A Study in Acts...Chapter 2 (2)

Simon Peter’s Sermon...

Peter’s Pentecost message contains a pattern for the proclamation of this Gospel. The Old Testament Prophecy found in Joel is fulfilled on this particular Pentecost. It technically marks the beginning of the Last Days!

Acts: A Logion Press Commentary a. Joel’s Prophecy Fulfilled 2:14–21

When Peter and the 11 other apostles (including Matthias) stood to their feet, the 120 immediately ceased speaking in tongues. Then the whole crowd gave their attention to Peter. Still anointed by the Spirit, he “raised his voice” and proceeded to address (Gk. apephthenxato, “speak out to”) the crowd. The word used for this speaking is from the same verb used of the speaking in tongues in Acts 2:4. It suggests that Peter spoke in his own language (Aramaic) as the Spirit enabled him.52 In other words, what follows is not a sermon in the ordinary sense of the word. Certainly, Peter did not sit down and figure out three points. Rather, this was a spontaneous manifestation of the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12:10; 14:3).

The New King James Version (Chapter 12)

1 Cor. 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

The New King James Version (Chapter 14)

1 Cor. 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

This gift of Prophecy is meant to strengthen the believers faith, spiritual life, and moral resolve to remain faithful to Jesus and His teachings. What Prophecy isn’t, is a prepared sermon. In other words the Holy Spirit gave him the words to speak right there on the spot. Prophetic word is given under the impulse of the Holy Spirit for the edification of an individual or congregation.

The New King James Version Chapter 2

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

21 And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the LORD

Shall be saved.’

Jesus is both Lord and Christ - crucified, resurrected, and exalted...God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Heb 1:1–4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father where He recieved authority to pour out His Holy Spirit on believers.

Everyone must place his or her faith in Jesus as Lord, repent of their sins, and be baptized in connection with the forgiveness of their sins...17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 3:17–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Believers must expect the promised Holy Spirit baptism after faith and repentance.

Those that hear in faith must separate themselves from this world and its corrupt generation.

Jesus will return to restore God’s Kingdom completely.

The New King James Version Chapter 2

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face,

For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

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

‘The LORD said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts: A Logion Press Commentary c. Peter Calls for Repentance 2:37–40

The essence of Peter’s pleading was that they should save themselves (rather, “be saved”) or “let yourself be saved”91 “from this corrupt [Gk. skolias, “perverse, crooked, twisted, vicious”] generation.” Namely, they should turn away from the perversity and corruptness of those around them who were rejecting the truth about Jesus and living for self. (See Deut. 32:5; Ps. 78:8 and the words of Jesus in Matt. 12:39; 16:4; 17:17; 23:33–36; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:41; 11:29; 17:25.) There is no other antidote to the perversity and corruptness of contemporary society.

The message is simple, and powerful! Receive Jesus Christ and His forgiveness, Repent of your sins, receive His gift of the Holy Spirit and be saved from this world!!!