And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
In a Nutshell
Peter's words hit home and from 120 the community of believers grew to over 3000 in one day. God's Spirit had brought refreshment and a new era was well under way.
Questions
Why do Christians so easily forget that the apostolic church was from the first a synagogue following Jesus the Messiah?
Peter, with
the other apostles, rejected the view of the scoffers who thought such talk
about God's wonders had come about because some zealots had already begun their
Pentecost celebrations. But the wine caskets were still unopened. It was still
morning. No-one was drunk - not the visitors; not the apostles. But when God
pours out His Spirit amazing things do happen - we see things in a totally new
way; we dream new dreams and think new thoughts. And not just some of us. Old
and young, men and women, family and servants, everyone last one of us gets
caught up in God's mighty power. This event was a strong reminder then, and
should remind us now, that God's
day is surely on its way. This earth and all who live in it are surely
under His control. Yes indeed there will be signs - blood and fire and smoke in
heaven and on earth - and even if the sun be blocked out and the moon bloodied,
even then such events will be showing God's great power pointing to His day.
"This present sign," said Peter, "is to encourage you to get
right with God. Call upon Him and you can be sure your salvation is
secure." Peter reminded them how Jesus had been killed by the treachery of
lawless men. But God raised Him. God kept His promises. God always keeps His
promises. What David had sung about Him had come true!
It was then
that so many of the Jews who were present realized that Peter was right. The
Messiah had come! They might have helped in His execution, but the Crucified One
was clearly their Messiah. 3000 were baptized that day. God's forgiveness
continued to be poured out. His historic people from around the known world
tasted and saw that He is indeed good. So they kept meeting together, continued
to seek the help of God's Spirit, praying, listening to God's word, sharing
their lives, sharing the things they owned. Doing good. That is how the Jewish
people who followed Jesus got started in organizing themselves so that the
message could get out to the whole world.