Acts 2
2:1-13
The Holy Spirit Comes
This event occurred on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost is the Greek term for the Jewish Feast of Weeks or First Fruits. (Leviticus 23:15-21) It was a harvest cerebration. It was observed 50 days after the the day of the wave offering at Passover. Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 50 (pentecostos). Greek speaking Jews used this term for the Feast. This was the day chosen by God to send the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.
When the Holy Spirit arrived, there was a sound like a mighty rushing wind. It filled the whole house. (2) The sound of the mighty wind may have been to show that the Spirit was coming with power. It reminds me of Ezekiel commanding the wind to blow on the dead, dry bones so that they lived. (Ezekiel 37) It also reminds us of John 3, where Jesus spoke of the wind blowing as being like the Spirit regenerating a person.
In addition to the noise, tongues that looked like flames of fire appeared above each one. Thus we have a fulfillment of the prophesy of John the Baptist that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16-17)
Fire often means God is present in the Old Testament. The most famous example is the burning bush of Exodus 3:2-5. There the “angel of the Lord” appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in the bush. The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity.
The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gave them “utterance”, the ability to speak in other languages. (4) We know that the tongues were understandable languages by the reaction of those who came to see what caused the noise. They each heard the disciples speaking in their language. Luke records the countries these people came from, roughly east to west. They were mostly Jews who came for the feast, but Luke recorded that some from Rome were proselytes, who would have been gentiles who converted to Judaism.
Thus the coming of the Holy Spirit reversed the curse of Babel, when God scattered the people and made them speak different languages because they united in an attempt to build a tower to heaven. (Genesis 11:1-9)
Notice what the disciples were saying in their various languages: they were proclaiming the mighty works of God. (11) They were not speaking incoherent sounds, but words in known languages that allowed the foreigners to hear the word of God.
The coming of the Holy Spirit if the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to the disciples Acts 1, that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit soon. (Acts 1:5) The Holy Spirit would come to empower the disciples to be Jesus’ witnesses all over the world. The tongues showed this to be true, as the Spirit came and empowered the disciples to speak to those who had come from all over the world they knew.
Some, of course, scoffed. They accused the disciples of being drunk. (13)
Peter’s Sermon
2:14-36
2:14-21
Explaining the Holy Spirit
The people in the crowd were amazed and perplexed by the disciples speaking in many languages. The apostles (the Twelve) realized an explanation was needed, so they stood together and Peter, their leader addressed the crowd. (14) He assured them the men were not drunk. It is actually a bit funny. He said they were not drunk since it was only nine o’clock in the morning (the third hour). (15)
Rather that wine, Peter said their actions were that of the Spirit. He launched into a sermon, using many Old Testament proofs for his Jewish audience.
First, Peter said, this event was the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28-32) He quoted those words, where God, speaking through Joel, said in the last days he would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, men and women. All of those disciples gathered together received the Holy Spirit and the languages, men and women.
Joel called this time “the last days”. We often think of the last days as the very end of time, but Peter use it to mean the age of the church, the time from the arrival of Jesus to the return of Jesus end of the age. In 1 Peter 1:20, he said Christ was made manifest at the end of the times.
The end of the passage says “it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (21) All who commit themselves to Christ in faith will be saved. Paul also referred to this verse in Romans 10:13. He said if you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
2:22-26
Explaining Jesus
Peter explained who Jesus was: a man attested by God with his miracles. (22) He also referred to Jesus’ mighty works, just as the disciples had proclaimed God’s mighty works in various languages. (22)These were done in their midst. Many of those present had seen Jesus perform miracles or heard about them.
And Peter talked about sin, He reminded them that they had crucified him. They bore the guilt of his murder.
But God was at work in this. Jesus was killed according to the definite plan ad foreknowledge of God. (23) God both planned and knew that Jesus would be killed. Jesus said the scripture said he must suffer and die. It could only say that if God knew and ordained it to happen. Romans 8:32 says God gave Jesus up for us all. And, just as God was sovereign over the death of Jesus, he was sovereign over his resurrection. (24)
To prove this point about resurrection, Peter went again to the Scripture. He quoted Psalm 16:8-11, written by David. David spoke of one who would not be abandoned to death. This did not apply to David, as Peter said we all know he died and was buried in the tomb that was present in Jerusalem.
Rather, Peter said, David foresaw as a prophet and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ (Messiah), who would not be abandoned to the grave or to see corruption. (31) Part of the reason he knew this is that God promised he would set one of David’s descendants on the throne, referring to 2 Samuel 7:16 and Psalm 132:11. (30)
Peter also added that he and the other disciples were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. (32) That is the reason Jesus made so many appearances to the disciples.
Peter did not stop with the resurrection, but went to to talk about Jesus’ ascension. He said God raised Jesus up and exalted him at God’s right hand. This, the Jews would have recognized, was a fulfillment of Psalm 110:1, “The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”, which Peter quoted. Again, Peter pointed out this was not David, who did not ascend to the heavens but was buried in Jerusalem. (34)
The ascended Jesus received from the Father the Holy Spirit who had been promised. He poured the Holy Spirit out on the disciples. And the Holy Spirit caused the language speaking the crowd had observed. (33)
Peter concluded with the fact that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Messiah).
And the Jews killed him. (36)
2:37-41
The Response of the Crowd
Hearing these words, the people were convicted of their sin. They were “cut to the heart”. They asked Peter what they should do to escape judgment for what they had done.
Peter responded to them, saying to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. (38) Some have used this verse to claim baptism saves. But the idea here that one is baptized in the name of Jesus because one believes Jesus is the Christ, repents of his sin, and commits himself to Jesus.
Baptism does not save, but it is a public profession of faith. And it is the first act of obedience. Many churches today diminish the importance of baptism and do not demand it. But, if you will not be baptized as commanded, it is hard to imagine you have indeed repented and turned to follow Jesus.
Peter also told them that, upon their commitment to Christ, they would receive the Holy Spirit. (39) All of us who have believed have received the Spirit. It is the gift of God to those who follow his Son. This verse is not talking about spiritual gifts, it is saying the Spirit is the gift.
Peter emphasized the scope of the promise of salvation. It was certainly for them, the Jews, and their children\descendants. But is was also for the Gentiles. They were the ones who were “far off”. (39) Paul, in Ephesians 2, used this same language referring to the Gentiles of Ephesus as those who were once far off having been brought near. There is a reflection here of Isaiah 57:18, which says “Peace, peace to the far and to the near, says the LORD”. As Joel prophesied, “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Joel 2:21) And everyone whom God calls to himself will call upon Jesus and be saved. (39)
Luke summarized Peter’s sermon, but let us know Peter said many other things. (40) His preaching was effective: about 3,000 people were baptized and added to the church.
The church, empowered by the Spirit, led by the apostles, had begun to fulfill the commission to make disciples.
Let us continue the mission!
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