*Acts 2:14-40
Peter preaches a sermon on the day of Pentecost, explaining the descent of the Holy Spirit and how Jesus, whom the Jews rejected, is the Messiah and Lord.
- Peter’s Address:
- Peter stands up with the eleven apostles and addresses the crowd, explaining that the disciples are not drunk, as some suppose, but are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy.
- Quoting from Joel:
- Peter quotes from the prophet Joel, emphasizing that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit is a sign of the last days and the beginning of God’s redemptive work.
- Testifying about Jesus:
- Peter speaks about Jesus of Nazareth, attesting to his identity as a man attested by God through miracles, wonders, and signs.
- He acknowledges that Jesus was crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men, but God raised him from the dead.
- King David’s Prophecy:
- Peter references King David’s prophecy in Psalm 16, in which David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, whom God would not abandon to the realm of the dead.
- Application to Jesus:
- Peter declares that Jesus is the fulfillment of David’s prophecy, as he was raised to life and exalted to the right hand of God.
- Response of the Crowd:
- The crowd is convicted by Peter’s words and asks what they should do in response.
- Peter exhorts them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Promise for All:
- Peter emphasizes that the promise of salvation through Jesus is not only for those present but for all whom the Lord will call.
- Urgency of the Message:
- Peter urges the crowd to save themselves from this corrupt generation by turning to Jesus in repentance and faith.
- Response and Baptism:
- Many in the crowd respond to Peter’s message, repent, and are baptized, resulting in the addition of about three thousand people to the early Christian community.
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: 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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: 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 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.
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: 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.