Making Sense of Pentecost Pt 2

Introduction:

In pt. 1, Peter started explaining the events of the day.

He answers two groups:

To those who joked that the disciples were already inebriated, he dismissed the joke as nonsensical.

To those who made the more serious inquiry by asking what it all means, Peter began with prophecies from Joel.

From Joel he makes the following, general connections:

The arrival of the last days.

The work of God who would pour out His Spirit.

The only remaining event is the “great and wonderful day of the Lord.”

Those who designate the Lord will be saved.

If the Spirit has come, and these are the last days, then what about the Messiah?

This is a natural question.

Had the Jews understood their times correctly?

Had they understood their own actions?

One big idea to consider in this message:

The consistency of the NT message about Jesus.

Movement Two Begins:

Peter wants his readers to make connections, so these movements will build upon one another in ideas.

We know a second phase has begun because of the term of address: “Men, Israelites.”

Like in movement one, Peter requests for his audience to pay attention to him.

He wants them to hear him out.

He wants them think through what he has to say.

We might contrast this with the reaction to Stephen later.

Jesus Introduced:

Heretofore, Peter has said nothing about Jesus, and perhaps to the audience, Jesus was “yesterday’s man.”

He had died 50 days before.

What could these Galileans and their preaching in dialects have to do with him?

Jesus, however, becomes Peter’s point of emphasis.

Note the position in this part of the discourse given to him.

Yet, God will be the main, major participant.

The Facts about Jesus:

A man genuinely demonstrated to have been from God.

Miracles, portents, and signs were the means by which God made His case about Jesus’ origins to Israel.

God did them through him in their midst.

They were witnesses of those things.

Peter reminds them of their knowledge of these indisputible facts.

“You all executed him.”

They did this have nailed him through the hand of lawless ones.

Jews acted in concert with non-Jews to execute Jesus.

This tells us something of their misunderstanding about Jesus’ identity.

That concerted act, however, should be understood as something else.

Jesus, Peter explains, was “handed over” by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God.

Unbeknownst to them, or at least they did not recognize, that their actions toward Jesus fulfilled God’s plan.

Introduction - Part 2, Part 2

We should return to Acts 2:23 for just a moment because, there, Peter made important claims.

You all executed = the kernel though of the clause.

Having nailed “this one” to a tree (ie, crucified), through the hand of lawless ones.

This one (Jesus) was handed over by the specific plan and foreknowledge of God.

The last word of the statement sets up a play on words that heightens the contrast between them and God.

God’s righteousness on display (Ro. 3:25ff).

Exploring the Contrast between God and Man

“God raised him.”

Peter has in mind the following themes:

Vindication of Jesus against the Jews view of him.

God’s value of Jesus (see 1 Peter 2:23: “him who judges righteously”).

“The stone which the builders rejected…” (Ps. 118:22)

God’s act, unlike that of the Jews and Gentiles, was a righteous act.

He treated Jesus in a manner consistent with the reality about him.

This is indicated through the phrase: “because he was not able to be being overpowered/controlled by it.”

Note the present passive participle.

Fulfillment of Psalm 16.