Acts Bible Study - 2/10/2021
Study of Acts 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
I like the phrase in Verse 5 that there were people there from every nation under heaven. There are really 2 ways you can look at this phrase. The 1st would be literal, people from every nation at that time. The 2nd way would be that it was a figure of speech. Something like us saying in modern times “people came from everywhere” to see something.
Some commentators & scholars have suggested that the Feast of Pentecost may have brought more than 200,000 people here. The important take away from this verse however is not about the size of the crowd but rather the make up of the crowd. These were Jewish people, from outside of Palestine, who had settled in Jerusalem.
One side note is the fact that these people were dwelling in Jerusalem. Some interject the question, why would there be a need for the Spirit to communicate in multiple tongues? Well, if these people were living there for a while it does not necessarily mean they all spoke & understood the same language. Even if they did understand Aramaic & Greek, which were the common languages spoke in Jerusalem at this time, they may have been more comfortable using their own language.
I think of Brother Diego who speaks English quite well. But when he preaches God’s Word he usually does so in Spanish & utilizes an interpreter. Why? Because he feels he is a much better communicator in Spanish opposed to English. It is the same thought here. Even if these people from far off places understood Aramaic it does not change the fact that a supernatural event took place of the Apostles being able to speak in a different tongue or the people being able to hear in their native tongue depending on how you view this miracle.
But back to the fact that the size of the crowd was not the driving factor but rather the diversity of the crowd is more important. There was no exclusivity. There was no clear divisions of this multitude that assembled together. They had come from all over the Roman controlled lands including the Near East, Asia, north Africa, Rome, the islands (Crete), and the desert (Arabia).
Now this supernatural event taking place also demonstrates God’s grace. Far past the comforts of just being able to hear in their native languages there was something on an even grander scale put on display by God.
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Due to man’s rejection of God’s command and blessing found in Genesis Chapter 9 Verse 7, we now see in Genesis 11 that God scattered them about and causing confusion in their communication. Back to Acts Chapter 2, this miracle of the people hearing in their native tongue shows the mercy & grace of God because it offers a glimpse of what communication was like prior to the scattering at Babel.
Now what drew all of these people together? Well, as we discussed last week, it was an abrupt sound like rushing wind descending from Heaven. I can remember in 2011 when we had the 5.8 magnitude earthquake. That was the biggest earthquake I had ever experienced. One thing I never associated with an earthquake was the rumbling noise that came before the ground beneath you began to shake. I don’t know about you, but when the sound came then the trembling of the ground occured, I went outside. I don’t know what I had hoped to find by making my way outside but that is where I went.
I imagine I am not the only one who had that reaction. Here, this no doubt was the reaction of people who heard a sound like rushing wind descend from Heaven. The sound brought them there. But it was the words being shared that kept their attention. God’s Word says they were amazed and marvelled at what was being spoken.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
You see that there was not a universal response to hearing about the mighty works of God. Much like sharing the Gospel today, there are some people who will inquire to know more, others will mock & ridicule. When something occurs that is difficult to understand there are many who will simply write it off as an easy explanation. For the mockers, they simply attributed the things that were taking place to drunkenness. They said it was due to “new wine” which means recently pressed grape juice, either ready for fermentation or having just begun to ferment.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Peter suddenly found some courage to immediately address the people of Jerusalem to clarify that what was occuring was not because of wine. Why is it important to highlight the courage of Peter? Because while operating with the strength of his own flesh, he denied Christ 3 times. However now equipped with the Spirit, he confidently stands up to declare the truth.
At first what he says may seem like a little tongue & cheek humor because he said of course they are not drunk, it’s only 9 in the morning. But this was not an attempt at stand up comedy. The truth of the matter is that a Jew would not stop fasting until 10 on feast days. So, by drinking wine before 9 they would be violating the fast.
We then see Peter go on to recite Joel.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids In those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, Blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, As the Lord hath said, And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Peter must have viewed this passage as transpiring in part at Pentecost. Here we have men and women, young and old who gathered in Jerusalem after the ascension of Jesus who had experienced the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and subsequently proclaimed God’s wonders. Peters explanation for the worship that was taking place was that The Spirit had come.
He follows up with this next transitional phrase and in one way his next point.
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
When it came to the life of Jesus here on earth, this was the conclusion to the beginning. With the Crucifixion, Resurrection, & Ascension of Christ it had now become the beginning of the end for earth. The events of Pentecost demonstrate to the Jewish audience that the promises made to them are fulfilled in Jesus, who is the true Messiah, and that the time of the last days had begun.
The people had now entered the New Covenant age where prophecy had been renewed in fulfillment after 400 years. God was moving & at work amongst His people once again. Pentecost had proven this as fact.
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The disciples had prayed for the gift of the Holy Sprit & now their prayers were answered. They are filled with the Holy Ghost. They are now enabled to do the will of God.
When sharing from the scriptures in Joel, Peter is declaring that the Lord is in fact Jesus Christ. Peter, now being the spokesman for the 12 apostles, called all who could hear him to turn to the Savior, the Messiah, and subsequently finding life through His name. This will be a message that is echoed and reiterated throughout the Book of Acts.
What is important to note here is that most of the adults in Jerusalem knew about the arrest, trial, & crucifixion of Jesus. They had also heard the chatter of a supposed official announcement that Jesus’ Followers had stolen the body to make people think that what Jesus had said about being raised from the dead was genuine.
Throughout Verses 22 - 35 we see Peter presenting evidence to prove that Jesus was in fact who He said He was.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
The 1st piece of evidence presented was the fact that Jesus was a real person that they had seen. These verses shed light on Jesus’ earthly ministry and how there was evidence to prove He was who He had claimed to be. Those 3 categories of evidence are shown in Verse 22. They were miracles, wonders, & signs. The people had seen Jesus was a person from the town of Nazareth who had done supernatural things like feed thousands with morsels of food, heal the sick, even raise the dead. They had seen how He conducted His life and found no fault in Him.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
The 2nd piece of evidence offered is that Jesus was prophesied about. Peter, again quoting scriptures, this time from Psalm 16. These verses could not apply directly to David so we see that David was writing about the Messiah where His body would not be trapped in the grave were it would decay.
Peter did not use the Psalm to prove the resurrection but instead affirmed that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
With this Peter again shows courage by saying the 3rd piece of evidence was that they were 1st hand witnesses. But is that really important? Couldn’t they just being going along for potential gain from a prestige, political, or [pee-cue-na-rary] aspect?
Absolutely they were trustworthy because they themselves were skeptics who had to be persuaded.
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
It is also important to highlight that they would not in fact gain anything by declaring this if it were a lie. What they were saying was going against government officials. We will see that they faced being thrown in prison and even death. As one commentator puts it, “A few fanatics might be willing to believe and promote a lie for a time, but when thousands believe a message, and when that message is backed up by miracles, you cannot easily dismiss it. These witnesses were trustworthy.”
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
The 4th piece of evidence presented was the appearance of the Holy Spirit. This was the thought process of Peter. The Holy Spirit being present in the world must be sent from God. Joel had given prophecy of the presence of the Holy Sprit and Jesus had also said He would send the Holy Spirit to His people. If Jesus were dead then the Spirit would not be sent so He must be alive. Also, if He were alive then He must have been in Heaven because He would be unable to send the spirit without being there.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
He rests on the proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah followed by the allegation that “you crucified Him”. However, thankfully Peter while being led by Spirit did not stop there, he goes in the next few verses explaining the reason all of this took place. That’s where we will pick back up next week.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 2:17). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Gangel, K. O. (1998). Acts (Vol. 5, p. 27). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Polhill, J. B. (1998). Acts. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary (p. 502). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 410). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.