Peter's Powerful Message to the Crowd
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We don’t want to simply follow the crowd. It’s easy for a crowd to become a mob.
When people, who have a destructive agenda, can influence the crowd to be motivated by anger and frustration… when that happens, really bad things happen. People die, property is damaged, fear takes root and the original problem is never solved, in fact most of the time, the problems get worse.
Violence never solves real problems… open and honest conversations do… listening, learning and working together in unity… those are the things that will accomplish something that is long lasting.
We have the power to influence others in a way that will greatly impact eternity but in order to do that, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit and let our leadership influence others.
In Acts 1, before the crowd showed up, Jesus prepared them for what was going to happen in Acts 2. Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God… spoke about HIS plan, HIS kingdom… Starting in Jerusalem, and then spreading to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. But first, they had to wait… wait for the promised gift from the Father so that they could be powerful witnesses for Jesus.
After Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples and the rest of the 120 waited. They waited in the upper room, they prayed and prepared.
Then it was the day of Pentecost… Ground Zero… the beginning when the Holy Spirit filled the church, tongues of fire, a mighty wind, and a loud noice got the attention of the crowd. That’s when they heard about the wonders of God spoken in their own native language uttered through the Holy Spirit.
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
The crowd was confused, they didn’t know how to respond or what all this meant.
Scripture said that they were bewildered, amazed and astonished. The crowd saw something that was beyond words, beyond comprehension, and they needed someone to explain what had just happened. Some even mocked them by saying…
Acts 2:13 (ESV)
13 “They are filled with new wine.”
The crowd needed answers, they needed Spirit led, Godly influence to lead them in this wonderful new season.
So God used A man who denied Jesus 3 times…
A man who was defeated, lived in fear and shame.
But after he was forgiven and restored by the resurrected Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, humble but bold…
God made Peter into a powerful and dynamic speaker who was able to respond to this confused and cynical crowd.
Peter preached a powerful message that…
Peter explained this powerful Pentecost encounter and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peter pointed them, through scripture, that Jesus is the Messiah.
Peter welcomed the conviction of the Holy Spirit that led to a salvation response.
Then Peter gave them the next steps that were simple and clear.
We may not preach to thousands but just like Peter but when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we can influence others who are confused, who need answers, who need real life transformation.
PRAY
In Vs 14 we see Peter addresses the confused crowd…
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
Peter answered the accusation by saying it was much too early in the day for these people to be drunk.
Peter explained this powerful Pentecost encounter and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peter explained this powerful Pentecost encounter and the work of the Holy Spirit.
He starts off by explaining the event the crowd witnessed by quoting from Joel 2:28–32.
Acts 2:16–18 (ESV)
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
The last days refers to the time between the ascension of Christ and the second coming of Christ. In other words, Peter is saying “from now on.”
These Jews were familiar with these prophecies like Joel’s, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
This is what you just witnessed at Pentecost. The Spirit is now at work in all people… Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor—not just to kings and priests.
Prophesying… The “prophesying” mentioned by Peter is likely not only prediction of the future but also declaration of the nature and will of God.
Visions and Dreams… God reveals HIMSELF to all people through visions and the dreams.
The point was that all this was the product of the Spirit’s work.
At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was released throughout the entire world—to men, women, slave owners, slaves, Jews, and Gentiles…
Everyone can receive the Holy Spirit. This was something that was totally revolutionary for this crowd of first-century Jews.
Then Peter continues…
Acts 2:19–20 (ESV)
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
Not all of Joel’s prophecy was happening on this particular morning.
This refers to future times… the second coming of Christ and the Tribulation period.
Peter wanted to give the full context of this prophesy but he also wanted to emphasize Joel’s final sentence.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
This was Peter’s punch line. This salvation is available to anyone. Any person who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
God’s special relationship with Israel will continue, but now it has been broadened to include everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.
We all have Access to God and this promise is for all people through Jesus Christ.
It would take time for these new believers to really understand that the “anyone” included Gentiles.
God had to work in Peter in a special way to get this message across, we see that in Acts 10.
This passage is also quoted by Paul in Romans 10:13.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The issue in salvation isn’t who a person is or what he or she has done.
Anyone who looks to the Lord for forgiveness will find it. That person will be saved. What a wonderful promise!
Peter pointed them, through scripture, that Jesus is the Messiah.
Peter pointed them, through scripture, that Jesus is the Messiah.
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.
The miracles He did and the events described by Joel, Peter connected all that to Jesus of Nazareth, the long awaited Messiah.
Many of them had heard and seen this teacher who had had been crucified or heard of the famous ministry of Jesus.
Peter said as you well know, as if his audience were familiar with Jesus and his ministry.
Peter suddenly accused his Jewish audience of murdering the Messiah.
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Vs. 23 is a perfect presentation of God’s sovereignty and people’s responsibility.
God’s prearranged plan was to bring salvation to people through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Even putting Jesus to death fulfilled God’s plan but the people were responsible and were guilty.
Guilty because they blindly rejected their Messiah and had allowed their leaders to kill him. It was as if Peter were pointing his finger at the crowd and shouting, “You nailed him to the cross and murdered him.”
It is possible that some in Peter’s audience were actually part of the mob that shouted, “Crucify him!” but not everybody.
Both Jews and “lawless Gentiles” alike—share the blame for Christ’s death.
Our sins sent him to Calvary.
He was nailed to the cross for our crimes.
He was punished in our place.
But that’s not the end of the story…
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
The murdered Messiah had not stayed dead. God raised him up, and many people could testify to having seen the risen Christ.
Many people in the crowd had been in Jerusalem fifty days earlier at Passover and have seen or heard about the crucifixion of this “great teacher.”
Notice here that the Resurrection is attributed to God himself. “God raised HIM us…” The Resurrection is a foundational part of the preaching of Acts.
The grave could not keep the author of life. Peter phrased it appropriately: it was impossible for the author of life to be held by the power of the grave!
Peter continued his witness to Jesus’ Messiahship by quoting David from Psalm 16:8–11.
David speaks of Jesus’ resurrection.
Acts 2:25–28 (ESV)
25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Peter explained that David was not writing about himself because David had died and was buried.
The crowd would would have walked right past his tomb.
David was prophesying about Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“decay” which emphasized that Jesus’ body had not been left to decay in the grave but was resurrected and glorified.
Peter wanted his audience to realize that David was predicting the resurrection of the Messiah.
Peter then explains this further…
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Peter clearly and boldly spoke about the Resurrection. As Peter preached, these events as if they were still hot news. All this happened less than two months ago.
Christ’s execution had been carried out in public before many witnesses.
His empty tomb was available for inspection just a short distance away.
If Christ had not truly died, Peter’s message would have been laughed at or even ignored. If Christ had not been resurrected, authorities could have produced his body and put an end to this new faith.
But Peter and the apostles had witnessed the risen Christ.
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
David predicted Jesus’ power and authority over all.
Not only is Christ the predicted one in the psalms; not only had he risen from the grave; he now sits in the most authoritative, sovereign position in the universe.
Jesus had authority to pour out the Holy Spirit on us
That is why Jesus had the authority to pour out the Spirit that you yourselves are seeing and hearing today.
Acts 2:34–35 (ESV)
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Jesus has authority over HIS enemies.
In Psalm 110:1, again David was not speaking of himself but of Christ.
This verse is the most frequently quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament (thirteen times) and was the primary text used to explain the exaltation of Christ.
God promised to make Jesus’ enemies a footstool. This pictures Christ as completely victorious over HIS enemies. This shows that the Father approves of HIS work.
Jesus’ honor cannot be superseded and Peter warned his listeners that they should not want to be numbered any longer among the “enemies” of this one who was now high and lifted up.
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter welcomed the conviction of the Holy Spirit that led to a salvation response.
Peter welcomed the conviction of the Holy Spirit that led to a salvation response.
The people were deeply moved and asked, “What shall we do?”
It is not enough to be sorry for our sins—we must let God forgive them; then we must live like forgiven people.
Remember: God didn’t give his truth to merely provide more information; instead, HE wants transformation.
Then Peter gave them the next steps.
Then Peter gave them the next steps.
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In answer to the people’s question, Peter presented a fourfold challenge:
Turn from your sins
Turn to God
Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
TURN FROM YOUR SINS
In other words, “repent.” meaning “change your outlook” or “change your mind.”
This is not just sorrow or even sorrow for sin but an actual change in the way a person thinks.
It is a basic and wholehearted change of mind that results in a change of purpose, direction, and values. But that’s not the end, we must then…
2. Turn to God—
It does no good to turn from sin without turning to the one who can solve the sin problem.
3. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins—
John the Baptist had called for baptism as a sign of repentance and a changed heart—an external, nonverbal expression or celebration of an inward reality.
For believers, baptism is visible proof of repentance and commitment to follow Jesus, the Messiah.
Baptism doesn’t result in forgiveness of sins but rather our forgiveness of sins is a result of accepting Jesus as our Savior which should result in a baptism—an outward display of an inner conviction.
Repentance, not baptism, is what brings forgiveness.
4. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit—
Only through the coming of the Holy Spirit into believers’ hearts can they truly experience forgiveness of sin.
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. As Jesus had promised, he is the Comforter and the one who guides HIS people.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
This promise of the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer has a personal application (for you), a generational application (and your children), and a global application (for all who are far off).
Luke recorded no more of Peter’s words to the gathered crowd except to say that Peter kept talking for a long time (with many other words), warning and pleading with the people to be saved.
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Three thousand people believed and took the step of faith in Christ.
Those who believed … were baptized—they took that first step of obedience, publicly identifying themselves with Christ. And they were added to the church; that is, they immediately joined the fellowship of believers.
Take Away: