5. PENTECOST - PETER'S SERMON - Acts 2:14-28

 

The narrative in Acts now moves on beyond the actual coming of the Holy Sprit to Peter’s explanation to the crowd that had gathered of what had actually taken place before them. In fact his explanation takes the form of a sermon, for Peter takes the opportunity presented to Him by the Holy Spirit to preach the first sermon of the new church era. As a result of this sermon 3000 people would be added to the church. The church era had begun and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ continued.

 

Please Read Acts 2:14-28

 

Verse 14: With all the confusion in the crowd as to what had actually just taken place and with the various false reports of what had taken place being spread by various ones in the crowd (1:12,13), the apostles sought to explain what had happened. They all stood as one, with Peter as the spokesman on their behalf, seeking the attention of the gathered crowd. Peter then raised his voice in order to be heard.

What should be noted at the outset of this sermon is the change that had already come over Peter. Here was a man who had fled the cross now rising and speaking with great boldness and confidence, in order to bear witness (1 Pet 3:15) to the coming of the Spirit and the risen Christ. He was now prepared to confess the faith before men hostile to it.

Verse 15: The first thing Peter does is answer to the charge of drunkenness that had been raised by various ones in the crowd and rejects it. Indeed, Peter even ridicules the charge, it being so early in the day that no one could possibly be drunk at such a time as 9.00am.

Verse 16: Rather than drunkenness, Peter explains that the event that had taken place was instead a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The prophecy fulfilled was one that these devout Jewish people were sure to know. The passage that Peter quotes in the following verses is Joel 2:28-32 and according to Peter it had been fulfilled before these very witnesses on that very day.

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: Explain the significance of verse 17 to what had occurred in this event?

 

Verse 17-21: With the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the last days had been entered into according to Peter, as spoken of in the prophesy from Joel (Joel 2:28,29; Heb 1:2; 1 Pet 1:20; 1 Jn 2:18). What this indicates is that what the Scriptures refer to as the last days has already begun and that 2000 years ago. We are therefore drawing near to the very last day.

The significance of the various groupings that are listed in this verse is that there would be no classification of people that would not receive the Spirit of God, for God has now abundantly poured out His Spirit upon people from every people group throughout the world. Previously it had been the Jewish kingdom alone that had enjoyed the work of the Spirit and specifically those called to peculiar office. Now people from throughout the world will experience the fullness of the Spirit and that being all within the kingdom also, the Spirit being not reserved for those in peculiar office alone. All within the church (as verse 18 makes clear) will now enjoy the full abundance of the Spirit of God in their lives.

Yet the passage also indicates that there will be some form of a universal gift of prophecy as a result of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. But what does this actually mean? Are we to expect an abundance of ‘charismatic-like’ gifts? The answer to that is no. Rather than expecting some supernatural gift of prophesy, the passage actually indicates to us that all who receive the Spirit will be able to prophesy about the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel. If it is the ‘charismatic-like’ gifts why is that not all prophesy in such a manner (remembering that the spiritual work spoken of here is as a result of the sovereign work of God and not of a man’s faith)? Surely the explanation lies elsewhere.

The gifts spoken of here in prophetic and symbolic Old Testament language are simply the results of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit within. As was common in Old Testament Scripture the future day of the church was couched in Old Testament terminology and symbolism. Through the means of such revelations and visions as mentioned in the prophecy of Joel, God revealed Himself to men. All that is meant here is that all within the church will be able to speak the truth concerning the work of God as a result of the work of the Spirit within each believer. Each believer will understand the truth and be able to tell others (Jer 31:34) concerning that which was previously unknown to them and others, being the vehicles through which the message of God would reach others.

The passage goes on to mention various end times imagery that certain schools of thought like to interpret as being literal future events, but again this is Old Testament prophetic language and symbolism rather than actual literal events. The idea is to inspire fear and to provoke the ungodly to flee to the Lord before all is lost. The wrath of God is a dreadful thing to be feared and so these pictures are meant to provoke the ungodly to horror and terror that they might yet flee to Christ for salvation. Those that do will indeed be saved.

QUESTION: In what way does the New Testament era differ to that of the Old Testament era as regards the Holy Spirit?

 

Verse 22: Having quoted Joel Peter again calls upon the crowd to hear what he has to say, this time concerning the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The amazing event at Pentecost was evidence enough that God was doing something there that day and the people should hear what Peter had to say. Yet it wasn’t just the events of that day that demanded a hearing for the message of the apostles, for the Jews had already experienced the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, which had been attested to by supernatural signs (Jn 5:32-37; 8:18; Acts 1:3) that the people had themselves seen. That Jesus should be heard as a Messenger from God was clearly attested by signs pointing to His origin.

Peter firstly identifies the Jesus that he is talking about, making it very clear that it is the Jesus that came from Nazareth (Jn 19:19), the one that performed these great miracles, wonders and signs. Here was undeniable proof that Jesus came from God (Jn 3:2) and that He should have been heard. Here were supernatural events that amazed the witnesses of them, clearly pointing to the divine origin of the Lord Jesus Christ. These were works that God did through the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 5:17-20,30,36; 8:28; 14:10), pointing to the nature and truth of the Trinity, and the divine origin of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What Peter is seeking to do here is appeal to the consciences of those gathered, reminding them again that they knew of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His origin.

QUESTION: How is Peter’s address in verse 22 an appeal to the consciences of his listeners?

 

Verse 23: Peter now clearly drives home the point of the Jewish involvement in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. They knew who He was through these undeniable supernatural signs, yet they put Him to death. Surely the consciences of the gathered crowd of devout men and women were being sorely tested here.

Yet it wasn’t a mere human act that put the Lord of glory to death, for it was all according to the plan and will of God Himself (Acts 4:27,28; 13:27-29; 2 Tim 1:9; Rev 13:8). All that brought about the death of Jesus was included in the plan of God in order to save sinners. He was willingly given over to the sinful designs of men in order to accomplish the Lord’s plan of saving sinners. It is important to note that the death of Christ would never have happened if it were outside the decree of God.

Why was Jesus killed? Was it because sinners did what they wanted to do only? Did God take advantage of seeing this in history and therefore use it to His advantage? This event took place because of the determined will and foreknowledge of God, not because He saw that it would happen in the future. Here is clear Scriptural evidence that foreknowledge is so much more than simply knowing beforehand, for it involves actual action in order to bring something about (that being the reason it is known beforehand). Yet the passage is clear that the human hands that put Jesus to death actually bear the guilt of their ungodly act.

Verse 24: In this verse Peter continues to explain the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to his hearers. Though put to death by the ungodly in the plan of God, God raised Jesus from the dead, providing more proof of His divine origin and claims. Indeed, how could it be possible for Jesus to be held by the chains of death? He was God and could not possibly be held by death, for He is eternal. He is the Author of life.

Verses 25-28: To further confirm his teaching Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11. Though this is a Psalm of David’s, through inspiration it is in fact the voice of the Messiah that speaks in it. Therefore the prophecy is not about David but about the Messiah. David’s body has in fact seen corruption, adding further proof that this prophecy was not about him. The one prophesised of in this verse would not see such corruption and this Peter applies specifically to the Lord Jesus Christ.

With steadfast trust in the Father, the Messiah knew that He would not remain dead forever. Indeed the Messiah knew of the great glory and joy that would eventuate because of His death and resurrection and willingly faced that purpose of His coming (Heb 12:2). The Father was always with Him, enabling Him to face the cross.

 

Individual Discovery

Why does Peter speak about David as being dead and buried in verse 29?

 

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17/10/2006

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