Grace Bible Church
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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
October 2, 2005
Peter’s Sermon, Part 2: Proclaiming Christ
Acts 2:22-41
Background
We come to the second part of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 this morning, so in order to set the context we need to quickly review.
The Day of Pentecost (1-13)
Verse 1 tells us it is the day of Pentecost. This is the Greek name for the Feast of Harvest, which occurs 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits, which was when Jesus was raised from the dead. The 120 or so that were gathered in the Upper Room in chapter 1 are together again in one place when suddenly, the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:5 that they would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” takes place. The Holy Spirit comes and manifests Himself in three ways in two events.
The first event was His coming manifested by the noise like a violent, rushing wind that filled the whole house and the tongues as of fire distributing themselves that rested on each one. The baptism with the Spirit came upon both the group as a whole and upon each individual. This the only record of the Spirit manifesting Himself in this way. As I pointed out last week, other than the prophecies about Him coming, the only other passage that specifically speaks of baptism with the Spirit is1 Corinthians 12:13 which states “for by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”Baptism with the Holy Spirit occurs only once in the believer at that point when they are made part of the body of Christ. As Romans 8:9 points out, if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you are none of His. If you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit. If you are not Baptized with the Holy Spirit, you are not saved.
The second event was all of them being filled by the Spirit which was then manifested by them speaking with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit in Eph. 5:18. This empowers the believer for ministry, so it should happen often.
Verses 5 & 6 tells us that the noise attracted a multitude (over 3,000 cf. vs. 41) of devout Jews together. These were men who had come from around the world for either the feasts or to live in Jerusalem. The 120 had come out of the house and were now among them speaking in the languages and dialects of the nations from which these Jews had come. The result is that they were bewildered, amazed and marveling because those speaking were Galileans. How were they able to speak of the mighty deeds of God in languages that would have been foreign to them? Verse 8-11 even lists out 15 specific languages and dialects. This manifestation of the Spirit caused the 120 to speak in languages they did not know, but were known by these Jews born in foreign lands.
The result was the very purpose Paul says (1 Cor. 14:21,22) that Isaiah (11) had said it would come. It was a sign for unbelieving Jews. Verse 12 tells us that some were perplexed and wondering what it all meant, and verse 13 tells us that others were mocking that the people “full of sweet wine,” meaning they were drunk.
Peter’s Sermon Part 1: Refutation of the Mockers (vs. 14-21)
In verse 14 Peter places himself in a position, along with the other apostles, to address the crowd. He then boldly raises his voice and tells the multitude to listen to what he had to say. Peter has seen Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven, he will no longer be the timid and fearful man that had denied Jesus during His trial.
It is mid-morning (vs. 15)
The first point Peter makes in verse 15 is to refute the mockers by pointing out that it only the third hour of the day. It is too early in morning for people to be drunk. Their charge is absurd.
This is What Joel Said Would Come (vs. 16-21)
Starting in verse 16 Peter makes his second point that they should have been expecting something like this to happen because the prophet Joel had said such times were coming. Peter then quotes from that section of Joel’s prophecy (2:28-32) dealing with the future spiritual restoration of Israel in the Day of the Lord. Though Peter does not say that what was happening was the specific fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, it was the beginning of its fulfillment because it was now the “last days.” The last days began with the first coming of Jesus (Hebrews 1:1,2).
These devout Jews would have known the prophecies of Joel and the future judgements and blessing that would come during the “day of the Lord, and that Joel said it was “near” (Joel 1:15; 2:1; 3:14).They should have been expecting and anticipating its coming. The people speaking in other tongues was in keeping with the prophecy that God would pour forth His Spirit on all mankind. The details of the prophecy quoted by Peter are still to come, but our anticipation of God fulfilling His promises, of both judgement on those who defy Him and restoration and blessing on those that repent and follow Him, should be the same as Peter’s. Peter uses Joel’s prophecy to both refute the mockers and point out the need of all in the multitude to be ready, for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”The same message still applies to us. Jesus is coming back. Are you ready for Him?
Peter’s Sermon Part 2: Proclaiming Jesus
(vs. 22-36)
We now pick up the second part of the sermon where Peter clearly defines who this Lord is that they need to call on if they are to be saved from God’s wrath to come. It is Jesus, whom they crucified.
Jesus’ Life (vs. 22)
Peter begins by addressing them in verse 22 as “Men of Israel” which is a more personal greeting than in verse 14, and in this context it calls attention that all of them, including Peter, are part of God’s covenant people. Based on this common ground he calls them to “listen to these words” as he begins to proclaim Jesus to them.
Peter first establishes exactly who he is talking about. He says in verse 22 that it is “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.” These people were well aware of Jesus and all that He did. Peter points out that Jesus was “attested” by God. God had borne witness of Jesus and demonstrated who He was by all the miracles, wonders and signs which God had performed through Him. These Jews knew these things themselves. Even in just the week prior to Jesus’s crucifixion He had been performing miracles in Jerusalem. Matt. 21:14 says that He was healing the blind and the lame. It only had been a short time before this that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, a village a short distance from Jerusalem. These were miracles in that they demonstrated a supernatural power. They were wonders because they caused the people to marvel. They were signs because they pointed to the spiritual truth of who Jesus is.
Over the course of Jesus’ ministry He demonstrated power over nature (He stopped the wind and calmed the sea by speaking – Matt. 8:26f), demons (the two men of Gadarenes – Matt. 8:28f), disease (healing the man born blind – John 9), and even death (Jairus’ daughter – Luke 8:41f). These miracles, wonders and signs should have caused these people to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. (Remember that “Christ is simply the Greek term for Messiah). When John the Baptist was wondering about Jesus in Matt. 11:3-5, these were the things Jesus pointed out to strengthen his faith. These men would have been aware of these miracles, wonders and signs. The tragedy is that these same things caused the religious leaders to become indignant (Matt. 21:15), make false accusations against Him (Matt. 12:22f), and counsel together how they might destroy Him (Matt. 12:10f). Eventually the multitudes had acquiesced to these evil men and joined in their demand for Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus’ Death (vs. 23)
In verse 23 Peter deals with Jesus’ death directly. One of the stumbling blocks for these Jews to believe that Jesus was the Messiah was the fact that He had died. How could that have happened to the Messiah? Peter explains it was by God’s plan.
By God’s Plan
He says, 3 “this [Man], delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put [Him] to death.”
Jesus’ crucifixion was not an accident nor was He a victim. Jesus was given over according to the determined (oJrivzw / horizô – “to mark out / determine a boundary) plan or design of (boulhv / boulL – counsel, decision – here, in reference to God’s will) and by the foreknowledge of God (provgnwsi” / prognôsis – only used of God’s divine foreknowledge which has absolute certainty and hence approaches foreordination). Peter makes it clear that Jesus was put to death according to God’s eternal plan. Jesus’ crucifixion did not contradict His claims to be the promised Messiah. In fact, Isaiah 53 makes it clear that the Messiah would have to die as a substitute payment for man’s sin, and Psalm 22 describes many of the details of that death.
By godless men
Peter is also clear that though God’s plan was to deliver over Jesus to death, that it was through crucifixion by the hands of lawless men that Jesus was put to death. That God used evil men to accomplish His purposes does not remove the responsibility of the decision and actions of those men in murdering Jesus. (Just as it did not for Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus). God is sovereign, but man is responsible for what he does. While this is an antinomy that men wrestle with and many err on either side of the paradox, there is no conflict in the mind of God. God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility is a truth that appears throughout Scripture. Jesus had spoken of it in His prediction in Luke 22:22 saying, “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
Jesus’ Resurrection (vs. 24-32)
In verses 24-32 Peter brings up the third point that demonstrated that Jesus was the Messiah. He was resurrected from the dead. “And 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.”
Jesus had been crucified and buried, but He did not stay that way. The resurrection is the pivotal point in the gospel message. Jesus’ resurrection put an end to the pain of death. (Footnote: putting an end to the agony of death =luvsa” taV” wjdi’na” tou’ qanavtou which literally means “being loosed / released from the birth pains of death. “Like labor pains, the pain of death was only temporary and it resulted in something glorious – the resurrection). This had to happen because death could not keep Jesus in its power.
Jesus had already said that He had power over death in John 10:17,18 stating, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18″No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” This passage also shows that death could not keep Jesus because of God’s promises and purpose. That is the same point that Peter makes here in Acts 2 by quoting David from Psalm 16:8-11.
“I was always beholding the Lord in my presence; For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.’ Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will abide in hope; Because Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.’ Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou wilt make me full of gladness with Thy presence.”
Though this Psalm is written by David, it is a Messianic Psalm in which prophetically the Messiah is speaking. Peter shows this in verses 29 & 30, but he first becomes even more personal with them addressing them as “brethren” before proving that David had to be speaking in this Psalm about someone other than himself and that this person was Jesus. “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.30″And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat [one] of his descendants upon his throne.”
While David often showed great trust in the Lord, there was also times that he was very fearful and shaken. An example of this is in 1 Samuel 21:12f when David “greatly feared Achish king of Gath” so that “he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard.” David was so effective in his act that Achish lamented, “Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act the madman in my presence?”
The Messiah would have no fear because the Lord is in His presence and is His protector. (The position of a bodyguard was to be on the right side so he could shield with his left hand and use his sword with his right). This was the source and cause for His joy and praise.
Peter specifically points out that David died and was buried, therefore, he did go to Hades (equivalent to Sheol, the holding place of the dead) and his body decayed. Therefore the Psalm had to be a prophetic reference to David’s greater son that was to come. All the Jews present would have been familiar with the covenant God made with David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 which included the promise that after David died the Lord would “raise up your descendent after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
In verses 31 & 32 Peter applies this Psalm directly to Jesus. 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.” God raised Jesus from the dead, therefore, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the Psalm. Jesus was not abandoned to Hades nor did His flesh suffer decay. Instead, Jesus had the opposite. The resurrection brought Him into the paths of life which made Him full of gladness in the presence of the Lord. Peter, the other apostles, and many if not all of the 120 that the Holy Spirit had come upon were all eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. (cf. 1 Cor. 15).
Jesus’ Position (vs. 33-36)
Peter then goes further in verses 33-36 to establish Jesus’ current position, for they had seen Jesus ascend into heaven. This was also in keeping with David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:1.33“Therefore 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.34″For 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 Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”’36″Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
David was not exalted to ascend into heaven to sit at God’s right hand, but Jesus was so exalted. Peter and the other apostles had seen this happen only 10 days earlier. Jesus had also quoted this same Psalm in Matthew 22:42-45 in showing the Pharisees that the Messiah would be more than human and therefore greater than David. [41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,42saying, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They^ said to Him, “[The son] of David.” 43 He ^said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet”‘? 45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”46And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.” ]
It is because of Jesus’ position at the right hand of the Father that He is able to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit and send the Holy Spirit upon those that had been in the house. Those in the multitude were witnesses of this for they heard these Galileans speaking in the languages of the various nations to which those in the crowd had been born. They were seeing and hearing the proof of what Peter said.
Jesus was a worker of miracles, wonders and signs who then died according to the plan of God by the hands of evil men, but God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His right hand. Each of these had been prophesied about the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled them all. The conclusion was Peter’s proclamation in verse 36″Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Jesus is both the Lord, the one they need to call upon in order to be saved (cf. vs. 21), and He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, promised from long ago to redeem and restore Israel. But they had crucified them.
The Result
The People’s Response (vs. 37)
The response of the people to this very direct and confrontational sermon was immediate. “Now when they heard [this], they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
The idea of being pierced here is to pain the mind sharply, especially with the emotion of sorrow (BDB/Thayers). Peter’s sermon brought them to the realization of who Jesus was and the conviction of what they had done to Him. They were guilty of participating in the murder of the Messiah. Given that Peter had already brought up the prophecy of Joel, there was also the realization that they were now subject to God’s wrath. They had reached the first step needed for anyone to be saved. A conviction of sin along with the knowledge that you cannot save yourself. It is only at that point that a person will cry out for help and seek the Lord as they should. That is their response here as they cry out to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” We are guilty and cannot undo our sin, so how can we can be saved (cf. Acts 16:30; 22:10)
Peter’s Instructions & Promises (vs. 38-40)
Repent & Be Baptized
Peter’s reply is as direct as his sermon. “And Peter [said] to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
Repentance is the key word in Peter response for everything else he says flows from it. The root meaning of repentance (metanoevw / metanoeô) is to “change the mind,” and it is closely tied to forgiveness of sin. Repentance was the call of the Old Testament prophets so that the people would escape God’s wrath, and experience His blessings instead (cf. Ezek. 18:30f).It was the call of John the Baptist and Jesus in calling people to escape the wrath to come and prepare people for the kingdom of heaven which was at hand (Matt. 3:1f; 4:17).In Peter’s second sermon in Acts 3, in verse 19 he calls the people to “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Then in Acts 5 while addressing the Council Peter said in verse 31, “[Jesus] is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” When Peter reported to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem what God had done at Cornelius’ house they concluded that God had granted to the “Gentiles also the repentance [that leads] to life” (Acts 11:18).Paul’s message to the Jews and Greeks in his many missionary journeys was the same. In Acts 17:30 he proclaimed that God was “now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent” for God’s judgement was coming. In Acts 20:21 Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that he had been “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. “And in Acts 26:20 in Paul’s defense before King Agrippa he explained that his ministry consisted of telling Jew and Gentile alike that “they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”
This last quote is a reminder that the repentance of salvation is much more than an intellectual exercise. Paul explains in 2 Cor. 7:10 that there is a sorrow that is according to God that produces repentance without regret unto salvation, but there is also the sorrow of the world that produces death. A change of mind that does not result in a change of direction and action is not repentance. If I am heading south and then change my mind that I should go north, there is no real repentance unless I turn the car around and go the other way. Repentance is turning from sin to righteousness.
Does this in anyway mean that good works can save you? Absolutely not! Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all our deeds of righteousness are as filthy rags before our Holy God. Titus 3:5,6 explains that “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. “We are saved by God’s grace through faith alone and not as a result of works (Eph. 2:8,9).It is our faith that is reckoned to us as righteousness and justifies us before God (Rom. 3:29; 4:5; etc.).
There is no work of righteousness or religious ritual that can save you. That includes baptism. Why do I stress that? Because there are many that teach baptismal regeneration even today. They believe they are saved because they are baptized, but salvation is not by any work of righteousness. An unrepentant sinner who gets baptized is just a wet sinner who remains condemned by God. Sin must be forgiven, and the basis of God’s forgiveness is faith in Jesus Christ who died as the payment for sin and rose from the dead to offer us eternal life. As Peter put it to Cornelius in Acts 10:43, “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
There are others that teach that while baptism does not save, there is no forgiveness of sin or coming of the Holy Spirit until the person is baptized. They base that on Peter’s statement here in Acts 2:38.Let me give you 6 quick reasons why that is not true.
First, the preposition used here to link forgiveness of sins to repentance and baptism that is translated as “for” (eij” / eis) can mean either “for the purpose of” or “because of” or “on the occasion of.” The text does not require this to be “baptized for the purpose of forgiveness.” It can just as easily mean “baptized because of” or “on the occasion of forgiveness of sins.”
Second, as already seen in Acts 10:43 and other passages, forgiveness is linked with repentance independent of baptism even in the preaching of Peter.
Third, Acts 10:44 says the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and the other gentiles with him while Peter was still preaching. They were baptized after that. It is baptism with the Holy Spirit that places you into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), and the presence of the Holy Spirit that was a sign that they were saved (Acts 11), and it is the Holy Spirit that is the seal of a person’s salvation (Eph. 1:13).
Fourth, requiring baptism for salvation would be contradictory to the many passages in the Epistles which give clear gospel presentations but do not include baptism. These include passages such as Romans 3:21-30; 10:9,10; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:1-10; Phil. 3:7-14.Baptism is not even mentioned in several books including 1 John which was “written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you might know that you have eternal life.”If was necessary for salvation it would have been included in those passages and books.
Fifth, how could Paul make the statement in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” if baptism is necessary for salvation?
Sixth, these people would have understood Peter’s call to repent and be baptized to be the same as or similar to John’s earlier call for the baptism of repentance which was a ceremonial cleansing to reflect and demonstrate an inward reality. It may then even be significant that the place these people eventually were baptized was probably the ceremonial baths that were located at the base of the temple mount.
Why then does Peter tell them to be baptized? Because while baptism does not save, neither is it optional as if it does not matter. It is a fruit of repentance that was commanded by the Lord (Mt. 28:19). It is the action that demonstrates that there has been a change of mind from trust in keeping the laws of Moses to trust in Jesus, the resurrected Lord and Messiah. Their belief in Him would of necessity be demonstrated in actions consistent with their beliefs including obedience to Him.
While salvation stories in the New Testament do not always include the account of the person being baptized, neither can any case be made from the Bible of a believer remaining unbaptized or even delaying it, for the evidence is exactly the opposite of that. The epistles consistently show an assumption that those professing faith in Jesus Christ were also baptized. That is why Paul references baptism as a person’s self identification with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as he does in Gal. 3:27; Col. 4:5 and Romans 6 in which he also uses it as a call to holiness. Those who professes Christ yet remains unbaptized can continue in that state only if they are ignorant or rebellious. If rebellious, then the continued disobedience is a demonstration of a seriously, if not fatally flawed faith. Jesus is Lord and Christ. People who repent from their sins and place their faith in Him will strive to obey Him and will be baptized.
The Gift of the Spirit
At the end of verse 38, Peter tells them that those that would genuinely repent would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not something you get because of you somehow earn His presence by what you do, but He is given according to God’s promise. That is why Peter adds in verse 39, “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” The immediate Old Testament promise they would have had in mind would be Joel 2:28 which Peter had quoted earlier in His sermon. But that promise to repentant Israel was also given in other passages such as Isaiah 32:15; 44:3 and Ezek. 39:29.Those who are “far off,” the Gentiles, are also added in as the Lord God will call them to Himself. This last phrase is the reminder that while the call is universal, God’s sovereignty is necessary for salvation. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty are both presented in Scripture as true. We must leave the resolution of that tension in the hands of our God who is good and will do what is right.
Continued Exhortations
Peter’s sermon did not end here, for verse 40 tells us, “And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” This tells us that Peter kept talking with the people and calling them to turn away from the religious leaders that had crucified Jesus and to follow the Lord instead. Verse 41 tells us that God’s mercy was poured out.
Those Saved (vs. 41)
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Remember that it was only a short time before that Jesus had been crucified. This was a radical departure from their practice of Judaism, and it was very risky in view of the hatred the religious leaders had for Jesus and the persecution they quickly brought against the church. Yet 3,000 yielded to the truth, believed and identified themselves with Jesus through baptism. They probably used the ceremonial baths that were located at the base of the temple.
What about you? Have you repented? Have you turned from your sin to righteousness? Have you changed direction from either ignoring God’s claims on your life or trying to earn His favor by your own means and methods to cast yourself upon His mercy which comes only through having faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ? Are you demonstrating that faith through a changed life that now strives to obey the Lord? That includes the initial obedience of personally identifying with Jesus through baptism? If not, you need to do so. Talk with myself or one of our church leaders after the service. Don’t leave here today without having things right with God.
Sermon Study Sheets
KIDS CORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help.
Young Children
– draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch.
Older Children –
Do one or more of the following: 1) Write down all the verses mentioned in the sermon and look them up. 2) Count how many times “Peter” is mentioned. Talk with your parents about what you believe about Jesus and if you should be baptized.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others.
Review Acts 2:1-13 and the events surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit. How does Peter refute the mockers? Why does Peter quote Joel 2:28-32? What is its significance? How does Jesus’ life show He is Lord and Messiah? How does Jesus’ death show He is Lord and Messiah? How does Jesus’ resurrection show He is Lord and Messiah? How do we know that Jesus is the prophetic greater son of David? What is Jesus’ position and how does Peter prove it is prophetic fulfillment? How does Jesus’ position show Him to be Lord and Messiah? Why do the people respond as they do to Peter’s sermon? What is repentance and why is it important? How is a person forgiven their sins? Why doesn’t baptism save? Why must a believer be baptized? What if he refuses? What are the O.T. promises of the Holy Spirit? Why did Peter have to keep exhorting them? What did they risk being baptized? What do you believe about Jesus? Why?
Sermon Notes – 10/2/05
Peter’s Sermon, Part 2: Proclaiming Jesus -Acts 2:22-41
Background
The Day of Pentecost (1-13)
Peter’s Sermon Part 1: Refutation of the Mockers (vs. 14-21)
It is mid-morning (vs. 15)
This is What Joel Said Would Come (vs. 16-21)
Peter’s Sermon Part 2: Proclaiming Jesus (vs. 22-36)
Jesus’ Life (vs. 22)
Miracles, Wonders & Signs
Jesus’ Death (vs. 23)
By God’s Plan
Isaiah 53 / Psalm 22
By godless men
Luke 22:22
Jesus’ Resurrection (vs. 24-32)
Power over Death – John 10:17,18
God’s Promises- Psalm 16:8-11
David compared with Jesus
Jesus’ Position (vs. 33-36)
The Result
The People’s Response (vs. 37)
Peter’s Instructions & Promises (vs. 38-40)
Repentance
Baptism
The Gift of the Spirit
Continued Exhortations
Those Saved (vs. 41)
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