve seen Peter make some very serious claims, let’s observe the reaction of the audience.

Again, this is not a crowd of professing Christians sitting in a church.

This is a mixture of witnesses to the events of Jesus’ life, who could reasonably argue against Peter if they thought he was lying..

And a group of devout Jewish pilgrims who would have every reason not to accept the part they played in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

(Slide) Acts 2:37-41 “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?” (Slide) 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Slide) 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Slide) 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (Slide) 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

So we see here a beautiful example of an appropriate response to understanding and acceptance of the part we all played in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.

They were cut to the heart and they asked what shall we do?

Here, Peter directs them to repent.

(Slide) The Greek word here μετανοέω - metanoeo) means to change one’s mind, which I think adds very interesting color to our understanding of what repentance means.

We have to change our mind about who Jesus is if we want to enjoy his eternal kingdom.

This is the only thing we see the thief on the cross do for his admittance into Heaven (Luke 29:39-43)!

(Slide) The Hebrew equivalent to Metanoeo is נָחַם (nā·ḥǎm)

This word carries a connotation of regret or sorrow for a wrong done, but it also means to be comforted, consoled!

(Slide) All of this brings great meaning to what repentance is for us, especially in the context of our salvation

We regret the wrong we’ve done, we feel sorrow

We change our mind about God, we change our mind about the wrong things we do (we see them as wrong)

We take comfort in the fact that Jesus paid the price for our sin and made a way for us into his eternal kingdom!

So… we repent… and then…???

(Slide) Acts 2:42-47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Slide) 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. (Slide) 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Slide) 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (Slide) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

So after their repentance, we see the early church begin to

Break bread and pray together

Take care of one another and give to the body

Praise God together!

In other words, WE SEE CHURCH!

This is what we’ve been called to do!

accept that the evidence presented in scripture is the truth

believe that Jesus was the big deal that Peter is claiming him to be

choose to share our lives with one another and show God’s love to a broken world!

I don’t know your outlook on being scourged and crucified for the payment of your sins, but I feel like Jesus gave us the better end of the bargain by far!

Okay, so next week we will see that after this sermon, everyone’s problems were completely solved

and everyone accepted Jesus and there was no more sadness or conflict

and the rest of church history was just one big birthday party....

Of course is wasn’t! But we will see...

(i) more people accept the case made for Christ through the scriptures and testimonies!

(ii) more and more people start to see why Jesus is kind of a big deal!

(iii) very unexpected people change their mind about Jesus and take part in the wave!

And as we better learn to understand the nature of this wave that we see in scripture and accept that today is our chance to take part...

(i) We can make a more convincing case for faith in Jesus to the unbelievers in our life!

(ii)We can relate the eternal importance of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, which has been written into all of scripture across dozens of authors and across thousands of years (kind of a big deal)

(iii) We can still see very unexpected people taking hold of the hope that we have in Jesus and taking part in the beautiful, unfolding plan of God!

Let’s pray!