Peter’s Message: An Answer To Their Questions and Confusion
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Turn to Acts 2:14-36.
So far in Acts chapter two, we have seen that at the perfect time, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:5. The coming of the Holy Spirit marked a major transition in how God would relate to and reveal Himself to man. The Jews in Jerusalem were confused, but followers of Jesus Christ understood what was going on. God was establishing a new institution, the church. This would be God’s new channel through which He would breathe out the New Testament Scriptures and fulfill the Great Commission. This change was accompanied by several signs to confirm that it was of God: there was a sound of wind, there was a sight of tongues like fire, and there was speaking in other languages, which enabled the thousands of people visiting Jerusalem to hear the works of God in their own language. Whatever we are commanded to do in Scripture, God enables us to do by His power. The followers of Christ were ready to go Forward Together.
Two questions were posed by the Jews: “How hear we every man in our own tongue?” and “What meaneth this?” These unusual events got the Jews’ attention and many were confused. Some mocked. Obviously, an explanation was needed, so Peter steps up to the plate and begins to preach.
Message
Message
Read Acts 2:14-15.
It is impossible to know how many thousands of people were gathered at this point. We only know that about 3,000 would believe and be saved. Verse 41 indicates this. If nearly 3,000 were saved, one can only imagine how many heard this message. Maybe 6,000? Maybe 10,000? Perhaps even more. The Bible doesn’t say where this occurred, but the Bible gives evidence for one of two places: either near the upper room, or near the Temple Mount. These were the two places that the disciples frequented after Christ’s ascension.
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Luke 24:53 (KJV 1900)
And [they] were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
It’s very likely that Peter’s message occurred at or near the Temple Mount before thousands of Jews. They were searching for answers. To answer their questions, Peter connected the dots between Scripture and what they were seeing and hearing.
One person said,
“The apostles, who had been fearful and hiding, now stand with a holy boldness. ‘Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, He makes men of gold out of men of clay.’ - Witness to Christ, Stewart Custer, page 23.
I’ve divided Peter’s message into five parts:
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Peter’s message: a rebuttal - Acts 2:14-15.
Peter had an objective in mind when he stood up and addressed the crowds.
“He was going to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. No message could have been more unwelcome to the Jews who had just murdered Him, so Peter, led by the anointing Spirit, began with something else.” - Exploring Acts, Dr. John Phillips, page 46.
Peter quickly contradicted the mocking voices that he could hear among the Jews. Drunken? This was the accusation brought against Peter and the others speaking in different languages. It wasn’t possible! It was only 9 o’clock in the morning!
In keeping with Jewish culture, the New Testament often identifies three divisions in the time of day:
Third hour - 9 am
Sixth hour - 12 pm
Ninth hour - 3 pm
One person wrote,
“On a festival day the devout Jew would not eat or drink until after the morning sacrifice [at 9 am] had been completed.”
This was the day of Pentecost! No religious Jew would have eaten or drunk anything this early in the morning, so the accusation against the apostles was ridiculous!
Application: Christian, don’t be surprised when your good is evil spoken of! Don’t be surprised when the world mocks your goodness, your righteousness, your kindness, or your zeal for God! There will always be scoffers! There were in the days of Noah, there were in the days of Peter, and there still are today! Expect it! Embrace it! Don’t let it silence you or tempt you to quietly deny your Savior.
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Peter’s message: a fulfillment of Joel’s revelation - Acts 2:16-21.
Peter dismisses the accusation and quickly goes on offense.
Read Acts 2:16-21.
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Throughout his message, Peter refers to three Old Testament passages:
Verses 17-21 - Joel 2:28-32.
Verses 25-28 - Psalm 16:8-11.
Verses 34-35 - Psalm 110:1.
Peter refers to Joel’s prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit as being fulfilled here at Pentecost, but this was a partial fulfillment, which is a common feature of many prophecies in the Old Testament. Many prophecies spoke of more than one event.
This Pentecost, this baptism with the Spirit was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. God sent the Spirit in an extraordinary way that had not been seen in the Old Testament. As we’ll see later in the book of Acts, the apostles and others would see visions and dream dreams. God would raise up prophets. Their sons and daughters would prophesy.
The day of the Lord that Peter references in verse 20 is still future, but there is one thread that runs throughout all of God’s dealings with mankind, past, present, and future. That thread is found in verse 21, and Peter powerfully drives this home to his listeners:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Application: That was true in Joel’s day, that was true in Peter’s day, and that is still true today! Whoever will make the choice to trust in Christ alone to save them from their sins will be saved! If God was willing to save the Jews who crucified Jesus, you can be certain that He is willing to save you from your sins as well!
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV 1900)
The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Peter’s answer to these Jews is simple. These followers of Jesus are not drunk on wine, they were simply experiencing what was prophesied in Joel chapter two. God had kept His promise and the Spirit had come with power!
We’ve seen a rebuttal, we’ve seen a fulfillment of Joel’s revelation, and thirdly…
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Peter’s message: an explanation of recent events - Acts 2:22-24.
Read Acts 2:22-24.
If there was ever such a thing as “hard preaching”, this certainly qualifies. Peter boldly declares the truth and reminds these Jews of what they had recently done.
The history of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection was well-known throughout Jerusalem. It had all happened only 50 days ago. But even beyond that, Peter says in verse 22 that they themselves, the Jews, knew that Jesus was without question the Son of God. The miracles, wonders, and signs could only be the work of God - there was no other explanation. Yet, they had crucified Him anyway. They were guilty of His death.
Peter explains their guiltiness in Jesus’ death, but at the same time he also declares something else: it was according to the perfect plan and foreknowledge of God!
The death of Christ was not an accident; it was a major part of the divine plan to redeem sinful mankind. The fact that God foreknew what was going to happen did not remove the responsibility of those human beings who freely violated the law of God to kill an innocent Person, who turned out to be the great King. God's purpose was redemption; man's purpose was murder. The two purposes intersect in the cross, and the result is salvation for all who will believe! - Witness to Christ, Stewart Custer, page 26.
Peter’s explanation was simple:
“God has been at work among His people! God has been calling you to repentance! God has sent Jesus! By His miracles and His resurrection, God has proven Him to be the Son of God! All of these extraordinary events can be explained in one word: GOD!!!
By now, the dots began to connect for Peter’s audience. The confusion was starting to disappear. These signs and miracles, this speaking in tongues, this was the work of God.
Application: Have you ever had some events in life that just seem inexplicable? Have you ever had some events in life that just left you feeling confused, where all you could do was look to God and ask why? These Jews had been confused, albeit for different reasons. Christian, sometimes the answer to your confusion lies in one word: God.
The reality is, even in the darkest of circumstances, like the crucifixion of our Lord, God is at work behind the scenes. He is accomplishing His will.
Why do bad things happen to good people? One reason is because God has a bigger plan that includes using the bad things for good. Trust His plan.
And so, Peter explains these recent events. Fourthly…
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Peter’s message: a fulfillment of David’s revelation - Acts 2:25-32.
After declaring that God raised Christ from the dead, Peter bases his argument on David’s prophecy found in Psalm 16:8-11.
Read Acts 2:25-32.
“David is speaking from his own experiences, but his language goes far beyond that. This is a Messianic prophecy.
[In verse 29], Peter goes on to appeal to his audience, and to argue that David himself was dead and buried. His tomb was still well known in Peter’s day.” - Witness to Christ, Stewart Custer, page 26-27.
Obviously, David’s words in Psalm 16 had a deeper meaning than merely a reference to himself. God was speaking through him concerning the Messiah that was to come! Peter’s argument was this: just as the death of Christ was no accident, so too was His resurrection no accident! It was all fulfilled according to the plan of God and Peter and the other apostles all were eyewitnesses of these events!
The evidence was irrefutable. The explanation made perfect sense. Peter’s audience is being drawn to a point of decision: would they accept the Son of God as the divinely ordained Savior, as all of the proof clearly indicated, or would they reject Him and the God that sent Him?
As we have walked through Peter’s message, it’s almost as though he has prepared his lasso, has expertly thrown it over his target, and now he is drawing it tight.
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Peter’s message: a confirmation that Jesus is Lord and Christ - Acts 2:33-36.
Read Acts 2:33-36.
This is the whole point that Peter’s been coming to! Now he’s driving it home! Now they had to make a decision!
Jesus Christ had the Father’s triple stamp of approval in that:
The Father raised Christ from the dead
The Father exalted Christ back to the throne of Heaven
The Father kept His promise and sent the Holy Spirit as confirmation of His blessing
Therefore, they needed to make a choice. Peter declares, “let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
“How hear we every man in our own tongue? and “What meaneth this?” were the questions posed by the Jews.
Peter had answered. This was God’s doing. He and the others were not drunk; this speaking in other languages was just a stamp of God’s approval. Everything that these Jews had just seen and heard was a confirmation that Jesus was the Savior sent by God. The last days had come. Now they had to decide if they would resist God or submit to Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Dear friend, God’s message is still unchanged. Jesus is God! Jesus is the Savior! Have you placed your trust in Christ alone to save you from your sins? Christ is not just a ticket to Heaven; He offers you a personal relationship with God. He is the only door that provides access to God in this life and in the next. If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you do not have access to God. You can make that choice today - right now - by trusting in Christ to save you from your sins.
Christian, you have made that choice to trust Him, but are you walking with Him? Christ is the Father’s chosen vessel whereby you have access to God. Walk with Him today! Develop your relationship with Him today! Knowing God through Jesus Christ is the highest goal of this life. In what may have been his greatest message, that is what Peter preached to the Jews 2000 years ago. The same message is still true today.