Boldness to Preach

Allister Begg says, “When we only know what it is to fear men, we will find ourselves constantly trying to persuade the Lord.”

If you have your bibles and I hope you do, please turn with me to acts chapter 2 we'll be looking at verses 14-41.

Introduction:

This passage recounts Peter's transformative sermon on the day of Pentecost, where empowered by the Holy Spirit, he boldly proclaims the message of Jesus Christ to a diverse crowd, leading to the conversion of about three thousand individuals.

Acts 2:8–13 (NIV84)

8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Sixteen different nations are mentioned.

Point 1.  Spirit-Driven Speech

Acts 2:14-21

Peters denial of Christ is spoken about in all four gospels.

In Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14: 66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-18, 25-27

1. What gave Peter the courage to stand in front of sixteen other nations a speak of Christ?

a. Jesus said in John 14:26

ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

2. Peter could not have done it without the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:17

New International Version

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

3. This encouragement is for everyone: ordinary believers can be transformed into bold witnesses for Christ through the Spirit.

Point 2.  Scripture-Backed Assurance

Acts 2:22-28

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the * Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. y 23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used z lawless people a to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. b 24 God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, c because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. 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 was glad,

and my tongue rejoiced.

Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

27 because You will not leave me in * Hades

or allow Your Holy One to see decay. d

28 You have revealed the paths of life to me;

You will fill me with gladness

in Your presence.

1. But we see here that Peter was filled with the Spirit and was able to recall scripture.

a. Look at how Peter was looked at as being uneducated.

John MacArthur Says about the Galileans.

That they were inhabitants of the mostly rural area of northern Israel around the Sea of Galilee. Galilean Jews spoke with a distinct regional accent and were considered to be unsophisticated and uneducated by the southern Judean Jews.[1]

Acts 4:13CSB

The Boldness of the Disciples

13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

2. Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32

a. This is a prophesy about the giving of the Holy Spirit.

3. Peter did not say that Pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28–32, because the signs and wonders predicted had not occurred.

a. When you read Joel’s prophecy in context, you see that it deals with the nation of Israel in the end times, in connection with “the Day of the Lord.” However, Peter was led by the Spirit to see in the prophecy an application to the church.

b. He said, “This is that same Holy Spirit that Joel wrote about.

c. He is here!”

i. Such an announcement would seem incredible to the Jews, because they thought God’s Spirit was given only to a few select people (see Num. 11:28–29).

ii. But here were 120 of their fellow Jews, men and women, enjoying the blessing of the same Holy Spirit that had empowered Moses, David, and the prophets.[2]

4. We see here Jesus’ centrality in God's redemptive plan, of fulfilling the prophetic promises.

Point 3.  Sovereign Savior Declared

Acts 2:29-36

The Holman Christian Standard Bible

29 “ Brothers, 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 this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay.

32 “God has resurrected 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!”

1. We see here that Peter declares Jesus both Lord and Messiah, which powerfully confronts the crowd with the truth.

a. We should declare the same in all our conversations.

b. We should recognize Jesus as both Lord and Savior in our lives for true transformation.

2. Are you submitting to Christs authority?

a. Are you sharing with others this truth about Jesus?

3. Peter's bold proclamation should strengthen us the church to declare Jesus’ sovereignty with confidence, fostering deeper commitment and discipleship within our community.

Point 4.  Salvation's Powerful Response

Acts 2:37-41

37 When they heard this, they came under deep conviction u and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”

38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, x each of you, in the name y of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, z a as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt b generation!”

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.

1. Know let’s look at the life-changing response to Peter’s message—repentance and baptism.

2. This point can encourage believers to take actionable steps in their faith journey, including repentance and public declaration of faith through baptism.

a.  Do you see how genuine conversion leads to tangible change,

b.  The early church is an example of growth and transformation that is driven by the Spirit.

Charles Swindoll says a common rule of thumb of biblical interpretation: “If the plain sense makes good sense, then seek no other sense.”[3]

Conclusion:

Let me ask a question as we conclude.

What does this mean for us today?

1. You see we are told in Romans 3:10

Rom 3:10

10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one. 

NIV

2. And then in Romans 3:23

That we all are sinners, you, me, all means all.

Rom 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

NIV

Jesus said in John 14:6

John 14:6 (NIV84)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

[1]John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), Ac 2:7.

[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 409.

[3]Charles R. Swindoll, Acts, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016), 56.