Acts Study: 2:14-21

Review:

Spirit has just been poured out on the ~120 men and women in the upper room.

This has caused a language miracle.

Jerusalem is full of Jews visiting from the nations because it is the feast of Pentecost.

Each can hear the mighty works of God being proclaimed in their own language.

This has caused confusion, with two responses from the crowd:

They are drunk!

What does this mean?

Verse 14-15: Peter begins his defense and explanation - the very first New Covenant sermon!

“...Peter, standing with the eleven...” Why standing with the eleven? (Apostolic authority/apostolic foundation of the church).

Proof that they aren’t drunk? It’s only 9:00 AM.

What should we be looking for in Peter’s Sermon? (Give opportunity for folks to answer.)

How to read the OT

How to preach a sermon

How to understand Pentecost

How to preach the gospel

Verse 16: The Pentecost was foretold in the OT!

There was also that episode w/ Moses...

Numbers 11:28–29 ESV

And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Verses 17-18: A focus on prophecy.

According to verse 17, what are the “last days”? (This current age!)

Who would receive the Spirit? (All flesh… meaning, people from every nation, etc.)

Does this mean that all flesh would prophesy? (No… but that “some of all flesh” would.)

1 Corinthians 12:28–30 ESV

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

What was/is the purpose of the gift of prophesy?

Witness to the reality of the New Covenant (miraculous component).

Build up the church (edifying component).

Do we need prophecy today? Is it a necessary component of church life?

Church history: prophecy and other miraculous gifts ceased being prominent about 200 AD or so...

Perhaps the founding of the New Covenant community was bathed in miracles, but the enduring character of the New Covenant community has the major accent on faith… ?

But we must also avoid the ditch of loosing the supernatural truths of our faith.

Verses 19-20: What do they represent? (Maybe more than one thing… Jesus’ death? Judgement of the nations?)

In context in Joel: the judgement of the Nations.

Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke: destruction of the nations.

Sun turned to darkness: judgement/wrath of God phrase.

Day of the Lord: when?

Jesus’ death was a “Day of the Lord”.

However, the emphasis here is on coming judgement.

Verse 21: conclusion: judgement is coming - call upon the Lord!

Who should they/we call upon?