The Sermon at Pentecost: Acts 2:14-41 contains Peter’s best sermon, ever. Peter has been restored to his role as the spokesman among the Apostles after denying Jesus. Peter’s sermon was a powerful reminder of the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. And while it’s not clear when he wrote this sermon, the context is evident. It is a remarkable moment in the history of the church.
THE EXPLANATION BY PETER
The sermon that Peter preached at Pentecost is crucial for understanding Jesus. This sermon demonstrates how the apostles interpreted the teachings of Jesus. Peter utilizes many Old Testament texts to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. These texts were fulfilled in Jesus’ life and at Pentecost. Peter’s main theme is the proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah. He also mentions the Old Testament, as he cites various texts that were prophesied about the Messiah.
The apostles did not drink wine, nor did they get drunk. Peter was careful to emphasize that the apostles were not drunk. He reminded the crowd that the prophet Joel 2:28-32 prophesied that the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit. He was the first apostle to give a speech about the resurrection of Jesus, pointing out that he had risen and ascended into heaven. The promise of the Holy Spirit was a sign from God, and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples.
The first part of Peter’s sermon is a lengthy and complicated description of the event. Peter’s arguments point to a messianic age. He makes a case for the Messiah by citing the Hebrew prophet Joel and the “father” of the nation, King David. As a result, devout Jews would have listened with careful attention to Peter’s words.
THEY WERE NOT DRUNK
The Day of Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit descended on a small group of believers. The accompanying sound from heaven attracted a large crowd of religious people to witness what was happening. These Hellenistic Jews were shocked to hear about the mighty works of God performed by Christians in their own language. Some wanted to know what it meant, while others laughed at the scene.
The first thing that strikes me is that Peter did not make it clear that the disciples were not drunk. The Jews ate at nine o’clock, which is the third hour of the day. Certainly, no Jew would be drinking during this time. Peter’s reference to the Jews’ customs is a genius, as they had not yet begun their feasting.
Throughout the sermon, Peter uses Scripture as his main source of inspiration. The Bible is a great source for sermons, so make sure you quote Scripture and not culture. In Acts 2:15-24, Peter quotes the Old Testament three times. In this passage, Peter explains that speaking in foreign tongues is a miracle that God had purposed for the disciples. Peter also quotes the Old Testament three times, laying the case for Jesus as the Christ.
THE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHECY
The fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost was not a complete event on Pentecost. Peter did not say that it was completed, merely that it has occurred. Joel’s prophecy requires a number of things to occur before it is fulfilled. In the context of this Sermon at Pentecost, the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy is merely symbolic.
While the original Joel prophecy only mentions prophesying once, Peter took this prophecy literally by comparing the pouring of the Spirit on believers in the last days to the onset of the church economy. However, prophesying differs from preaching. Some people take tongues to be preaching, while others take them to mean prophesying.
In the case of the church, the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy at Pentecost was both a harbinger of the end times and a foretaste of the Day of the Lord. In other words, the Day of Pentecost was the inauguration of the church, and the church was the beginning of a new era.
THE SERMON BY PETER
This first sermon by Peter is Christ-centered and Spirit-filled. In it, Peter addresses the dying men and testifies about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In fact, he addresses the crowd as “brethren” and “men” and addresses the whole house of Israel in various verses. Despite the fact that his audience is dying, Peter reaches them as a dying man and exhorts them to live a life of faith.
The Holy Spirit convicts the people who heard this sermon. They are called to “repent,” a term that embodies a radical change of direction and mind. Repentance is the recognition that one is a sinner and must turn towards God. Peter then preaches the Gospel from Scripture. This sermon is a powerful illustration of the apostles’ interpretation of Jesus. Peter uses texts from the Old Testament to illustrate the truth of the gospel message.
The text is often translated into English. Peter always stands to speak under the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthias has been absorbed into the eleven. The first time this text is translated, it will be much easier for us to understand. We’ll also notice that the crowd is linguistically diverse. This is a good sign. It will encourage us to share the gospel with our friends and family. Then, the next time you’re at a church service, you’ll want to read this sermon!
GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD
According to Bible scripture, God raised Jesus from the dead. In other words, the Holy Spirit did the work. The resurrection of Jesus took place by the power of divine substance, not by the action of any one person in the Trinity. The resurrection of Jesus affirms that the Son is a distinct person and not just a man who is one with God. We can believe that God raised Jesus from the dead as part of His work of saving humanity.
The NET Bible defines “God raised Jesus from the dead” as “made alive by the spirit.” In this context, the Holy Spirit refers to the Holy Ghost. Although most modern translations do not capitalize the word “spiritual,” the Bible clearly says that Jesus was raised from the dead by God. As a result, God’s name is used in the Bible as both God the Father and Jesus Christ.
THREEFOLD TESTIMONY
In Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost, we find a striking example of a threefold testimony. The risen Jesus is the focus, and Peter seeks to show that the Son has sent the Spirit to bring salvation. The Spirit, however, cannot save a person on their own. It must be sent by God, and it must be given to a man.
The apostles cite Joel 2:28-29 as an example of this. The text was a Jewish book, and Peter’s audience was Jewish. The apostles argued that the Spirit would come, and he and the other apostles had seen it. In this way, all the Jews would know that Peter was speaking of God’s coming and saving them.
In this Pentecostal sermon, Peter addresses the chasm between God and man. In fact, it’s a day of speaking in tongues. Men of all ages and races heard themselves addressed in their native tongues. It was a marvel to behold in Jerusalem. Peter preaches to the assembled crowd and uses this miraculous testimony to explain the nature of God’s power.
CONCLUSION
JESUS IS LORD AND CHRIST
The phrase, “Jesus is Lord and Christ,” can mean both things. First, Jesus is God in the flesh and therefore already possessed this position. Then, Peter’s message is that God made him Lord. As Lord, Jesus has ultimate authority over all things under the heavens and earth, controlling who lives and who dies. In other words, Jesus is Lord of all things and the Creator of all things. And because He is the only one who can do whatever He wants, everything is under His authority. This sovereignty is all-encompassing and is not subject to political or religious differences.
As Lord and Savior, Jesus is the Head of the church. Through His ascension, He inaugurated His heavenly ministry. He ascended to fulfill His purpose. He became our Man-Savior, the One God appointed to fulfill His purposes. And, after his death on the cross, He became our Lord and Christ. As Lord and Christ, Jesus carries out God’s economy. And, because of His divine nature and His exalted rank, He is Lord and Christ.
Related Bible Study
5 Signs of the Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost
