Jan 19, 2014
Acts 2:14-36
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Set the Scene
120 followers of Jesus are gathered in an outer courtyard of the Temple precincts when “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind.” What resulted? They were all “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “began to speak the wonderful works of God with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Since this outer courtyard was in a public place in close proximity to the Temple - and since Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims who had traveled from all over the world for the Day of Pentecost, it didn’t take long for a large, diverse crowd of what Luke describes as “devout men” to arrive at the scene hoping to investigate what was taking place....
Luke tells us their investigation initial produced “confusion, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” But the more they observed the more bizarre the circumstance.... we’re told they “marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language?”
The progression of the scene is important:
For starters, everyone present (we’ll call them the bystanders) was hearing “the wonderful works of God” being proclaimed in their own native languages. Though abnormal in its own right, the situation was further compounded by the reality that upon further investigation by these bystanders it was discovered that everyone speaking was from the region known as Galilee. It would have been impossible for these Galileans to have been multilingual in so many languages and dialects that it eliminate the most logical explanation.
This realty left these bystanders with one of two conclusions:
1. There were those who rejected what they were seeing and instead still attempted to provide a natural explanation for what was taking place. This group tried to rationalize what the event by asserting that those speaking in these tongues were “full of new wine....” An entirely unfounded accusation.
2. There were those who accepted what they were seeing and instead of seeking an explanation as to how this was occurring simply wanted to know what it meant. Luke says most of these bystanders asked, “What could this mean?”
Side Point: There are some things that will happen in life that possess no natural explanation. As a matter of fact, any attempt to provide a natural explanation will leave you with nothing but unfounded assertions. Many times instead of asking God to provide you with an explanation, you would be wise to instead ask God to reveal to you the deeper meaning!
These two reactions establish the framework for a sermon Peter is about to give where he will defend against the accusation of drunkenness - before providing the ultimate answer to their question: “What could this mean?”
Acts 2:14-15 “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
Unpack the Text
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven....” When the rabbis taught it was customary they sit while the audience stood; and yet, Peter does just the opposite. He stood making the scene unusual. 50 days before this Peter and the eleven had been give the opportunity to take a stand when Jesus had been arrested in the Garden. Tragically, the eleven ran and hid while Peter (who to his credit tried to defend Jesus with his sword) would later end up denying Jesus on three separate occasions before the night’s end. However, 50 days later, when the opportunity to take a stand for Christ is presented again in Acts 2 we see a remarkable change in posture.... Instead of being filled with fear and cowardice, these men demonstrated incredible courage when they “stood up” to provide an explanation for what was taking place.
Q: What was the difference between the Garden and Pentecost?
1: They had experienced failure and forgiveness.
2: They had received power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Luke is specific that though standing with the eleven Peter “raised his voice....” First, this detail is important for as we mentioned last week it was a clear indicator he was now communicating to the crowd using the universal language of “Koine Greek.” As mentioned tongues ceased when Peter preached.
Before we look at the sermon Peter is about to give, consider a few things:
1.Peter has never preached a sermon before this moment.
2.Peter spontaneously reacted to an opportunity presented by God.
Peter didn’t wake up this morning thinking he would be preaching to thousands. He and the others began the day similar to the previous nine since Jesus had ascended. They were waiting patiently for the promise of the Holy Spirit. And then without warning the Spirit was poured out - people gathered seeking an explanation - and Peter stepped out to provide the answer to their questions.
3.Peter had been prepared by God for a moment like this.
Though spontaneous, we can say with confidence Peter was well-prepared having spent three years sitting under the tutelage of Jesus. Peter had not only experience significant Bible teaching, but had practically observed the way in which Jesus preached to the people. Though the words flowed spontaneously from his mind and heart, Peter was simply communicating things he had been previously taught by Jesus. As we’ll see Peter had deeply considered these truths and believed them passionately.
I’ve heard it said, “If you can’t teach another a certain precept, it’s often a clear indicator you don’t know that precept yourself.”
It’s been said, “You cannot be profoundly influenced by that which you do not know.”
It should also be pointed out that what we have recorded in Acts 2 is only a small portion of what Peter actually said.... Acts 2:40 tells us, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them.” Like almost all the sermons recorded in the Bible, what we have recorded is only a Holy Spirit inspired abridgment of a much longer message.
4. Peter had been empowered by the Holy Spirit for the task at hand.
“But Peter....” As we mentioned in our examination of last few verses of Acts 1, I believe God included the story of Peter’s sincere, but ill-advised decision to choose Matthias as the replacement for Judas specifically to illustrate the profound and essential impact the power of the Holy Spirit has in the life of a believer. Peter just so happens to be our principle example.
In Acts 1 we saw Peter using a natural gift.... leadership! And yet, the reality of Acts 1 is that Peter was leading in the flesh (under the power of his natural gifting), whereas now in Acts 2 we will see this natural gifting infused with the power of the Holy Spirit! It’s a foundational premise to our understanding of the Holy spirit, but I am convinced the Spirit often equips us not with supernatural gifts foreign to our physiological makeup, but by providing a supernatural infusing of the gifts God has already equipped us with from birth. Though we might be a new creation in Christ Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, we are still very much a manifestation of what our genetics have dictated us to be. Peter was the logical choice to act as the spokesman for the others!
The 1st thing Peter addresses in his sermon was the accusation concerning drunkenness. Peter’s defense is based in simple logic.... “These are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.”
“The third hour of the day” would have made it 9:00 AM. Not only did it not make sense that they would have been drunk by such an early hour of the morning, but during the Feasts most devout Jews refrained from eating or drinking until they had completed their religious duties in the Temple.
John Stott commented, “Nor, must we add, did the believers’ experience of the Spirit’s fullness seem to them or look to others like intoxication, because they had lost control of their normal mental and physical functions. No, the fruit of the Spirit is ‘self-control,’ not the loss of it.”
Acts 2:16-21, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (quotes from Joel 2:28-32): ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“But this is what....” After providing a logical rebuttal to their unfounded accusations, Peter now provides a Biblical rebuttal to their allegation. It should be pointed out that Peter addresses their assertion by giving a Bible study. As we’ll see he will expound upon God’s Word and base his conclusions on truth - not his opinion of truth. Peter doesn’t spend his time postulating his own theories. Rather, he goes straight to the Word to provide the explanation for what’s occurring. He tells them.... What you are seeing should not be a mystery or some grand surprise if you understand Scripture. An example of a similar event was spoken of prophetically “by the prophet Joel.”
Observation: The Spirit of God will never contradict the Word of God!
The Holy Spirit will never contradict or act in conflict to the Spirit of the Word. And this is important for though the power of the Holy Spirit yields supernatural results in our lives, in order to remain grounded when it comes to the “Gifts of the Spirit” we should always possess a Biblical basis for everything we do in the name of God!
Note: Peter did not say what was happening on Pentecost was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, but something similar had been “spoken of by the prophet Joel.” In his prophetic book Joel spends most of his time specifically describing events that would occur in “the last days” when the Messiah would return to judge the earth.
Obviously, from Peter’s own quotation it would be inappropriate to see the fulfillment of these things occurring on Pentecost because we don’t have recorded “wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapor of smoke.” Nor was the “sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood.”
With this in mind, there are two ways to see Peter’s reference to Joel’s prophecy:
1. Peter believed Pentecost started a prophetic period of time known as “the last days” which would ultimately culminate in Jesus’ 2nd coming.
David Guzik points to this belief when he commented, “It may also be helpful to see the last days as something like a season - a general period of time - more than a specific period, such as a week. In the whole span of God’s plan for human history, we are in the season of the last days.”
Peter saw in this future prophecy concerning “the last days” nothing more than a Biblical example for what was presently happening on Pentecost.
This means Peter saw in “the last days” events described by Joel a prophetic parallel to what was occurring on the Day of Pentecost. In context with the rest of his writings, Joel describes an event in history when the Spirit of God is poured out on the nation of Israel leading up to the 2nd Coming of Jesus.... when He establishes a physical kingdom on earth. Because in like manner the Spirit of God was being poured out on the church - the end result of Jesus’ 1st Coming.... when He came to establish a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men, Peter’s parallel seems logical.
J. Vernon McGee explains Peter’s purpose this way.... “Peter quotes this passage to these mockers to show them that the pouring out of the Spirit of God should not be strange to them.... All that Peter is saying in his introduction is, “Now look, this is not strange or contrary. The day is coming when this will be fulfilled. And today we are seeing something similar to it.”
Peter dismisses the accusation of drunkenness only to then explain that if they knew the Scripture they would have known that when God “pours out His Spirit on all flesh” it produces a spiritual result. In regards to a future manifestation of the Spirit in “the last days... sons and daughters.... and menservants and maidservants will prophecy; young men will have visions and old men will dream dreams....” In this present manifestation the Spirit enabled them to speak using foreign tongues.
Peter now transitions to the core of their question.... “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:22, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know....”
In order to answer their question Peter shift the subject matter to the person of Jesus. As mentioned everyone present (this group of “devout men”) was familiar with this man “Jesus of Nazareth,” and according to Peter they all knew He was a Man of God.
“As you yourselves also know” Jesus was “a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst.” Peter is literally saying all of these “miracles, wonders, and signs” they had seen Jesus do “in their midst” were nothing more than God working “through Him” in order “to affirm, exhibit, bring into view” who Jesus really was.
Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death....
Peter presents the events of Christ’s arrest, trial, and death by crucifixion in a theologically profound and complex way.... Peter balances God’s sovereign will with man’s free choice.
On one side of the coin Peter is clear Jesus’ destiny had been sealed by.... “The determined purpose of God” - The Greek phrase for “determined purpose” is “horizô boulê” meaning God’s “appointed will.” The “foreknowledge of God” - The Greek word for “foreknowledge” is “prognôsis” meaning God’s “pre-arrangement.” It is from this word that we get our English word “prognosis” meaning “the likely course.” Literally this means God’s appointed will set the course for Jesus.
But on the flip side Peter doesn’t let them off the hook for their involvement.... Though God might have been in control and Jesus’ destiny was a cross, you are still guilty for “you took Him by lawless hands, crucified, and put Him to death.”
Acts 2:24, “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
Peter’s sermon transitions to the person of Jesus.... You knew He was sent from God. Then Peter discusses Jesus’ death.... You “took Him and put Him to death.” Now Peter addresses the rumor that had taken the region by storm for the last 50 days.... that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead!
Imagine what it would have been like to have been a bystander in Jerusalem over the last two months: You were aware of this controversial Rabbi named Jesus - Whether or not you had ever been exposed to His ministry, you knew He was upsetting the status quo.... You were there to witness His Triumphal Entry.... The buzz that He might very well be the promised King was exciting.... You heard the dialogue between He and the religious leaders.... You knew things were reaching a boiling point.... You were present when He was unjustly arrest, tried illegally, crucified without mercy.... You experienced all the weird supernatural phenomena that accompanied His death.... You were also aware of the controversy that occurred three days later.... The explanation of the religious leaders that His followers stole His body didn’t make sense.... And though over the next 40 days person after person was coming forward claiming Jesus was alive, this all seemed unbelievable at best.... Now on Pentecost this whole scene takes place and those involved are claiming Jesus was somehow involved?
Knowing this all sounded incredible, Peter once again turns to Scripture to show how all these things were not all that unbelievable, but had been foretold prophetically.
Acts 2:25-31, “For David says concerning Him (quotes Psalms 16:8-11): ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”
Before quoting Psalms 16 Peter set the stage, “For David says concerning Him....” Understand, the rabbinical teaching on Psalms 16 claimed that David was solely speaking of himself. And while it is true there are elements of this Scripture that no doubt reference his death, Peter points out that this statement alluding to resurrection “You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” had to be speaking prophetically concerning the Messiah since David was “both dead and buried.”
Peter’s presentation has been methodical: (1). Jesus had been sent by God. (2). Though you knew this you killed Him anyway. (3). Then he provides the Biblical basis for the idea the Messiah would die and be resurrected.... only to then drop the hammer....
Acts 2:32-35, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself (quotes Psalms 110:1): ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
Their original question was simple.... “What does this mean?” Peter’s answer.... Following His crucifixion, “God has raised up” Jesus to life “of which we are all witnesses” just as it had been predicted in Scripture by David. Peter then says that Jesus ascended to heaven where He was “exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”
Q: “What does this (the Spirit of God being poured out on all men) mean?”
A: It is proof that Jesus is not only alive, but is calling the shots from heaven!
Following this answer Peter then provides the implications of this reality....
Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
The boldness of Peter is palpable! Peter is unashamed! God sent us the Messiah. He validated Him by the miracles He preformed! But what did you do? You rejected and killed Him! But.... God made Him “both (“Kyrios”) Lord and (“Christos”) Christ.”
First Observation: Peter spoke the truth without fear!
He didn’t care what society thought of him. He doesn’t care if the truth offended his audience. And He wasn’t concerned what they might do to him. The congregation God assembled that day were not customers he was there to serve! Peter’s sermon was simple and profound.... God sent Jesus! You rejected and killed Him! But God resurrected and exalted Him to be “both Lord and Christ.”
Second Observation: Peter allowed the Holy Spirit to apply the message!
It’s interesting, but following the presentation of truth and making it clear what the implications of this truth happened to be Peter does not provide a call to action.... Acts 2:37 simply says, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Though this was not always the case (in another sermon found in Acts 3 Peter does provide a call to action) in this instance we’re told the multitude experienced a conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit independent of Peter’s solicitation. They cried out for Peter to explain what they should do.... may we trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish the same results in our hearts this morning.