Table of Contents
Introduction
An Unexpected Experience (Acts 2:1-13)
1)Spirit Filled and Spirit Empowered (Acts 2:1-4)
2)Amazement and Wonder and Doubt (Acts 2:5-13)
3)Principle
The Holy Spirit empowers common men to do uncommon things.
4)Illustration
5)Applications
What has God done through you lately that you know you could never have done on your own?
How are you preparing yourself in order to be ready to be used by God?
Peter's Bold Explanation (Acts 2:14-41)
1)Boldness of Peter (Acts 2:14-21) 3
The Spirit Poured Out (17-18)
Judgment For Some (19-20)
Salvation Available (21)
2)The Fulfillment in Jesus – The Gospel (Acts 2:22-24)
Jesus Is Central in All Scripture
Jesus Died
The Resurrection
3)David Prophesies Resurrection (Acts 2:25-28)
4)David Prophesies Jesus Ascension/Exaltation (Acts 2:29-35)
5)Decision Time (Acts 2:36-41)
Repentance & Baptism For Forgiveness
Believe, Receive, Be Baptized
6)Principle
The Holy Spirit gives clarity, conviction, and conversion through the Gospel message.
7)Illustration
8)Applications
When was the last time you asked God for boldness to speak His truth in love?
When was the last time you cared enough about an enemy of the Gospel to share the Gospel with him?
What fears do you have, of speaking up for Christ, that need to be brought to the Father?
An Unwavering Commitment (Acts 2:42-47)
1)Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread, and Prayer (Acts 2:42)
The Scriptures
Fellowship
The Lord's Supper or Meals Together
2)Principle
A commitment to Christ results in a commitment to His purpose through His church.
3)Illustration
4)Applications
What does your commitment to Christ's church say about your commitment to Christ?
How has God used you lately to add to the number in His Church?
What brother do you know who could use your friendship, fellowship, or even your financial help?
Conclusion
Introduction
Have you ever wanted something so badly, you could hardly wait? Maybe it was a trip to some exotic destination that you have always dreamed of. Perhaps it was some new, large purchase, such as a new house. Perhaps it was the day of your wedding, when you and your bride to be would become one.
When a person longs for something to come, it is easy for that something to consume much of that person's time and energy. Every spare moment (and some that are not spare) are consumed with thoughts of that something. It can even become and idol.
But when there is a promise, such as the one given by Jesus to his disciples, the longing causes one to go to the Lord in anticipation. That is where we have seen the disciples for the past 10 days since Jesus' ascension. Waiting and praying and gathering together.
An Unexpected Experience (Acts 2:1-13)
1)Spirit Filled and Spirit Empowered (Acts 2:1-4)
They were gathered in the same way they had been for the past 10 days. Most likely praying.
They were not seeking any kind of experience but probably considering what Jesus' last words to them, “Be my witnesses...you will receive power to do just that.”
What had Jesus orchestrated? The ability to carry out exactly what he told them to do but in a very unexpected way.
We often think of foreign missions as missions taken to a foreign land. But sometimes God brings the mission field to our own back yard.
I have neighbors that live behind me who are from India. A family 4 doors down are from Pakistan. Several doors down from them are a couple from Belgium. We live in a mission field right here at home!
And so, many from various different places outside of Judea were all gathered to celebrate the 50th day after Passover. And these were a mixed group both locationally and linguistically, but also Jews and proselytes.
As the Holy Spirit came upon this group, he empowered them with the ability to speak in other tongues – in real languages that they had not studied. Both the words and the ability to speak in the language was given by the Holy Spirit – “...as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
But prior to this, the Spirit's filling was preceded by “the sound of a mighty rushing wind.”
Some of you have experienced a tornado, or at least heard one. I have always heard that it sounds like a train. Ever since coming to Kansas, every time I hear a train whistle, I run for shelter :)
But this mighty rushing wind sound would have evoked the thought of Jesus description of the Spirit, blowing where He will. Not able to see him (just like the wind) but His effects are certainly seen.
Another manifestation to those gathered was the appearance of tongues of fire that divide and rest on each of them. Often God is shown to manifest himself in fire (e.g., the burning bush, the pillar of fire, the fire on Mt. Sinai, etc.)
And then they were filled...
And as they began to speak in other languages, people began to gather, not because of them speaking, but due to the sound of the wind with no actual wind.
2)Amazement and Wonder and Doubt (Acts 2:5-13)
They gathered to see from whence the sound, but they were in for a much bigger surprise. People were praising God in their own native language.
Certainly they all understood Hebrew or Aramaic, or Greek, but when they heard their native tongue and it being spoken by Galileans and Judeans, it is amazing.
Even if you understand a foreign language, there is something special about hearing your native tongue. Mary and I have traveled abroad on occasion. It is nice to learn the languages and try to converse with people, but when you hear someone clearly speaking to you in English, it really is refreshing.
That's exactly what God does here. He enables the 120 gather, fills them with His Spirit, then proclaim his praises in a way that is easily understandable but also seemingly impossible to the hearers and the speakers.
So those who heard and understood the words in their native tongue began to be amazed. They knew what was being said and knew that it was pointing their focus toward God and not toward the speakers. But they were also amazed that this was happening through ordinary men and women.
This was completely unexpected to both the speaker and the hearer.
Verse 6 says they were bewildered (ESV) and in verse 12, amazed and perplexed, “What does this mean?”
They understood that what was being spoken was not just off the wall gibberish, but intelligible language proclaiming God's praises. So what was God doing? That was the question on their minds.
But not everyone felt that way. There are always skeptics in every crowd. And there are those who always evaluate things in a strictly naturalistic way. (NOTE: some look for a spiritual meaning behind everything which is equally annoying and dangerous)
Verse 13 points out that some thought they had too much new wine to drink.
3)Principle
The Holy Spirit empowers common men to do uncommon things.
4)Illustration
One of the biggest hindrances to the Spirit using you and me is when we thing we have something He can use. Pride!
5)Applications
What has God done through you lately that you know you could never have done on your own?
How are you preparing yourself in order to be ready to be used by God?
Peter's Bold Explanation (Acts 2:14-41)
[Boldness, Godly Wisdom, Spiritual Insight, Love for Sinners, Clear and Complete Gospel Message]
1)Boldness of Peter (Acts 2:14-21)
Peter stands up and boldly explains the situation. It is only 9:00 AM and these men have had no wine to drink. Instead, this is fulfillment of OT prophecy that you have heard before.
Peter's boldness is a manifestation of the Spirit's power. He had shown his ability to stand in his own strength back in the garden.
And his boldness is not a defiant boldness as a rebel who has a bone to pick with the authorities that were in power. He wasn't trying to put down those who were mocking, but he had a Godly boldness that desire the truth to be known.
In fact, Peter follows his own inspired writings from his first Epistle (1 Peter 3:13-17):
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
Peter wasn't trying to win an argument, he was trying to proclaim the truth of what was happening and fulfill his Master's will.
The Spirit Poured Out (17-18)
Through Joel, a prophet empowered by God's Spirit, God proclaimed a coming day, the “last days” when the Spirit would not just be poured out on a single person for a single purpose, but would be poured out on all flesh.
This all flesh does not mean that ultimately everyone will receive the Holy Spirit, but it does point to the fact that all nations, all genders, all languages, all geographic areas, all age groups, etc., are included in that all.
Judgment For Some (19-20)
Notice the language used in verses 19 and 20. This is the same type of apocalyptic language used in other prophetic writings. Often the writer used poetic language to describe things that God was doing or going to do.
These verses ultimately point out the hopelessness of the “day of the Lord” for those who are wrongly related to Him.
Blood, fire, and smoke all speak of judgment. The sun being darkened and moon turning to blood are the same types of words used when Isaiah spoke of the exiles being taken to Babylon.
Those separated from God in this life have judgment awaiting them.
But, this need not be the case for all.
Salvation Available (21)
Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Peter has laid out the framework of what is happening – judgment awaits humanity but salvation is from the Lord (see also John 3:17-18)
All of this to answer the amazement of the crowd and the skepticism of some.
Peter doesn't leave them with a vague sense of what Joel was getting at. The Holy Spirit has a deeper explanation that is necessary in order for anyone to call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
2)The Fulfillment in Jesus – The Gospel (Acts 2:22-24)
Peter includes the essence of the Gospel message in these short 3 verses.
Jesus Is Central in All Scripture
He brings us back to the historical facts of the life of Jesus of Nazareth and that his life was attested by God. He was not merely another man, but a man sent by God. The very signs and wonders he did evidenced God's power at work through him.
The central figure of the Gospel has to be the Jesus revealed in all of Scripture. We must be true to God's revelation of Jesus in both the OT and NT or we will be guilty of presenting a Jesus who is of our own making.
And so, Peter points out to this audience the person they all were familiar with to some extent or at least had heard about.
Jesus Died
God's Plan
The fact that Jesus died as a criminal would have been well-known to all those present who had been in for Passover. But they were not familiar with the idea that God's plan was for Jesus to be crucified. That this was always God's plan and it was according to His divine will that it was accomplished.
So up to this point, Jesus lived and Jesus died, but what caused his death – what was the immediate cause?
Man's Responsibility/Culpability
It was you and lawless men. In other words, whether your hand actually took part in the act or whether you stood by and shouted or whether you were not even present at the crucifixion, it was you (and me) who put him on the cross.
It was God's will, but man is culpable for his part in it. Were it not for man's sin, Jesus would not have died and it would not have been part of God's fore-ordained plan all along.
But we did sin and continue to do it. And the very things we think are small potatoes in regard to sin are in fact the very sins Christ died for. So we are all responsible. And unless we understand that, there is no hope of salvation. For if it was not my sin that put him on the cross, I have no hope of his death pardoning me and freeing me from the wrath of “the day of the Lord”.
But that's not all...He didn't remain dead. Another fact that would have been rumbling through the city of Jerusalem.
The Resurrection
God raised Jesus from the dead. In fact, death could not hold him. He is the author of life.
The Christian religion is the only religion whose founder is still living or at least will never die. We have a living hope.
3)David Prophesies Resurrection (Acts 2:25-28)
And in order to point out that this is not some fictitious view of some fanatics, Peter points out the prophetic writings from David regarding the resurrection.
David could not have been talking about himself since his tomb is not empty. He died and everyone there knew it and Peter was confident of the fact as well as of the fact that they were confident of the fact.
4)David Prophesies Jesus Ascension/Exaltation (Acts 2:29-35)
Just a few points from David's prophesy and Peter's words:
David had a promise from God that his descendant would sit on the throne. But anyone who has studied the OT would know that his descendants went down hill over time and became as wicked as the nations around Israel.
This was not a failing on God's part but the natural consequences of a people who turn away from the living God.
The same is true for God's promise through Israel. They never lived up to God's requirements of them. They were to be a light to the nations. They were God's chosen people to carry out God's blessing to the nations.
But in each of these cases, God was not unfaithful to his promise. He in fact brought both of these promises to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
He is the fulfillment of the expectations of Israel. He perfectly shine the light to the nations.
He also fulfilled the promise to David. His human descent is from the lineage of David. And his throne is the ultimate throne. His ascension to the right hand of the Father.
David calls this one to come, Lord. He acknowledges Messiah's divinity. That the enemies of God would be put under Jesus' feet and ultimately be banished from the kingdom.
This will be accomplished once and for all when Jesus returns. The “day of the Lord” will come.
5)Decision Time (Acts 2:36-41)
Peter's presentation of the evidence of Jesus life through the Gospel and several prophesies is compelling. But now he takes it to its conclusion.
He calls the people to the reality that the Hope of Israel is in fact the One they had crucified. He is, both by definition and declaration, Lord and Christ.
Verse 37 says they were cut to the heart. They realized this was true. And this was not just an acknowledgment of a mistake they had made, but it was genuine conviction by the Holy Spirit. They understood the implications of their responsibility for his death. But they didn't stay at this point.
They were compelled to ask what they could do.
Repentance & Baptism For Forgiveness
The only thing they could do was acknowledge their sin, to repent and turn to God. To effectively call on the Lord.
[Doctrinal Insert Here]
A truly repentant person recognizes that he has nothing in him that can make him right with a holy God. A right view of sin realizes that sin cannot be compensated for nor can it be paid off – it has to be paid for. And man has nothing he can pay for his own sin, God must pay. Jesus has paid.
This passage is not attempting to give a formula for baptism, but rather an identification with Christ. The Holy Spirit baptizes a person, but a person is commanded to be baptized as an outward sign of an inward reality.
It was to show a change in loyalty and a change of ownership.
Notice Peter's concern for the lost here. He pleads with them to “Save themselves from this corrupt (crooked) generation.”
He isn't concerned with the size of their group only with the condition of the souls of the people. He desired that they experience the life that he had – one that is only found through Jesus.
Believe, Receive, Be Baptized
The ones who believe, received his word, repented, and were baptized and there were about 3000 new believers.
The Spirit granted faith to believe, conviction of sin, and a repentant heart.
Note: these new believers were now going to return to their own land (many of them at least) and spread the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit brought this about and it is a direct fulfillment of what Jesus commanded the disciples (apostles) to do. Who gets the glory for making this happen? Certainly not man!
6)Principle
The Holy Spirit gives clarity, conviction, and conversion through the Gospel message.
7)Illustration
8)Applications
When was the last time you asked God for boldness to speak His truth in love?
When was the last time you cared enough about an enemy of the Gospel to share the Gospel with him?
What fears do you have, of speaking up for Christ, that need to be brought to the Father?
An Unwavering Commitment (Acts 2:42-47)
1)Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread, and Prayer (Acts 2:42)
Devoted: Consecrated to a purpose, set apart...
The text tells us several things these believers were devoted to.
The Scriptures
The apostles' teachings or Scripture itself. Remember, the Scriptures were not complete at this time. But God had endowed the apostles as ambassador’s of Christ. They spoke with the authority of the King.
That doesn't mean that everything they said was canonized, but it does mean that they were especially gifted by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the truths of Scripture. God uniquely equipped them for a time to enable them to teach the church the truths of God.
Fellowship
The believers were devoted to one another. They desired to be with one another and enjoyed the fellowship they had in the common bond the Holy Spirit brought.
This did not mean that everyone thought alike, but they all had mutual love for one another which God poured out into them. This was not natural in a humanistic sense, but was a Divine endowment by the Holy Spirit.
And we see that in the context of this text, there was genuine concern for the other believers. Nobody thought that what they owned was their own possession – at least not when they saw a brother who had a need.
The Lord's Supper or Meals Together
This breaking of bread together may have several underlying meanings. It may be the celebration of the Lord's Supper. For Jesus told his disciples to do it often and as often as they do it, to remember His death until he returns.
It also may mean that they shared meals together. In the Middle East, it is very intimate to have a mean with someone. To share a table and break bread together was something that drew people together.
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