Both Peter’s Pentecost sermon and Peter’s Second Sermon are wonderful examples of the power of the Bible. Both preach the truth and call people to repentance. Peter’s sermon defines Jesus as a servant of God, a holy and righteous man, and the Pentecost sermon declares him as a prophet like Moses. These two sermons are equally powerful.
THE MIRACLE EXPLAINED
The miracle of Acts 2 is a classic example of apostolic preaching. A man born with a paralyzed ankle is lifted to his feet by Peter and begins walking, leaping, and praising God. The miracle was performed in the name of Jesus. This man was later disowned and put to death.
The disciples of Jesus were taught by Jesus over a forty-day period. Jesus opened their minds to the words of Scripture and explained them to them. Peter recounts this event and invites people to turn away from their wickedness. But the Jews were not ready to accept the idea of Christ as God’s Chosen One.
The apostles’ first sermon focused on Jesus. He was a powerful messenger. His message was about Jesus, and his ministry was an extension of the gospel message. Acts 3:12 is a classic example of apostolic preaching. Peter’s second sermon focuses on Jesus’ role as the center of the gospel.
The first sermon focuses on Jesus’ healing of the lame man, while Acts 3:15-26 describes a miraculous act of faith. Hiebert is a conservative Presbyterian scholar and has given a clear and accurate interpretation of Acts. Hiebert does not include many technical details and aims to be accessible to English-speaking readers.
THE CALL TO REPENT
In the first part of Peter’s second sermon, he calls for repentance and faith in the Messiah. The crowds at Pentecost were on the verge of repentance when Peter suddenly interrupts the sermon to be arrested. But Peter’s arrest did not stop Jesus from using him to help the church grow. God used Peter to help the church grow despite his arrest, and that was why we should be encouraged to listen to his message.
In the next two passages, Peter describes the Kingdom of God and its coming. The word “refreshing” is used only once in the LXX, and it occurs only in Exod 8:15. In the context of Acts, it describes heaven. While the LXX uses “refreshing” only once, it is used in a context that makes it difficult to make any sense without the broader context of the gospels.
In his second sermon, Peter presents his audience with a challenging choice. He acknowledges that some of them were ignorant of Jesus and did not realize that he was Christ. However, he offers them the hope that God would still show mercy to them. And while it is important to recognize that the Jewish Sanhedrin was not perfect, ignorance is no excuse for sin.
THE CALL TO BE CONVERTED
The call to be converted in Peter’s second sermon is a central theme throughout the book of Acts. Peter’s call to repent and to be converted is not an empty one. We must believe in Jesus Christ to experience the joy of eternal life, and the only way to receive it is to have faith in him. The call to be converted is an important component of discipleship and the mission of the church.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation. Peter preached it in Acts 14:7 and it was a powerful message, stirring people’s faith to respond to the call to become converted. The man healed by the Word was a prime example of this. Peter’s call to be converted was an opportunity to present the Gospel to the religious leaders and incite their first persecution.
The call to be converted in Peter’s second sermon starts with his focus on God and Jesus. A crowd of fellow Jews assembles to see the man standing next to Peter. This man was formerly crippled and lived on handouts from the temple gates. He is a new man, a resurrected Savior. Peter emphasizes that he and John had little to do with this miracle.
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