Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Have you heard the expression “Knowledge is power”?

It is first attributed to Sir Francis Bacon in 1597.

I have definitely found this to be true in my own life.

I would venture to say that we all have.

I am reminded of this fact frequently because we tend to have car problems pretty often.

Every time something breaks on one of our vehicles it is a painful and costly reminder that the knowledge a mechanic has is greater than mine.

At the same time, the few things I have been able to fix on my own have given me knowledge and increased my power to work on my own vehicles!

Let me give you an example.

A couple years ago an O2 sensor went out in our car.

The shop wanted several hundred dollars to replace it.

Instead, I took it out to Leo Sutton’s and we learned how to change it together (S)!

The more you know, the greater your power and ability.

This truth directly translates into the Christian life.

In Paul states that everything he has ever gained, as far as wordly accomplishments go, is worthless compared to knowing Christ!

Paul says that the highest honor and greatest gain is knowing Christ!

It is as we pursue an intimate knowledge of Christ that we grown in the Christian life.

Today, we are going to learn about Christ.The first section of the book of Acts deals with… 1.

The Spread Of The Gospel In Jerusalem Chs.

1-8:3.

As we have examined this section over the past few months we have learned of… a.

The Preparation Of The Disciples To Preach Ch. 1. From there we have moved into a discussion of… b.

The Enabling Of The Disciples To Preach Ch. 2. There are three ways they are enabled.

So far, we have looked at one.

i. Enabled By The Holy Spirit 2:1-13.

Today we begin to look at the second way the disciples are enabled to preach.

They are...ii.

Enabled By The Word Of God 2:14-39As Peter preaches this first message he has a definitive goal in mind.

He is crafting everything to draw his listeners in and point them to his conclusion.

His conclusion is the title of our message today.

Jesus is Lord and Christ!

To arrive at this conclusion Peter uses a series of quotations from Scripture accompanied by explanations.

It is Peter’s knowledge of the Word of God that enables him to preach this message.

For an Israelite, especially devout ones as many in his audience were, these prophecies were well known.

For us today, not so much.

I want to spend as much time as necessary for us to understand these quotations so that we fully grasp the significance of what Peter is preaching.Our goal this morning is to arrive at the same conclusion as Peter, Jesus is Lord and Christ!

Knowing who Jesus is fuels life transformation and fruit production.

It is impossible to bring glory to Christ if we are unaware of Who He is.

With goal of gaining a greater understanding of Who Jesus is, join me in studying the Word of God this morning.

In Peter’s sermon he points his listeners to two prophesies and a person.

He begins with…

1.

The Prophecy Of Joel vv.

14-21

b.

The prophecy stated vv.

17-21

The important thing to remember is that Peter is making a comparision not claiming fulfillment.

Peter wants his audience to understand that this is what the coming of the Holy Spirit looks like.

There are two similarities between Pentecost and what Joel prophesied.

The coming of the Holy Spirit, and calling on the Lord to be Saved.

We ended last week by noting that Peter’s quotation of Joel is a set up.

He is remining them of prophecy to set the stage for His declaration of Jesus as the Messiah.That brings us to the second prophetic quotation Peter makes.

2. The Prophecy Of David vv.

22-35

Peter’s format in presenting the prophecy of Joel and David is similar with one vital difference.

While Peter introduces and states both Joel and David’s prophecies, he only interprets David’s.

This is another indication that David’s prophecy was fulfilled and could be interpreted from its fulfillment, while Joel’s was not.

a.

The prophecy introduced vv.

22-24

i. Jesus’ identity v. 22Men of Israel.

This is who Peter is addressing.

That is who is present for this miracle.

That is who the early church is made up of.Interesting that Peter asks them to hear a logos about the Divine Logos!Jesus, from Nazareth (called a Nazarene), a man.

Attested – ἀποδείκνυμαι apodeiknymai proclaim; declare; show forth.

To be exhibited – to be or become displayed in a manner accessible to or observable by the public.

Verb, perfect, passive, substantival participle, singular, accusative, masculine.This is what John’s Gospel is all about.

Presenting Jesus as Divine through the miracles that He performed.

What is interesting here is that attested is passive.

Jesus did not display Himself, God did miracles through Him and demonstrated who He was.

Very fascinating!How was Jesus displayed?

Miracles – δύναμις dynamis power.

Miracle ⇔ power – a miracle especially understood as the manifestation of great power.

Noun, instrumental dative, plural, feminine.Wonders – τέρας teras wonder; marvel.

Wondrous event – any amazing or wonderful occurrence; especially used of something seemingly preternatural.

Noun, instrumental dative, plural, neuter.Signs – σημεῖον sēmeion sign; sign miracle.

Miracle ⇔ sign – a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent; often with an emphasis on communicating a message.

Noun, instrumental dative, plural, neuter.God is the one who did these!

Now, since Jesus is God… Yet Peter still attributes these to God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son.ii.

Jesus’ intention v. 23Slain from the foundation of the world.Determined – ὁρίζω horizō appoint; determine; designate.

To be determined (planned) – to be or become definitely decided and delineated in outcome or nature.

Verb, perfect, passive, attributive participle, singular, dative, feminine.Purpose – βουλή boulē plan; purpose.

thought-out plan n. — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished; especially as the result of intent consideration.

Noun, instrumental dative, singular, feminine.Foreknowledge – πρόγνωσις prognōsis foreknowledge.

Forethought – planning or plotting in advance of acting.

Noun, instrumental dative, singular, feminine.Lawless reflects the reality that the trial of Jesus was actually an illegal trial.

It also had an illegal verdict because the Jews were not permitted to put anyone to death.This is purpose for which Christ came!Crucified is literally nailed to.

In this case it is nailed to a cross.

Sovereignty and choice (accountability) in 1 verse.

God delivered Christ up, but they crucified Him.iii.

Jesus’ resurrection v. 24The resurrection of Jesus is attributed to all three persons of the trinity at one time or another.

Here, God is said to have raised Him up.

In raising Christ up the pains of death have been loosed.

Loosed – λύω lyō loose; untie; release.

To undo – to cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect.

Verb, aorist, active, instrumental participle, singular, nominative, masculine.O death where is your sting?

It is gone because of the resurrection of Christ!It is not possible for death to hold Christ!

Death is not strong enough.

Death couldn’t hold Him because He is God!Having made these shocking statements Peter moves on to David’s prophecy to prove that what he has been saying is supported by Scripture.

b.

The prophecy stated vv.

25-28

i. God’s present care vv.

25-261.

God our help v. 25It is important to remember that Peter is talking about Jesus.

Here he directly applies David’s prophecy to Jesus.

He states that what David foretold, was about Jesus!David foresaw that Christ would always be with him preventing any fear.