Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, in order to have this explained to you give ear to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose, it is the third hour of the day after all; but this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel:
'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst - as you yourselves know - this Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God - you crucified and let him be killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him, having loosed the pangs of death, since it was not possible for him to be held by it. For as David says concerning him,
'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.'
Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 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 which you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet. Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 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 shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."
In a Nutshell
Peter tells about God's promised Holy Spirit and explains
what has just happened. He gives the teaching of the apostolic synagogue, and
supports his comments by statements made by Joel and David. Those listening are
urged to repent and believe.
Questions
Why would Peter tell this group that they had crucified
Jesus? And then, why did they respond as they did? (see Luke 23:23, Mark 15:6-15, Matthew 27:25)
This is a great sermon. I wonder how Peter prepared for it? Imagine the evening before with the apostles together reading Joel 2:28-32. It is getting late, near sunset. A few questions are asked but Peter says, "Well yes, it is very interesting and we must return to this after Pentecost. But now let's get ready for the celebration that is upon us." Well, Luke didn't say that. That's just my imagination. But Peter certainly had Joel on his mind the morning God's Spirit came.
Peter, the Galilean, announced to his fellow Jews from all over the known world: "Salvation is for whoever calls on God's Name!" Remember the fig-tree and what Jesus taught after He had cleaned out the temple? So, He also forgave from His heart. And that meant Herod, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Judas, the lying witnesses, the priests, the Pharisees and the Sadducees? It also meant Peter. And you and me? Remember His prayer from the cross? "Father forgive them …" Remember the Lord's prayer. Since God forgives my sins I must forgive the sins of all who have sinned against me when I stand before Him and ask Him for His mercy and help.
Peter now says something truly stupendous. Those co-responsible
for the death of the Messiah are called to receive God's mercy and forgiveness.
Repentance and faith. That's it. The Messiah has done His work. Salvation has
been won. Peter invites those who were on the street on the day when Jesus was
tried to now receive God's free gift of mercy. They mindlessly called for the
release of Barabbas and
so took sides with Jesus' enemies. But this One is God's gift to all nations.
He is your Messiah, O Israel! Repent. Believe. That's all that was needed.