THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 2, The Day of Pentecost, Peter’s Prophetic Sermon.

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 2

The Day of Pentecost, Peter’s Prophetic Sermon

Thus begins the record and demonstration of the mysterious ways of God, His power and proofs by way of the coming of The Holy Spirit and the fulfilling of prophecies. Once again, I would remind that these are the acts of God, alone. Men and women can and will be affected by them, deepened in their faith, galvanized in thier beliefs and moved to action, but in no case do we have the authority to replicate these acts by our own volition. It is the Work of God through His yielded and obedient servants – including you and me.

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1, When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Verse 2. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Verse 3. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. Verse 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

(Commentary Break):

It was the celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest. In Palestine, there were two harvests each year. The early harvest  which came during the months of May and June; and the final harvest came in the Fall. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, In the Hebrew Bible, mysterious windstorms with fire or lightning are consistently associated with two things: God’s presence and the formation of a temple. This leads us to the significance for the fulfilling of prophecy and this act – it is the date of the establishing of the Christian Church, and it signals the inception of the greatest harvest of souls the earth will ever experience.

This day of Pentecost has to do with the initiation of the greatest of harvests

The signs and origins of these matters are meant to remain mostly a mystery to us. The wind, the cloven tongues of fire and the speaking in tongues in other recognizable languages are far beyond our natural comprehension. We see the results and marvel, but it is the advent of the Holy Spirit and His works at which we marvel.

We can speculate, but Isaiah 55:9 reminds us that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts.” And again we are reminded that, God’s judgments are unsearchable, and His ways are inscrutable”. We cannot know His mind, nor can we advise God. (see Romans 11:33–34; Job 42:1–6; Psalms. 139:6, 17–18; 147:5; Isaiah. 57:15; 1 Corinthians 2:10–11; 1 Timothy 6:13–16).

Additionally, when a person is filled with and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they may appear to be doing wondrous works and miracles. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit through a vessel of flesh and blood. It should be a humbling experience and not one to be grasped upon by the participant.

Pray that God would bestow such a humbling honor upon you, then prepare yourself for both the expected and the unexpected!

The great harvest and the end of days as spoken of in scriptures, began with these events, and you are to be a participants in this final harvest of the earth, which marks the beginning of the end of all things on earth. Afterward, comes an eternity with God in a new heaven and a new earth!  (End Commentary Break)

Verse 5. Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. Verse 6. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. Verse 7. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? Verse 8. And how is it that we each hear them in our own language, to which we were born? Verse 9. Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Verse 10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Verse 11. Cretans and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” Verse 12. And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Verse 13. But others were jeering and saying, “They are full of sweet wine!”

(Commentary Break): The words used in the foregoing verses, 5 through 13, are very precise. Please take note: Jews residing in Jerusalem; devout men; from every nation; they were bewildered, amazed, astonished, in great perplexity; asking, what does this mean?

You must not miss the significance of the date on which this is occurring and seeming chaos of the moment. Although devout Jews, they have failed to see this coming as it was prophecied. But have no doubt, preparation is being made for the separation of the tares from the wheat, the sheep from the goats, and the faithful from the rebellious. (End Commentary Break).

Peter’s Sermon

Verse 14 But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words. Verse 15. For these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour of the day; Verse 16. But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

Verse 17. ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,

‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;

AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,

AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS,

AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL HAVE DREAMS;

Verse 18. AND EVEN ON MY MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS

I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS,

And they will prophesy.

Verse 19.  ‘AND I WILL DISPLAY WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE

AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,

BLOOD, FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

Verse 20. ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS

AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,

BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD COMES.

Verse 21. ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

(Commentary Break): Despite these wonders and signs, some were jeering and saying that these men were just drunk on sweet wine. But Peter takes his stand and says,”this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel the prophet: IN THESE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS, (see Joel 2). The takeaway is that these events are the fulfilling of prophecy, and they mark the period in eschatology known as “The Last Days”!

It is very important to take note that Jesus spoke of these times as being “The Last Days” in Matthew 24:3-31, as did Peter, Timothy, Paul, Matthew and John (see “It Is Time – The Day Is Upon Us”).

This also marks the time when Jesus reminds His disciple, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.” (see John 4:35), and this message still resonates to this day. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 22. “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, verse 23, this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Verse 24. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Verse 25.  For David says of Him,

‘I SAW THE LORD CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME,

BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.

Verse 26. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE WAS OVERJOYED;

MOREOVER, MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;

Verse 27. FOR YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,

NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.

Verse 28. ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;

YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’

Verse 29. “Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Verse 30. So because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, verse 31, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. Verse 32.  It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. Verse 33. Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.

(Commentary Break): Here, Peter continues to cite the fulfullment of prophecies by the risen Jesus our Christ and reminding everyone that these present are first hand witnesses! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 34.  For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,

“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Verse 35. UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’ Verse 36.  Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Verse 37. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Verse 38. Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse 39. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Verse 40. And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” Verse 41. So, then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Verse 42.  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Verse 43. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Verse 44. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; verse 45, and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. Verse 46. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, verse 47, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

(Commentary Break): Please sense and feel the intensity of Peter’s words. See and read about the effects of his words. This should be the model for sermons in Christian Churches in these Last Days.

This should be the description of life within the Body of Christ in these Last Days. Everyone feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs taking place, and all believers  together having all things in common; so we would be willing to sell property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone having need. Continuing, day by day, with one mind in the Church, breaking bread from house to house, taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord will add to our number day by day, that is those who are being saved. (End Commentary Break).

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for our teaching, rebuke,  correction, abnd for our training in righteousness. As we move through this era of the Last Days which Jesus called the “beginning of Birth Pangs” and enter into the intensification of the final days of tribulation (just before the and the Sixth Tribulation Scroll and Seal and the rapture of the saints).

We must be prepared. We have been told and warned well in advance. Let’s pray for one another. Let;s stand together, doing what He has told us, up until that day!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 1, Dedicated Service, The Ascension, The Upper Room

NEXT: (coming soon). THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chaper 3, Healing the Beggar, Peter’s Second Sermon.

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