Acts 2: 14-36 Part 1 (14-28)

Acts 2: 14-28

1. Ask What they remember about last week’s lesson? Where did Luke leave off? (I’m sending you dad’s notes from last week that you can look over if you want a point of reference).

2. Have someone read vs 14-21

3. Have the kids break up into small groups of no more than 4 per group (try and pair older kids with younger kids). Ask them to take a sheet of paper per group and have them underline 3 observations of the text that they liked or thought was interesting and 2 things questions that you have about the text and 1 thing that they could relate back to the gospel (Give them 8 minutes)

(This is meant to keep the kids more engaged and have them learning on their own rather than you just talking to them and them listening. Here is all my notes on this section that you can use to answer their questions as thoroughly as you can)

Phrase Questions and meanings

14. Peter, standing up with the eleven—in advance, perhaps, of the rest.

15. these are not drunken—meaning, not the Eleven, but the body of the disciples.but the third hour—nine A.M. (see Ec 10:16; Is 5:11; 1 Th 5:17).

17. in the last days—meaning, the days of the Messiah (Is 2:2); as closing all preparatory arrangements, and constituting the final dispensation of God’s kingdom on earth.pour out of my Spirit—in contrast with the mere drops of all preceding time.upon all flesh—hitherto confined to the seed of Abraham.sons … daughters … young men … old men … servants … handmaidens—without distinction of sex, age, or rank.see visions … dream dreams—This is a mere accommodation to the ways in which the Spirit operated under the ancient economy, when the prediction was delivered; for in the New Testament, visions and dreams are rather the exception than the rule.

19. I will show wonders,—referring to the signs which were to precede the destruction of Jerusalem (see on Lu 21:25–28).

21. whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved—This points to the permanent establishment of the economy of salvation, which followed on the breaking up of the Jewish state.

Peter’s Sermon

The Introduction from Joel

Acts 2:14-21 (HCSB) 14 But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

14 But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them

· “with the Eleven” – indicating that Matthias is accepted and among their number

o Also indicates that the eleven have a special role here

§ Some might argue that only the eleven were speaking in tongues- but this does not establish that: only that the eleven stood up among the others

· “raised his voice and proclaimed”

o Here, Peter is taking control – he is addressing the group – loudly to be heard

o We also see Peter assuming leadership

§ Peter will be the undeniable leader of the group throughout Acts – while Paul will lead the Gentile movement

“Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.

· Two groups addressed:

o “Men of Judah” – would be those permanently living in the area

o “residents of Jerusalem” – again, the term is katoikeo – meaning “dwellers” –

§ This is the same term used earlier, speaking of those who were “dwelling” in Jerusalem from all over the earth because of the feast

· “let me explain…pay attention”

o The people had asked a legitimate question – at least in part

§ While one group had said “they are drunk on new wine”

§ Another group had said “what is the meaning of this”

· That group understood what they were seeing was a sign – something to be understood

o Peter’s explanation will be to both groups

15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning

· He first refutes the (likely mocking) claims of the “new wine” group:

o “it’s only nine in the morning”

§ Jewish custom was that wine was only drunk in the evening

· Furthermore, 9 in the morning was an hour of prayer and the time of the regular morning sacrifice.

· Being the feast of weeks, special sacrifices were also being made, which is likely why so many were in the streets to begin with

§ No – we’re not a group of alcoholics that woke up & started right in drinking this morning

16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

· Here, people get very squirrely with their understandings

· For now:

o Note the language:

§ He did not say “this is the fulfilment of Joel”

§ He said “this is what was spoken through Joel” – there is a difference

· Peter’s note is that the things Joel spoke of are being seen here – yet without saying what is normally said “that it may be fulfilled” to indicate that Joel is actually being fulfilled in this moment

· He said rather, “this – is that”

17 And it will be in the last days, says God,

that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;

then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

18 I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy.

19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord comes.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Are these the last days?

Did God pour out his Spirit on all?

Prophesying, dreams, visions

Slaves

Signs in the heavens

Sun to darkness – DOTL

All who call will be saved

· Actually, virtually nothing from Peter’s quote is happening right here

o He is not saying “this is the fulfillment of”

o He is saying “this is the same condition as that” – regarding the pouring out of the Spirit – the filling – signs, etc.

o Joel:

§ Ch1 – the locust invasion – call for repentance

§ Ch2 – the DOTL – call for repentance

§ Ch2 end – God responds – heals – pours out his spirit (this quote)

§ Ch3 – God judges the nations – Exalts Israel

o The quote here – ties Israel to God’s favor – his pouring out his Spirit on those who repented

§ Israel (and soon the Gentiles) were receiving the promised “new covenant” – and they were seeing the manifestation of signs indicating its arrival

4. Have someone read vs 22-28

5. Have the kids break up into small groups of no more than 4 per group (try and pair older kids with younger kids). Ask them to take a sheet of paper per group and have them underline 3 observations of the text that they liked or thought was interesting and 2 things questions that you have about the text and 1 thing that they could relate back to the gospel (Give them 8 minutes)

Phrases meanings and Questions

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 2

22. a man approved of God—rather, “authenticated,” “proved,” or “demonstrated to be from God.”

by miracles … which God did by him—This is not a low view of our Lord’s miracles, as has been alleged, nor inconsistent with Jn 2:11, but is in strict accordance with His progress from humiliation to glory, and with His own words in Jn 5:19. This view of Christ is here dwelt on to exhibit to the Jews the whole course of Jesus of Nazareth as the ordinance and doing of the God of Israel [ALFORD].

23. determinate counsel and foreknowledge—God’s fixed plan and perfect foresight of all the steps involved in it.

ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain—How strikingly is the criminality of Christ’s murderers here presented in harmony with the eternal purpose to surrender Him into their hands!

24. was not possible he should be holden of it—Glorious saying! It was indeed impossible that “the Living One” should remain “among the dead” (Lu 24:5); but here, the impossibility seems to refer to the prophetic assurance that He should not see corruption.

27. wilt not leave my soul in hell—in its disembodied state (see on Lu 16:23).

neither … suffer thine Holy One to see corruption—in the grave.

28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life—that is, resurrection-life.

thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance—that is, in glory; as is plain from the whole connection and the actual words of the sixteenth Psalm.

Affirmation of Jesus’ Messiahship

His Miraculous Signs

Acts 2:22-35 (HCSB) 22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.

· “Men of Israel” – addressing them as the recipients of the promises concerning Messiah

· “Jesus…pointed out to you by God”

o “pointed out to you” – actually one Gk word:

§ Apodeiknymi(ah-pahd-deek’-noo-mee) – a compound stating lit. “from showing” – the idea (and common translation) is “approved”

§ Peter asserts that Jesus’ messiahship was demonstrated to them by God – due to Jesus’ own life & works among them

§ While at the end of Jesus’ life the Rabbi’s convinced everyone to shout “crucify” – many did believe on Jesus when seeing his works

· God “pointed out” Jesus as Messiah via:

o “miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him”

§ “miracles” – dynamesi– (doo-nah-mess’-ee) – a variant of dynamis– meaning “power” – in particular “supernatural power” that cannot be achieved by any human means – lit. here “miraculous powers”

· This term indicating the power by which works occurred

§ “wonders” – teras(teh’-rahs) “wonder” in the sense of the action itself

· This term indicating the miracles themselves – the events

§ “signs” – semeion– (say-mee’-on) “signs” or “miracles” – with emphasis on their purpose

· Root term means “indication”

· This term emphasizes the meaning behind the powerful miracles Jesus performed

· “just as you yourselves know”

o The life, works, miracles of Jesus were not a secret

§ All Israel had heard – many in Jerusalem had seen

§ While they had been told by their leaders that this man was not Messiah- they knew in fact that he had great powers and had done great works

His Resurrection

23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. 24 God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

· “delivered up”

o Here, easily understood as an accusation to the powers in Israel

· “according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge”

o Here, letting them know that this was God’s plan all along.

§ Jesus’ crucifixion was not a result of Israel’s choice – but God’s

o This phrase uses multiple direct definite articles:

§ Lit. “the (one) God’s (this) (the) determined plan”

· Article hoprecedes God – indicating that the true God was in control

· Pronoun touton (too’-ton) meaning “this” as opposed to “another”

· Article hoafter “this” and before “determined plan”

§ This overuse indicates specifically that THIS WAS GOD’S OWN CHOOSING – with no outside interference – that Jesus was crucified

o “foreknowledge” – prognosis – (prog’-no-sis) “foreknowledge” – but only used of God’s own foreknowledge – it is a pure, determined, unstoppable knowledge of the truth of what will be

§ This is the trait of omniscience – which God alone possesses

§ Furthermore, it carries the understanding of God’s omnipotence: that what will be – will be because God has foreordained it

· “you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him”

o Here, Peter none-the-less implicates Israel’s own guilt

§ While it was God’s predetermined plan – their guilt in participation of the plan is not omitted

o “lawless people” – the Romans, which the Jews appealed to for permission to kill Jesus – and who carried out the sentence on a Roman cross

o “kill him” – affirming that yes, Jesus was dead in fact

Prophetic Affirmation

25 For David says of Him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because You will not leave me in Hades or allow Your Holy One to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; You will fill me with gladness in Your presence.

· “For David says of Him”

o This quote is from Psalm 16:8-11

§ The quote is direct, except for some past tense language as Peter recalls it from David’s past tense perspective

o Peter, then, affirms that it is Messiah (Christ) – whom Peter will argue was Jesus – that David speaks of

· The quote:

· Psalm 16:8-11 (ESV) 8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

o The “I” sections here, are David speaking

o When Peter says “David says of Him” – he is referring to a particular point in which David speaks of another – “your holy one”

o The emphasis of the Psalm:

§ David is secure (the LORD is always before me…he is at my right hand…I shall not be shaken)

§ David rejoices in his security (my heart is glad…being rejoices…flesh dwells secure)

§ The reason is: two-fold:

· “for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol”

· “or let your holy one see corruption”

o Parallelism – the use of two lines of text to make one point

§ This is how Hebrew poetry was written

§ Psalms are Hebrew poetry – written in parallelism

§ The parallel here:

· “you will not abandon my soul to Sheol” – is David’s confidence

· “nor let your holy one see decay” – is spoken of another – “your holy one”

o It is the “holy one” Peter says David is speaking of Jesus