Acts 2:14-41

Text

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “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— 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. 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; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “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. 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, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 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. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 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?” 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. 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.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2

Introduction

Last time -

a turning point in history

the disciples had been praying for the Holy Spirit to come

suddenly he came

His coming was manifested in signs that were compared to wind and fire - both elements that are used in Scripture to represent the presence of God

Whenever man is visited by the presence of God, something incredible happens

Thats what we saw - having received the Holy Spirit, they were empowered

and the first thing they did was exactly what Jesus promised they would do when they received the Spirit - they began witnessing

Only 1 problem - there were Jews there from every nation

The miracle: the Holy Spirit gave them utterance, and the 120 Christians began speaking in the different languages of everyone there, so that everyone could understand the gospel in his own language.

This caused a massive commotion

At this opportunity, Peter stands up in front of this crowd and delivers the first sermon

1. The Explanation

Peter corrects the mockery

You will remember last time that there were 2 reactions

some reacted with awe and wonder - how are they doing this?

but others mocked, saying they are drunk with wine

Some today hold that verse to mean that the disciples were actually in a state of drunkeness

the whole charismatic and pentecostal movements were basically born out of an interpretation that says that

They’re missing the the point - and an important word

the people who were accusing the disciples of being drunk were “mocking”

Peter is now correcting their mocking

His response?

These people are not drunk, as you suppose

He proves they weren’t:

Its only the 3rd hour of the day - 9am

So what is it then?

So Peter begins his sermon by explaining what is happening

This is

Points to prophecy / Scripture

The best way to preach - use the Scripture

The best way to understand your experiences - examine them with Scripture!

there is a tendency these days to interpret the bible according to our experience and the claimed experiences of others

this is not what we should do

we need to examine our experiences in light of Scripture

and if the Scripture says what you experienced is not biblical - you need to discern your experiences as something that was not from God

What you are seeing here today is the fulfillment of Scripture!

Peter points to

The pouring out of God’s Spirit in the last days (this is what has just happened)

What does speak about?

the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the last days

Joel 2:28–29 ESV

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Joel 2:28

This is what is being experienced

The promise of the Holy Spirit coming in the last days did not begin with Jesus words in the gospels - God has been promising this would happen since the OT

The promise is that God will pour out his Spirit not only on certain men chosen by God to be His prophets, like Moses, but He will pour out his Spirit on ALL of his people

so that ALL can be prophets and proclaim the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth

so that not just certain men chosen to be prophets, but ALL of God’s people would be equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Jesus witnesses and proclaim the truth about God

Not just that - the coming judgement of God

and he said that he wishes that all would be prophets

Not just that - the coming judgement of God

Joel 2:30–31 ESV

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Joel 2:30-

Some have interpreted these signs and wonders in the heavens to be signs of God doing something wonderful

But these are signs of judgment

You see we have a tendency to quote scripture out of context, but I assure you that Peter and the apostles were not in the habit of twisting scripture

Peter quoted Joel in context, we have to know the context

The context of Joel is that God is announcing judgement on Israel for their rebellion

and God says to them in that because of their rebellion, God is going to send destruction to them in the form of other nations who are going to destroy them

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Blow a trumpet in Zion;

sound an alarm on my holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,

2  a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness!

In chapter 2, through the mouth of the prophet Joel, God calls Israel to repentance

English Standard Version Chapter 2

15  Blow the trumpet in Zion;

consecrate a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

16  gather the people.

Consecrate the congregation;

assemble the elders;

gather the children,

even nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her chamber.

17  Between the vestibule and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep

and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,

and make not your heritage a reproach,

a byword among the nations.

So when we come to and Peter is now quoting from , we must understand that God’s wrath against rebellion and his call for his people to repent and turn to him are very much a part of the context.

IN FACT, what does Peter now say after quoting ?

Peter reveals to the massive crowd of Jews now standing and listening intentively to him, that THEY are the very people who are living in rebellion against God

A call to repentance

THEY are the ones against whom God is coming in judgment

A promise of salvation for all who call out to God

Culpibility - Peter reveals to them that they are under the wrath and judgment of God

Acts 2:22 ESV

“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—

They knew who Jesus is, they saw the signs he did - they just didn’t want to acknowledge that Jesus really was the Messiah, because of the implications it would have for them.

Acts 2:23 ESV

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

They knew who Jesus is, they saw the signs he did - “as you yourselves know”

Acts 2:23

YOU crucified him - The Romans (lawless men) performed it, but you handed him over

YOU crucified him - The Romans (lawless men) performed it, but you handed him over

[you didn’t kill Jesus, but it was your sin, our rebellion that made his death necessary]

So Peter is explaining...

What’s happening around you is what Joel spoke about

firstly, that God is going to pour out his spirit on his people so that they can be his witnesses

but BEFORE you think that the Spirit is going to be poured out on YOU, you must understand.....

there has to be a repentance!

You need to understand that God is coming in judgment against sin and that great and terrible day of the Lord is near

And what greater sin can there be, than taking the Messiah and crucifying and killing him

In fact - the tongues speaking that was going on around them at this point was itself a sign of judgment

I want you to have a look at Paul’s interpretation of tongues speaking in

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 ESV

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

1 Corinthians 10:21–22 ESV

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1

Paul is quoting - and this is his interpretation of it in verse 23:

Speaking in tongues is not a sign for believers, but a sign for unbelievers

When the apostles received the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit according to , and began to speak in other tongues in Jerusalem, it was a sign of judgment to the unbelieving Jews

Pentecost is the announcement of the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all of His people...

and the beginning of the last days … the days leading up to great and terrible day of the Lord when He comes to bring vengeance

But instead, they were unfaithful and rebellious

At Pentecost, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto the apostles and them speaking in strange tongues to all the foreigners there, G

People present: see what is happening here as a threat of coming judgment and a call to repentance

You knew that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah

But YOU murdered him. YOU crucified Him and killed him

YOUR sin put Jesus on a cross, and made him have to suffer and die

YOU are responsible

YOU are accountable

2. The Exaltation

But in case now that anybody should think that all is lost and that God’s plan for the Messiah has been overthrown by wicked men....

Peter now moves from the explanation of what has happened and into an exaltation of Jesus, the risen Lord

You see, the Jews and Romans crucified Jesus - they are responsible, there is no doubt about it.

but Peter is also careful to point out that Jesus was (verse 23) delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God

It was God’s plan all along for Jesus to come as a dying Saviour - you haven’t thwarted God’s plans

God has been pointing to this happening since

all throughout the Old Testamant

Noah and the flood

The exodus

The raising of the serpent on a pole in the desert

David and Goliath

You see there is both man’s responsibility, and God’s sovereignty

Jesus death was according to the definite plan and foreknowledge - the sovereign will of God

but at the same time, the men whose sin put him there are fully responsible for it

God knew this was going to happen and He ordained it

But now Peter explains: this Jesus who YOU crucified and killed, God also raised up according to His definite plan

English Standard Version Chapter 2

24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Again, Peter goes to Scripture to show that what he is saying is not his own interpretation but it comes straight out of God’s Word

English Standard Version Chapter 2

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

And now he quotes David’s

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.’

You will not abandon your holy one to death

He will die, but he won’t be abandoned there and stay dead

His body will be dead long enough even to see any corruption - any decay

Peter is quick to point out - David wasn’t talking about himself -

Everybody knows where his tomb is - you can go there now and you will find his body, and I can assure you, the decay has properly set in

But David was a prophet - He was speaking about his descendant who He knew God had sworn an oath to him would sit on the throne forever

so speaking as a prophet under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David foretold that since his descendant would sit on the throne forever....

He would never be able to be held by death - God would raise him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it

Peter now says in verse 32 ...

English Standard Version Chapter 2

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

This Jesus whom you crucified, is the Messiah!

He is the one David spoke of!

He was raised up just as David foresaw would happen, and we are all witnesses to it

And everything you are seeing around you today is even further evidence that Jesus is the Lord...

Verse 33

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

Jesus is the one the Scriptures have been telling us about and pointing to -

and He is now the exalted Lord at the right hand of God

being at the right hand of God meaning that all authority has been given to Him

He is Lord

Again Peter points to Scripture to make his point - he quotes David again from

English Standard Version Chapter 2

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

35  until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

Then comes the climax of Peter’s sermon - the exaltation of Jesus in verse 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.”

God has fulfilled his promise in

According to his definite plan and foreknowledge, He has sent the Saviour

He delivered Him up to die

And He raised Him up again

And He seated him at the right hand of God

Giving him all authority in heaven and on earth, and making Him Lord of all

....this Jesus whom YOU crucified

And this LORD is coming, dear people

The great and terrible day of the Lord is coming when He will come in judgement, and he will make his enemies his footstool

According to the plan of God, Jesus came

God raised him up

As prophesied (again - pointing to Scripture)

Not about David - he isn’t exalted, Jesus is

Right hand of God - ultimate authority

JESUS IS LORD

proved by the resurrection

verse 36

JESUS IS LORD - and he is coming in judgment, and God is going to make His enemies his footstool - this is the story of Joel as well!

3. The Exhortation

English Standard Version Chapter 2

37 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?”

Response - cut to the heart!

this is appropriate!

They have been brought under conviction for their sin

This is exactly what the signs in and the events of Pentecost are calling people to...

REPENT

Let it be known that the gospel has not been preached if you have not mentioned sin and brought people under conviction for their sins against the exalted Lord

What shall we do??

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

REPENT!

Same as

Same as

All you elders and priests and people, repent and turn away from your sin

There cannot be salvation until you have turned away from your sin and turned to God

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.

In that was the promise that Peter quoted earlier in his sermon...

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Exhortation & Promise:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.”

Repent of your sins and you will receive:

forgiveness of your sins

YOU will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (as we did)

the gift of the Holy Spirit

YOU will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (as we did)

The promise is for YOU, and for your children -

Matthew 27:24–26 ESV

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

all who are far off - the story of Acts… Jesus welcoming all, Jew and Gentile

Everyone the Lord Calls - Genesis

Conclusion

Pentecost is about Jesus

we’ve made it about supernatural signs accompanying the Holy Spirit and all sorts of things not even found in this passage

but in truth, Pentecost is about the fulfillment of God’s promise to send the Saviour, and secure salvation for His people.

The coming of the Holy Spirit is the announcement of the fulfilment of these things and the beginning of the last days

The Holy Spirit has come to equip God’s people - all those who repent of their sins and turn to God

- to be Jesus witnesses in these last days - to proclaim that Jesus is both Lord and Saviour -

THAT is what it means to be a Pentecostal Christian

We can learn from Peter’s sermon, and use the outline as a help in proclaiming the gospel to others

An explanation - of the story of God from Creation to the Fall, the rebellion of all people, Jesus’ birth to His death

The exaltation - Jesus didn’t stay dead - He rose from the dead, with witnesses, and proved that He is Lord. As Lord, He is coming in judgment of all who have rebelled against Him

The Exhortation - REPENT: turn from your rebellion and sin, and turn to God and call out to Him, and He will forgive you and save you.

BELIEVE His promise that forgiveness is for everyone who responds to His call - and be assured because forgiveness was paid for in full in Jesus on the cross. Forgiveness will not be withheld.

BE BAPTISED as an outward sign of your conviction and confession.

Forgiveness will not be withheld. BE BAPTISED as an outward sign of your conviction and confession.

But today’s sermon is not just a lesson on how to proclaim the gospel

BE BAPTISED as an outward sign of your conviction and confession.

Believer’s - honour Jesus as both Saviour AND Lord

Praise Jesus for coming to our rescue

Praise Jesus for fulfilling God’s plan to redeem us by dying for us

It was his death in our place that satisfied God’s wrath and paid the price that was due

Praise Jesus who was raised from the dead in glory as Lord

Praise Jesus by honouring Him as Lord

You cannot have Jesus only as Saviour - If you are not seeking to honour Jesus as Lord, then He is not your Saviour

Honour Him as Lord by proclaiming Him as Lord

Those who are unsure - be sure of this. The first time Jesus came, he came as a baby. But the second time he comes, he is coming as the Risen King and as a Roaring Lion.

He is coming to bring judgment on His enemies - and you need to realise that if you are not His child, YOU are His enemy

There is nobody who is

He is the LORD, and you have spent your life rebelling against Him in every imaginable way

Because He is Holy, He is coming in wrath and in burning anger to bring justice against His enemies and the enemies of His people

You won’t be destroyed - you have to understand, He is eternal, his justice is eternal

The fire of his wrath burns forever

But it is not too late

H

Repent of your sins and call upon Him

Repent and turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins

English Standard Version Chapter 2

everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

EVERYONE - even those who committed the greatest sin of all

If they can be forgiven and receive the promise of forgiveness and eternal life, and the promised Holy Spirit, then so can you

Pentecost is the fulfillment of God’s fore-ordained plan to

Pentecost is the fulfillment of God’s fore-ordained plan to

send His Son to die for the wicked

Raise him from the dead

Pour out his Spirit on believers

to empower us to be Jesus’ witnesses to all who are far off

The central focus is on Jesus - He is the resurrected Christ and exalted LORD. Judgement day is coming when He will bring justice to his enemies

REPENT & believe - and you will receive the promise