This is a continuation of the three part series on Pentecost. Part 2 will focus on Peter’s Sermon. Following the organic event of people showing up because of a miracle performed be the Holy Spirit, the crowd comes to realize that they understand exactly what these Galileans are saying. In fact they realize that people they can’t understand hear exactly what they are saying. They scoff calling the early Christians drunks. Peter responds:
Part 2’s Passage
14But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25For David says of Him,
‘I saw the Lord always in my presence;
For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
28You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’
29“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” NASB
Breakdown
- Justification for the miracle that is taking place
- Resurrection Message
- Connecting Jesus to the line of David
- Jesus is Messiah
Resurrection Contingency
This message falls apart if the literal resurrection did not take place. Examining the argument, Peter makes it clear that the audience saw the events such as the crucifixion and the wonders that took place following. They were there. They were the scoffers or silent bystanders. Peter spends about forty percent of the time connecting Jesus to the line of David, distinguishing him from being just another prophet. If the resurrection did not happen, Christianity falls apart right here.
Confrontational Message
Peter’s Sermon says “you” or “your” 23 times. It’s not wishy-washy, feel good, self-love nonsense designed to be life coach advice. This prevalent message in today’s church was almost the opposite of Peter’s Sermon. This message is confrontational. It’s divisive. Peter is pressuring the audience with the gravity of their life choices, specifically being on the wrong side of scripture. They are not saved, and Peter makes them well aware of it.
