Easter Sunday

Jesus was approved by God.

How is one approved by God?

What does it mean to be approved by God?

Peter addresses the audience. "Men of Israel"… recalling their national identity as the covenant people of God, People He had promised the "promised land". The people God said, You will be by people and I will be Your God."

Authenticated (2:22)

God authenticated Jesus as the "Sent One" via miracles, wonders & signs.

Miracles: Not everyday occurrences nor were they natural progression of current situation.

Casts out Demons

Healing Peter's Mother in Law

Wonders: Describe acts or events which have deeper, supernatural implications. A healing was more than the reversal of injury or disease. Healing told witnesses something about the healer, the person being healed and God's mind on the matter.

Consider the woman at the well.

Wind & Waves Obey Jesus

Raise Lazarus

Signs: denotes something that gives a true indication of something else, a physical indication of divine will or supernatural activity. For the Jews, a "sign" was a visual confirmation that a prophet was authentically from God.

Deut. 18: 21-22

John 1:32-35

Luke 7:20-23

Isaiah 35:5-6

Crucified (2:23)

To hang on a tree is to be under God's curse. Deut 21:22–23“If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Petere makes I personal: "You" did this….You connived and manipulated godless people to crucify Jesus.

Where is God? Why did God let this happen? God is always active… This was not a knee jerk reaction by God. Jesus crucifixion was God being proactive.

It was appointed by God, predetermined.

Peter doesn't hold back. You manipulated, you connived to kill him

You used lawless people (pagans)

You nailed him to the tree

You killed him.

But God…

Resurrected (2:24-32)

But God… raised him (Jesus) was witnessed by many… over 500

This was a substantial and verifiable event rather than legend…as it could be verified by more than 500 people.

Ascended (2:33-34)

1 Pet 3:18–19For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison

Eph 4:8–10For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.

Glorified (2:35)

There is no "urging". Accept this truth before you die.

He simply speaks the truth and leaves the rest to the free will of the people and the working of the Holy Spirit.