Bible Reading for February 26 – Acts 2:22-41

This was no fluffy, trendy sermon, pandering to the felt needs of the Jerusalem crowd. After all, they wanted physical healing and material prosperity, but above all, they wanted freedom from the Romans. That’s why they had chosen Barabbas to be released to them instead of Jesus – because Jesus refused to use His miraculous powers to lead them in an armed insurrection. Oh no, they had no use for a Messiah like Jesus. That’s why they had clamored for Him to be crucified (Acts 2:23, 36).

But in his sermon on Pentecost, Peter didn’t give the crowd any of the things they wanted. He simply reminded them of the many miracles that they all knew Jesus had done (2:22). He pointed out that, even though they had been complicit in Jesus’ crucifixion, His death had actually been a critical component of God’s great plan of salvation (2:23). He gave both eyewitness testimony and Scriptural support for the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead (2:24-32). And He explained that the reason he and the rest of the apostles were suddenly able to speak so many different languages was because Jesus had ascended into Heaven and had poured out His Holy Spirit on them (2:33).

In sum, Peter made the same claim about Jesus – that He was both Lord and Christ (2:36) – that Jesus had made for Himself when He had stood before the religious leaders. But when Jesus claimed to be the “Son of Man” who would soon be “seated at the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69), they had called Him a blasphemer and dragged Him off to be executed – and many of the same people who were listening to Peter’s words on Pentecost had supported their leaders’ decision on Good Friday.

So, why did the Jerusalem crowd have such a different response to Peter’s sermon? Why did they ask the apostles in humility and fear what they needed to do (2:37) to avoid God’s judgment for their crimes? Why did so many of them agree that very day to be baptized and become Christians (2:41), believing Peter’s words even though they had rejected what Jesus said about Himself just a few weeks before?

It wasn’t because of Peter’s preaching prowess, or a moving musical selection, or an attractive and interesting program. It wasn’t because Peter soft-pedaled the problem of sin or appealed to the validity of many different faith traditions. No, Peter’s simple, straightforward, and frankly accusatory presentation of the claims of Christ had such tremendous effect because the promise of salvation is, in fact, for “everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (2:39), even for three thousand of the same people who had screamed for Jesus to be crucified, even for Peter who had denied Jesus three times on the night He was arrested.

Yes, just as the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples for witness (2:33), the Holy Spirit cut the Jerusalem crowd to the heart, convicting them of their sin and convincing them of their need to be saved (2:37-38). By the power of His Spirit, God called a church to Himself out of the very people who had crucified Christ, and God continues to call even the worst of sinners to repent and be forgiven today. Will we listen to Him and respond in faith?

Acts 2:22-41 (ESV)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know–
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”‘
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.