Sermon Tone Analysis

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

STUDY NOTES

ACTS 2:22-36

BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES

JESUS OF NAZARETH

INTRODUCTION

Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost

Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit when He returned to the Father (John 14:26; 15:26)

It was an event that was filled with wonder and amazement, Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Peter took the opportunity to stand before the crowd and to stand up for his Lord, Act 2:14 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:

What brought about the change in Peter, the man who had denied Jesus 3 times?

(Mt.

26:69-75)

The man who would not stand for Jesus before a maid, who had stood in the crowd as a coward

Now Peter, with the disciples who had also forsook Jesus, are ready to stand and speak for Jesus

Their new-found life is proof of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, "Jesus is alive"

Disciples who had denied Jesus are willing to die for their "Living Lord," who lives in them

Peter stands before the crowd and with a loud voice, shouts, "listen to me," (without fear)

Peter no longer spoke from a mind of doubt, but from an assurance of heart, "Jesus is alive"

From a powerful voice will come a powerful message with the power of conviction (Acts 2:41)

JESUS OF NAZARETH--Act 2:22 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:

Israel, God's chosen nation, God's covenant people who were given the promise of the Messiah

The nation who claimed to long for that day of the Coming Messiah (Acts 1:6)

Peter presents to them the Messiah that they had failed to receive, and God had endorsed

He was known as "Jesus of Nazareth" who was "a man," the Messiah must be a man

If He was not a man, He could not fulfill the redemptive work of the Messiah (John 19:19)

The qualifications of a man from "Nazareth" had been questioned, Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said

unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Peter is now saying to the crowd, "Come and see," I want you to see "Jesus of Nazareth"

Jesus of Nazareth was well known by the Jews, a well-known name (Acts 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 22:8)

Peter said, "You have already seen the approval of God upon Him," evidence beyond any doubt

God put Him on public display before your very eyes, Jesus has been confirmed by God

You saw Him perform "miracles and wonders and signs" and you should have believed

John said, there could have been many more signs recorded, Joh 20:30 And many other

signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

But there has been more than enough for you to believe, Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye

might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life

through his name.

(Supernatural works of God's power was the sign that said, believe in Jesus)

Could not Peter stand before us today and say, you have heard enough, you have seen enough

Why would you not commit your life to Christ?

Jesus gave His life for you!

JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED--Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and

foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

"Him," the same man that God presented to you through signs, proving He is the Messiah

It was not just the Jews, but all wicked hands of sinful man that nailed Jesus to the cross

All according to God's eternal plan of redemption for sinful man before the world began, 2Ti 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according

to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

The only way you can understand that verse is to believe that "God is God" (His Sovereignty)

God knew before He even created man that He would have to give His Son to the cross, Joh 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(God's gift was more than the birth of His Son)

God the Father gave His Son unto the death of the cross, confirming that Jesus was the Messiah

The Jews thought that the death of Jesus on the cross proved that He was not the Messiah, but---

JESUS IS ALIVE--Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

God put an end to His death by setting Him free from "the pains of death" (Mark 16:6)

It is interesting that the word translated "pains" is the same word referring to "birth pains"

Women cry out and shed tears of suffering while bringing forth a child unto life

But then when that baby is in their arms and upon their breast, they now shed tears of joy

Jesus went to the cross knowing there would be life delivered through pain and He rejoiced,

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is now at the right hand of God because God raised Him up, "Jesus is alive"

Atheist and agnostics say it was impossible for Jesus to be raised up from the dead

God said it was impossible for death to hold Jesus, who are you going to believe?

Death could not hold Jesus because of God's promise, God's purpose, and God's power

GOD PROMISED DAVID--Act 2:25 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:

Peter quotes from Psalms 16:8-11 which presented David's deliverance and Jesus' resurrection

David had a counseling session with God, Psa 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

(Death was no threat to David)

David had a word from God and knew that it was a promise of God's eternal presence with him

Promises unto David that were based upon the fulfilled promises through Jesus of Nazareth

Death would not conquer Jesus because in three days the tomb would be empty (John 2:19)

And our risen Savior would be seated at the right hand of God for us, Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

"That I should not be moved," refers to Christ who fulfilled His work of redemption for us

Those who will believe in Jesus and receive Him will experience His power, Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

The same power of life that was manifested in the resurrection of Christ, Eph 1:20 Which he

wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Because Jesus lives, we can live with Jesus, Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

THE JOY OF HOPE--Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope (Read Psalms 16:9)

"Therefore," takes us back to the previous verse, that which is related to the previous truth

David said, no wonder my heart is filled with joy, his joy was joy because of the joy of Jesus

A heart filled with joy based upon a life filled with God's promises and God's power

In the previous verse he said, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face"

David had not seen the Lord with His physical eyes, but with the eyesight of his mind (faith)

Peter tells us what David was talking about, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

A tongue cannot be silent when the heart is filled with joy (Philippians 4:4)

David expresses something that our world so desperately needs today (eyes upon Jesus)

There are many people today whose life is filled with discouragement and despair

Those who are living with broken hearts and disturbed minds, torn apart and defeated lives

Living an outward appearance of success, putting on a show, but living a life of turmoil within

Listen to David, "my flesh shall rest in hope," if I live, I rest, if I die, I rest

"Hope" sustains me, all will be well with me whether it be life or whether it be death (Titus 2:13)

"Hope" is faith waiting to see what God is going to do next, which is exciting expectation

David knew what God was not going to do, God was not going to allow death to be victorious

David was singing "Victory In Jesus" long before it was ever written in our hymn book

VICTORY IN JESUS--Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.