Acts 2
OGCTHE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
All the events of the first seven Chapter s can be summed up under the heading: The Church in Jerusalem. In the picture of the preceding page you can observe an artist’s conception of Jerusalem as it appeared in the time of the events recorded in the book. Within the walls are designated four buildings. These are lettered and named as follows:
A.
The Upper Room,
B.
The Temple,
C.
The Public Ward or Jail,
D.
The Synagogue of the Libertines.
In and around these buildings, (which, with the exception of the Temple, are conjecturally located) all the events recorded in the first seven Chapter s took place. These events can be counted as eighteen in number and are so designated on the preceding page. You can follow these events, one by one, as to where they took place and as to what happened by following the numbers on the chart from one through eighteen and reading the scripture references given. The pages following are simply an enlargement upon the points or numbers you found upon the foregoing picture. The scripture is printed under the heading of the points and the comment following is intended to make the events recorded in the text a living reality to your mind and heart.
ACTS EXAMINATION OVER Chapter S ONE AND TWO
What do you think of the title of the book?
Give two reasons for saying Luke wrote the book.
What does Nero have to do with the book of Acts?
How many years are covered in this narrative?
How do I know that gospel preaching began in this book?
Do you say the church has the record of its beginning in this book? Prove it.
What four cities appear most often in this book?
What is meant by the divine execution of the great commission?
What is a treatise?
Is everything Jesus taught recorded in the New Testament?
What is The commandment spoken of in verse two?
In what places was the great commission given?
What question did the apostles ask Jesus on His last day on earth?
What is strange about the above question?
With an open Bible outline the five results of the unity.
Should the community of goods described in these verses be practiced today? If not, why not?
Why would it be logical to imagine Jehovah saying while looking over the list of names in the Lamb’s book of life these are my called out ones, my church?
How did the promise of the power answer the question of the apostles?
How will Jesus come in like manner as He went?
What comparison can we make in Acts 1:1 to Acts 2:12 to our lives? (Read the text).
How did the apostles secure the upper room as place for their living?
Name the twelve apostles.
Was there a ten day prayer meeting? If not, what was there?
True or False
There was a lapse of time between the prayer meeting and the filling of the office of Judas.
The filling of the office of Judas happened while there were 120 present in the large upper room.
The filling of the office of Judas lends no particular force to the thought that only the apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah said: Let his habitation be made desolate, and let no man dwell therein and, his office let another take.
It was 700 years between the prophecy and its fulfillment.
Judas pointed Jesus out to His enemies by kissing Him.
Jesus never really called Judas.
Judas did not himself buy the field in which he fell. (i.e. personally).
Judas was slaughtered in this field.
It was a potter’s field.
The field came to be called by strangers: The field of blood.
There was only one direct qualification given for an apostle.
The apostles knew even before Pentecost that they were to preach the resurrection of Christ.
The place to which Judas fell was the paupers-’ field.
God was the one who chose Matthias.
Fill in the Blanks
The five steps in discovering God’s will in matters that are not spoken of in God’s word are:
Know that ___________________________________________________________ ______ Second. Know that _____________________________________________ _____________________________________ Third. To have ___________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Fourth. To pray ________________________________________________________ Fifth. Make ___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The day of Pentecost was the day toward which the whole ___________ and ___________ of Jesus pointed.
On this day Jesus-’ words in Caesarea Philippi were fulfilled when He said: _______________________________________________________ Matthew 16:18
The hand of God can be seen in the selection of the day of Pentecost as the day for the establishment of the church for the proper ________ were present, the proper ________ was present, and the proper ________ was present to accomplish this wonderful work.
The apostles were all together in an ____________________________ in the temple for the Holy Spirit baptism.
The day of Pentecost was also called the feast of the __________________________ because:
The reason for the sound as of a rushing wind and the tongues like as of fire was to attract ______________ and ______________ from the crowd.
We can know for a certainty that verse of the ______________ second chapter is a fulfillment of verse ______ of the first chapter.
The ______________ of the apostles was that portion of their beings baptized in the Holy Spirit.
There was devout Jews from ______________ (give the number) nations present in Jerusalem for Pentecost.
Can you find TEN MISTAKES in this paragraph?
(Cross out the mistakes)
All the crowd said: They are filled with new wine. But Peter standing up with the twelve lifted up his voice and spake forth unto them and said: Ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem. then it was that he said it was only the ninth hour of the day and therefore these men could not be drunk. He further said that this was a fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy. The last days mentioned are the last days of Israel and Jacob. The pouring forth of His spirit upon all flesh was not accomplished on that day in any form. The statements in verses seventeen and eighteen relative to the prophesying and visions (read them if you like) can be understood as the baptism in the Holy Spirit of such persons. The proposition of Peter’s sermon was: A demonstration of Jesus as the Christ. His sermon was addressed directly to the men present and brought great conviction to them. There were five points in the sermon’s development. David spoke of the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah. These facts Peter’s sermon demonstrated occurred in the life of the Christ. There were two results to Peter’s sermon. The three thousand were baptized in a day or two and thus on the coming Lord’s day they continued in the breaking of the bread.
Acts 2:1-4
- IN AN APARTMENT IN THE TEMPLE.
a.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-4.
And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
**Acts 2:1 **The great day had arrived. The day toward which the whole plan and program of Jesus had pointed. His death and resurrection would mean nothing unless spread abroad; and here was the day upon which these great facts were to be declared for the first time. When Jesus stood in Caesarea Philippi and made that glorious promise: I will build my church (Matthew 16:18), He was looking forward to this day. The word church means called out. On this day of Pentecost certain persons were called out of the world by the preaching of the gospel to become the possession of Christ; thus to form His called out body, His church. Jesus had not been explicit as to the number of days the apostles were to tarry in the city, He simply said it would be not many days (Acts 1:5), but it is interesting to note the divine hand in the selection of this particular day: The **proper people **were on this day present: devout men (Acts 2:5), thus they were more receptive to the divine truth. The proper preachers were there: those whom Jesus Himself had designated, His twelve apostles. These were the men Jesus had selected and taught; all the while preparing them for this momentous occasion. The proper power was present, that promised power of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The subject of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to be taken up in our special study (Cf. pp. 351). Suffice it to say here that:
Why can we consider the day of Pentecost the day toward which the whole plan and program of Jesus pointed?
Explain how the church was established on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus had promised the apostles that they were to receive this power. (Acts 1:5)
That the grammatical construction of Act 1:26 and Acts 2:1 points only to the apostles as the recipients of this experience.
When we remember that the original manuscripts did not contain the chapter and paragraph divisions that our English translations do, and then we read from the close of the first chapter ignoring the break of the chapter and paragraph, it becomes very clear who Luke wanted us to understand were immersed in the Holy Spirit. Note how it reads this way:
And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
The fact that the antecedent of any pronoun is found by referring back to the nearest noun with which it agrees in person, number and case clinches the argument of the baptism of only the apostles in the Holy Spirit.
It might be well to say just a word as to where the apostles were gathered. The scriptures say they were all together in one place but where was that place? It is important to notice that it must have been in some other place than the upper room referred to in Acts 1:13, for had it been a continuation of action in the same room there would have been no need to mention that they were gathered together, since that would have already been known.
We are disposed to the opinion that the place spoken of was an apartment in the temple. We hold this opinion for the following reasons:
The circumstances of preaching to thousands would not lend itself to this taking place in a private residence. Whereas, all the twelve needed to do in the temple apartment, which faced the temple area, was to turn to the patio side of the apartment, and there were the many acres of the temple area to accommodate the crowd.
Since this was a great feast day for the Jews, the temple was the headquarters for the celebration (Luke 24:53), it would not seem logical that the apostles would be in their homes upon such an occasion.
Luke states they were continually in the temple blessing God. What more appropriate time to be in the temple worshiping God than upon this great day of the feast of the first fruits?
Give three evidences of the divine hand in the selection of the day of Pentecost as the day for the establishment of the church.
How can we say that the grammatical construction of Act 1:26 and Acts 2:1 points only to the twelve as the ones baptized in the Holy Spirit?
How can we know that the gathering of the apostles was in some other place than the upper room?
Acts 2:2-4 Notice that there was a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind. It does **not **say there was mighty wind, but only the sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind. This sound was confined to the place wherein they were sitting. Immediately preceding the sound, or appearing simultaneously with the sound, were the tongues like as of fire, or what appeared to be tongues of fire, which upon appearing, immediately distributed themselves over the various parts of the room and came to rest upon the apostles. These tongues of fire were like the sound of the wind, they were not literal flames of fire but only like as of fire. The reason for these manifestations was, no doubt, to lend splendor to the occasion which would attract attention and interest, and would at the same time manifest to all that saw and heard that the hand of God was in the whole experience. We can know as a dogmatic certainty that Acts 2:4 of the second chapter is the literal fulfillment of Act 2:5 of the first chapter. Jesus had promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit and here is the fulfillment of His promise.
Consider a point of import: What is meant by the word baptism as it is here used? The **objects **of the baptism were the apostles. the **element **of the baptism was the Holy Spirit. What **part **of the apostles was immersed in the Holy Spirit? A moment’s thought will cause us to say that their minds were the portions of their beings to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. Thus the personality of the Holy Spirit literally immersed the personalities of the twelve and they spake not from their own spirits, but only as their immersed spirits were controlled by the Spirit of God. Indeed Jesus-’ words in Matthew 10:20 found an actual fulfillment here: For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
What reasons are given for saying that the baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred in a temple apartment?
Was the sound of the rushing of a mighty wind general or local?
Why were these miraculous manifestations given at this time?
What statement of Jesus finds its fulfillment on this day?
Explain the meaning and use of the word baptism as used in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What kind of Jews were present at Pentecost, and what called them together to listen to the words of Peter?
Acts 2:5-13
b.
The result of the baptism. Acts 2:5-13.
Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?
Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
**Acts 2:5-13 **We have already observed the result of the Holy Spirit baptism upon the apostles. We come now to note its result upon those who beheld this miraculous appearance.
We take note first of those present to witness this scene: Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. As we have already commented, the day of Pentecost called many Jews from their native homes to Jerusalem to participate in this annual feast. That they were **devout men **indicates their deep interest in the things of Jehovah. A better soil could not be imagined for planting the seed of the kingdom. Luke next tells us what called the congregation together. The sound of the rushing of a mighty wind. It seemed to be located in a particular portion of the temple, This called a great multitude to this place to investigate. When they arrived imagine their surprise when they found no effects of a great wind, but what they did behold was a sight never before beheld by mortal eye, and they heard things which no man had ever heard.
47
Using a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, look up a diagram of the temple and formulate in your mind the location of the temple area, apartments, and sanctuary.
48
What three words describe the results of the hearing of every man speaking in his own language?
49
Using a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, locate upon a map the nations spoken of in Acts 2:9-11.
Will you imagine with me a Jew from the nation of Cappadocia running toward the temple? As he runs he must pause every so often ere he jostle a stranger. There is an ever increasing crowd gathering, hurrying to the same place. He hears as he dodges in and out among the crowd, a babel of voices, and it seems that no two languages or dialects are the same. He thinks: Ah, to be home among my own people and to hear once again my native tongue. Being near the temple when startled by this sound, he soon comes to the place of interest. There is a little knot of men gathered under the balcony of one of the temple apartments; he looks up through the balcony rail, and there, standing together, are several very ordinary looking men. But what is that above their heads? It looks like flames of fire, yea, tongues of fire. They are speaking, but what are they saying? Suddenly, a startled look comes across the face of the Cappadocian Jew, for he can **understand every word these men are saying. **They are speaking to him **in his native dialect! **How good it is to hear it again, and they are declaring the mighty works of God. He listens for a moment and then becomes curious and looks around him. There, written upon the faces of all, is utter astonishment. All seem to be held in a spell of perplexity. Soon the shock of the first impression is worn off, and he sees on every hand signs that all who are there assembled are hearing and seeing exactly what he is. How can this be? Are not these men upon the balcony Galileans? How can it be then that every man can hear them speaking in his own tongue wherein he was born? Why, there are here assembled: Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea and I had others from Cappadocia, there are those here from Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Egypt and parts of Libya about Cyrene, sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, even Cretans and Arabians. All these are hearing what I am hearing in their own tongue. What can this mean?
Here we leave our imaginary Jew and add that all who were there gathered were amazed and perplexed, and the question of our Cappadocian Jew was the question of every heart. But we, upon reading this account, although we understand its action and import, are amazed and perplexed ourselves, for there were mockers present who dared to mock at this divine demonstration. They said with utter lack of reason: They are filled with new wine.
Did the apostles speak in fifteen languages or did the Holy Spirit perform a miracle of hearing?
What reason would you assign for the words of those who said, They are filled with new wine?
Acts 2:14-36
c.
The sermon of Peter. Acts 2:14-36.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men
THE TOMB OF DAVID
The whole group of buildings is called Neby Daud, which signifies the Sanctuary of the Sepulchre of the Prophet David.
Peter could say in his day: his tomb is with us unto this day. Persons could go to view the place where David was buried. And so today we are shown in the city of Jerusalem these buildings as the tomb of David. Whether or not this tomb does indeed contain the dust of the king of Israel we know that he both died and was buried, but of the one he spoke He is alive forevermore. Only kings and prophets were buried in cities. (1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 16:6; 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Samuel 25:28.)
of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day;
but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
And it shall be in the last days, saith God,
I will pour forth of 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 servants and on my handmaidens in those days
Will I pour forth of 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 vapor of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day:
And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;
him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:
whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David saith concerning him,
I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades,
Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.
Thou madest known unto me the ways of life;
Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne;
he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself,
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
**Acts 2:14-16 **Evidently the jeering of the mockers was loud and distinct enough to be heard by the apostles, for we now find Peter standing forth among the twelve and giving answer to their charge. His first words are a bold denial of the accusation and then follows his two-fold reply; These are not drunken, as ye suppose because:
It is only nine o-‘clock in the morning; whoever heard of men drunk at this hour on a sacred feast day? The drunken charge could not have been true for it was a strict violation of Jewish law to drink intoxicants on a feast day.
This which ye behold is a fulfillment of prophecy. This is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel. Then he quotes the words of the prophet. We shall notice their import and meaning according to the verses:
**Acts 2:17-18 **The last days spoken of in these verses must be associated with the context for their meaning. The words of Joel, like those of a number of other prophets have to do with **Judah **and **Jerusalem, **hence we can say that the last days have reference to the last days of Judah as a tribe (the term Judah has reference also, at times, to the whole nation of Israel) and to the last days of Jerusalem as a city. The exact fulfillment of these words becomes apparent when we realize that it was only thirty-five or forty years from the day Peter spoke to the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the nation of Israel.
How do the words of Peter concerning the time of day answer the charge of the mockers?
To what period of time do the words, the last days, refer, as used in Acts 2:17?
The pouring forth of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh was **potentially **accomplished upon the day of Pentecost. It is impossible to claim more than this. The reference to all flesh doubtless contemplated the reception of the Holy Spirit by both Jew and Gentile. To say that all flesh upon this day received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is an absurdity in view of the fact that all present were Jews. How then can it be said that these words of the prophet can here find fulfillment? It seems best to say that because the apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they were enabled to carry the gospel to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and through obedience to the gospel both Jew and Gentile received, as a gift from God, the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39). Thus could it be said that all flesh received the Holy Spirit through what occurred on Pentecost.
We next find the promise of prophesying and visions. How can these be connected with the day of Pentecost and the events of that day? The answer is found in realizing that through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the apostles were given the power that upon whomsoever they laid their hands they could impart to those persons certain spiritual powers called spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). These gifts included prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, etc. The statement in Acts 2:17-18 relative to the prophesying and visions can then be understood as the spiritual gifts imparted by the apostles to the persons named.
This all came about as a result of the Holy Spirit baptism.
How can it be said that upon the day of Pentecost the words of Joel were fulfilled, i.e. the fulfillment of his words: I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh?
When were these last days consummated?
How were the prophesyings and visions connected with the day of Pentecost.
**Acts 2:19-21 **Many and various are the remarks upon these verses. We will not enter the arena of controversy, but will content ourselves by stating that it seems altogether probable that the words of these verses could very well be applied to the day of the Pentecostal feast. Note the expressions and how their fulfillment can be found in the celebration:
I will show wonders in the heavens above, and signs on the earth beneath. then follows the description of the wonders and signs. Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord come, that great and notable day: And it shall be that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
One explanation of Act 2:19-21 is: The blood and fire, and vapor of smoke, were surely found upon the day of this feast. The blood must have flowed from the altars like rivers, as the thousands of animals were sacrificed. The fire and vapor of smoke ascended from the altars as the same sacrifices were burned. As the great billows of smoke filled the air in Jerusalem the sun was quite literally turned into darkness, being hidden because of the smoke-encumbered atmosphere. The moon viewed through the smoke appeared as the color of blood. All this took place **before **the preaching of the first gospel sermon; the preaching of this message of redemption made this day of Pentecost the day of the Lord. And then it could be said that Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How this calling upon the name of the Lord took place may best be understood by reading the rest of the chapter.
Peter’s answer to the accusation of the drunkenness formed a springboard for the rest of his message. Having shown that the events happening were in fulfillment of the prophet’s words, he now continues his message, and immediately brings forward the burden of his inspired utterance. Those who stood before him must have now understood that he and the eleven were indeed inspired, and the message they proclaimed was one from God. There must have been but one question in the mind of every thoughtful Jew: We must indeed confess that these men are speaking under divine leadership, but **what is the purpose? **What is the reason behind all this? Surely there must be more to this occasion than a mere declaration unto various nations in their various languages -the mighty works of God-’. This question is now answered by the apostle Peter. We might say in our own words that the intent of this divine splendor was to prepare the way for the declaration of Jesus as Christ and Lord.
**Acts 2:22-24 **These verses contain the theme and proposition of the message. Acts 2:25-36 are but a development and enlargement of the facts stated in Acts 2:22-24. Consider the facts in these verses: Ye men of Israel, hear these words. A preparatory remark which called attention to the importance of what was to follow: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved of God by mighty works and wonders and signs, which were performed through the power of God, in their very midst. They who stood before Peter, especially those dwellers in Judea, had witnessed many of the miracles wrought by Jesus, and therefore well knew the words of Peter were the truth. The real purpose of these works, wonders and signs had evidently escaped the perception of those who beheld them, for Peter now gives to those acts of power their full meaning. These things were done that they might believe and know that God’s approval was upon this man; that God had singled Him out above others, upon whom to place His sanction and seal. This to the mind of the Jew could be nothing else than a description of the Messiah, or Christ.
Where were the wonders and signs, spoken of in prophecy, fulfilled?
From your open Bible read the 19th and 20th verses and then from memory show how these things were fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, with special note concerning the day of the Lord.
Following the answer of the charge of drunkenness, what natural question would be in the mind of every thinking Jew?
What was the real purpose behind all of this divine splendor?
In which verses do we have the theme and proposition for the message of Peter? What would you say the theme is? The proposition?
Next come the words that struck conviction and intense personal guilt to the hearts of all who heard. That this Nazarene was One who was mighty in word and deed could hardly be denied; but what had happened to Him? Yes, that was the question; and all those on that day knew what had happened. It must have been a much talked of fact, that this Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified outside the city of Zion a few short weeks ago. But none had thought of its terrible import until these words spoken by God’s direction fell upon their understanding. Peter now says that God Himself had directed the death of this one, and yet they (the Jews) were personally responsible for the despicable deed. More than this God raised Him from the dead. Such a one could not be held by the bonds of death; through the power of God, He tore away the bonds of death and came forth the triumphant victor over death and the grave. What shocking news, they had crucified **the Messiah! **And yet God had foreordained it to be so. Still more astounding, He is now raised from the dead.
There were four facts stated by Peter in the opening words of his message: (1) Jesus was approved of God by mighty works, wonders and signs. (2) He was crucified by the Jews, using the lawless hands of the Romans. (3) God had predetermined this. (4) God raised this Holy One from the dead. Of these four facts, the first two needed no proof for they could not be gainsayed; the last two needed further evidence for verification.
**Acts 2:25-32 **Acts 2:25-32 contain scriptural proof for facts three and four. The easiest way to convince any Jew God had predetermined an event was to refer to the Old Testament scriptures and there show a prophetic word that would apply to the point under dispute.
Why would the words of Peter as found in Acts 2:22-24 strike conviction to the hearts of those that heard?
State from memory in your own words, the four facts that Peter gave in the opening words of his message.
What purpose can be assigned to Acts 2:25-32?
What is the procedure used by Peter in convincing the Jews of points 3 and 4?
This procedure is here used by Peter, The Psalmist David is called in to witness that God had previously determined that a certain person would be raised from the dead. Acts 2:25-27 contain the words of David written prophetically some five hundred to seven hundred years before Christ, In this quotation from this Psalm of David we note in Acts 2:25-26 introductory remarks to the real point of the prophecy contained in Acts 2:27. The first person is here used by David in referring to the Christ, Note his words:
I beheld the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope. Since the person spoken of is the Christ, we can say that the words of these verses have to do with His pre-existence. While in this state, He beheld the Lord always before His face, for Jehovah was very near to Him, and was His strength. This nearness, and harmony caused His heart to be glad and also resulted in words of rejoicing. Then looking forward to His earthly advent He could say, because of His previous perfect harmony with the Father, that when He became flesh that He could live or dwell in hope. This leads us to the theme of the prophecy; That although the spirit of the Christ would depart from the body, yet it would not remain in the place of the departed spirits, i.e. in Hades; neither would the flesh or body of the Holy One of God see corruption. This is speaking of a resurrection, of a return of the spirit to the body ere the body could decay. Thus were the two facts of the pre-determination of God and the resurrection of the Christ established in one concerted effort.
Peter has yet to make the direct application of this proof to Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 2:28 refers to the fact that the ways of the life of the Christ while on earth were directed by Jehovah. because He thus allowed Himself to be directed, He could look forward to the gladness of beholding His Father’s face in glory.
The thought that in this prophecy David was describing a resurrection from the dead was undeniable. The only question remaining in the mind of the Jewish multitude was Of whom speaketh the prophet, of himself, or of some other? Since the Psalmist had used the first person, it was necessary to first show that this prophecy did not refer to David. Of this Peter now speaks: It was a well known fact that David both died and was buried, and his tomb could be witnessed by any interested. So it could never be said the resurrection prophecy found its fulfillment in the prophet. The solution is found in the prophetic office David held; he being a prophet could speak accurately of future events. David knew that God had made a promise to him, and in this promise God had said that from his loins there would come One who would occupy the eternal throne in heaven. He knowing these facts, then spoke as he did in Psalm Sixteen. In this Psalm David spoke of the resurrection of the Christ; that neither was He left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. To what purpose was the resurrection here spoken of? The answer is very evident; because only such a resurrected, glorified being could occupy this promised throne.
Explain in your own words the application of Act 2:25-26 to the Christ.
Show how the two points, three and four, are established in one concerted effort.
Explain Acts 2:28.
It now begins to be more and more manifest to those listening that it was predicted of the Christ: (1) He would die. (2) Yet His spirit would not remain in Hades. (3) Nor would His body decay. (4) Furthermore, He was to be raised to sit on the heavenly throne at the right hand of God.
Acts 2:33 The ultimate conclusion has been reached and Peter now enforces the thought that must have been in the mind of every thinking Jew. Jesus had fulfilled every other qualification of the Christ, there only remains the exaltation at the right hand of the Father. This, Peter says of Jesus in no uncertain terms, note:
Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and then in connection with His exalted position and in direct relation to the present circumstances of the day of Pentecost, Peter states that upon being thus enthroned Jesus received the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. The demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s action on the day of Pentecost was a result of the sending forth of this promised Comforter by none other than Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ. The following have a fulfillment in only one person, Jesus of Nazareth, for:
(1) He was crucified. (2) His body did not decay in the tomb. (3) His spirit did not remain in Hades. (4) He is spoken of as raised by God from the dead. Then indeed this one must be the Christ of God. He now is at the right hand of the Father. This conclusion Peter drives home in these words filled with meaning: This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Peter had said previously that God had raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24) but in the intervening verses He tells us why He was raised from the dead. He here gives to us the proof of His resurrection, We know God raised Him from the dead, says Peter, for we all (we apostles) are witnesses of His resurrection.
What relation does Acts 2:29 have to the prophecy of David?
What connection is there between the promise God made to David and the resurrection of the Christ?
Show how what was predicted of the Christ found its fulfillment in Jesus.
**Acts 2:34-35 **The final word of prophetic proof is found in verses thirty-four and thirty-five. Peter here shows that what he had said of the Christ could never have been said of David, for he never made an ascent into heaven. Further than that, David denied any thought of himself ascending into heaven when he said (in Psalms 110:1) that Jehovah was speaking to David’s Lord (which could be none other than the Christ), when He invited Him to sit at His right hand till His enemies were subdued, This word from the Psalmist of the exaltation of the Christ and the evident application of it to the experience of Jesus gives a mighty background and foundation of power, for the words of Peter’s climactic conclusion. Hear him:
Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
The impact of these words can hardly be imagined by you and me. The one for whom all the Jews of ages past had longed and prayed had now arrived, only to be crucified by the very ones for whom He came. Now, shall we rethink Peter’s sermon in outline form? Notice:
Introduction of the sermon. Acts 2:14-21. Peter’s answer to the drunken charge:
A call to attention as to the import of what is to be said. Acts 2:14.
Peter’s first answer based upon the time of the day. Acts 2:15.
Peter’s second answer, based upon the fact that the events of the day were happening in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. Acts 2:16-21.
**Theme of the sermon:. **A demonstration of Jesus as the Christ. Development of the sermon. Acts 2:22-35.
The mighty works, wonders, and signs of Jesus demonstrate God’s approval. Acts 2:22.
His death was predetermined by Jehovah and carried out through the lawless hands of the Romans, prompted by the hate of the Jews. Acts 2:23.
God raised Him from the dead. Acts 2:24.
David spoke in great detail of the resurrection and exaltation of the Christ, which finds its fulfillment not in David, but only in Jesus. Acts 2:25-31.
Jesus was raised from the dead. This fact was attested by eyewitnesses. Acts 2:32.
Jesus was exalted for the express purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus in this exalted position now gives the Holy Spirit to the apostles in this special manifestation. Acts 2:33.
David spoke of this exaltation in another Psalm (Psalms 110:1) when he himself had not ascended into heaven but referred to his Lord as being asked by the Lord to sit at His right hand till all his enemies were subdued. Acts 2:34.
What connection does the manifestation of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost have with the exaltation of the Christ?
Explain Acts 2:34-35.
Show how Acts 2:34-35 form a background for the thought of Act 2:36.
Conclusion of the sermon. Acts 2:36. Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, i.e. because:
Jesus was approved of God. Acts 2:22
The prediction of the death of the Christ finds an exact fulfillment in Him. Acts 2:23.
God has raised Him from the dead, even as David said of the Christ. Acts 2:24-28.
More than this, Jesus is now exalted even as David spoke of the Christ. Acts 2:29-31.
We apostles are eye-witnesses of the resurrected Jesus. Acts 2:32.
The out-pouring of the Holy Spirit here on the day of Pentecost, comes from this Jesus because of His exaltation. Acts 2:33.
Finally, David spoke not of himself when he described the Lord (Jehovah), speaking to my Lord (the Christ) asking Him to sit at His right hand till all His enemies were subdued, but rather of the Christ which finds its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 2:34.
We say then, in view of all this, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
Why did the words of Act 2:36 cause such an impact on those who heard?
From memory give the outline of Peter’s message.
Acts 2:37-42
d.
The results of the sermon. Acts 2:37-42.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.
And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles-’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
**Acts 2:37-41 **The immediate results were: first, conviction and inquiry; secondly, instruction and exhortation; and finally obedience, and the addition of those who received the Spirit (G. Campbell Morgan. **Acts Of The Apostles, **page 87). These words give us a very fine outline of the results of Peter’s message. Let us notice the outline in detail.
The last words of Peter were Whom ye crucified, now they knew in truth whom they had crucified. Can we not attempt to stand in the place of the persons who heard these words? They crucified the Messiah. And yet it had been predicted by God that the Christ would thus suffer. This did not lessen their personal guilt. To whom should they turn? Could they dare now to look to God, seeing that the blood of His only begotten Son was upon their hands? They were in desperate need of forgiveness, but how to obtain it was the question unanswered in their burdened hearts. It is natural then to hear that cry rising spontaneously from the multitude: Brethren, what shall we do? What should they do for what? What was their conscious need? It** **was for **forgiveness **that they cried.
We now notice the instruction and exhortation given by Peter in answer to the conviction and inquiry of the Jews. Peter makes a direct and unhesitating answer to the question, He tells them exactly what they must do to be forgiven or to secure the remission of their sins. Says the apostle, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins. How can it be thought that baptism has no connection with the forgiveness of sins when Peter answers the question of forgiveness after this fashion? (A complete study on the connection of baptism with the remission of sins is given by J. W. McGarvey in his **New Commentary On Acts, **Vol. I, pages 243-262).
Peter informs the guilty multitude that in addition to the boon of forgiveness by repentance and baptism they were to receive a gift from God, nothing less than the Holy Spirit. He further tells them that this promise of remission and the gift of the Holy Spirit was expressly provided for them, for their children, and to all that were afar off (doubtless referring to the Gentiles), even as many as the Lord our God shall unto Him. As to how God thus called these persons unto Himself we can best answer by reading the rest of the book and noting that God called Jew and Gentile unto Himself through the preaching of the gospel. (Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:14).
Give in outline form the three results of Peter’s sermon.
Describe the causes behind the cry Brethren, what shall we do?
For what were they inquiring when they asked the question What shall we do?
What is the first thought presented in Peter’s instruction to these men?
What is meant by the expression, the gift of the Holy Spirit?
Explain in your own words Acts 2:39.
We have just noted the words of instruction in verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine; we now note the words of exhortation in verse forty. It was not enough to simply state in so many words the terms of pardon, for those listening had no previous knowledge of this plan of salvation by the grace of God. Hence, we find in verse forty the thought that Peter spent no little time, and no small amount of words, testifying and exhorting-’-’ concerning this great salvation. -Without doubt he outlined the plan of redemption through the death of Christ. His words on this portion of the message could be considered words of testimony or a logical presentation of the soul saving facts of the gospel. Then in words of exhortation, or earnest appeal, he urged them to repent and be baptized and thus appropriate the blood of Christ. By saying Save yourselves from this crooked generation Peter no doubt was referring to what he said in verse thirty-eight when he demanded action of them in the form of repentance and baptism. As to being saved from this crooked generation it evidently points to the fact that the generation as a whole was eternally lost, and that they should save themselves from it, as from a sinking ship. And finally, the obedience and addition of those who received the word. The receiving of the word can be understood in the sense that they determined to follow his word and comply with its demands, hence we find them being baptized. That 3,000 souls were baptized upon this occasion has posed to some a problem as to the sufficiency of water, time, etc. All of these difficulties are set aside, however, through a careful consideration of certain historical facts of the city of Jerusalem. As to the latter portion of the forty-first verse, we can say in the words of Adam Adcock: When nothing exists, only God can originate it by creation. To from the human race out of nothing, God had to make the first man and the first woman. To bring the church of Christ into being, the Lord created the first Christians on Pentecost by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. It is no wonder that -the multitudes were confounded-’ and -were all amazed and marveled-’ and -were perplexed.-’ Nothing like this occasion ever happened before or again since God rolled the world into space. To speak of Pentecost as the -birthday-’ of the church is a misnomer, improper, nothing can be born without antecedents or precedents in kind. Adam and Eve had no antecedents in kind; neither had the church. The church is the new creation, The human race was **originated **in the first pair; the church was **created **in the first Christians, the original twelve apostles. To say that the church was -born-’ on Pentecost is to use an inadequate figure; to say that the church was **created **is to give a proper description of its origin. But the Lord creates only when it is necessary, Creation in process is not identical with birth. There is no indication that the Twelve ever had any baptism in water but John’S, The first father and the first mother had to be **created; **all other human beings are **born. **The church was created in the apostles as the first Christians; all other Christians come into being by the **new birth. **Creation is essentially miraculous; **birth, **old or new, is always by operation of law. **(Acts Analyzed, **pages 28, 29).
What is the difference between words of testimony, and words of exhortation?
What association with what had already been said, do the words save yourselves have?
What is meant by the expression, as many as received his word?
And thus the 3,000 were added to the church created. They were born into the family of God by the water and the spirit, in contrast the apostles were created as the first members of God’s family.
Acts 2:42 The final word as to the results of Peter’s sermon can be found in the fruit of faithfulness, The gospel so took hold of the lives of those first converts that they continued steadfastly in worship to God. This worship was expressed in the four items of: (1) the apostles-’ teaching, (2) the fellowship, or partnership with one another in the common cause, (3) the breaking of bread, or the Lord’s Supper, and (4) the prayers.
How can we explain that the 3,000 were added to the church when the 3,000 were the first members of the church?
What connection do the four items mentioned in Acts 2:42 have to worship?
Acts 2:43-47
e.
The unity of the church. Acts 2:43-47.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.
And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
**Acts 2:43-47 **The **cause **of unity can be found in the first portion of the forty-third verse.
And fear came upon every soul. The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom but is also the beginning of unity among brethren, When Jehovah is held in great reverence and honor, when He is loved better than any earthly possession or position by His children, then can there be unity. For there is then one common standard, each counts himself as personally responsible to God; when all do this all are one. The results of the unity can be found in verses Acts 2:43 b - Acts 2:47. Note them:
The apostles were enabled to work more effectively. This would not have been possible had there been division. Acts 2:43.
All that believed were together, and unselfishness prevailed. Acts 2:44.
They not only had a spiritual sense of oneness, but they worked it out in a practical demonstration. Acts 2:45.
This unity with God and one another caused them to daily worship God, not only in the temple, but also at home. Their reverence for God made the common tasks of the day a joy to perform. Acts 2:46.
The final and inevitable result of this divine oneness was the salvation of souls. Because they praised God with their lips and lives, they grew in favor with the common folk, And God was adding to their number each day those that were being saved. Their names were written down in the Lamb’s book of life at the time of their salvation, When Jehovah looks over that mightily list of names, He must say, these are my -called out ones,-’ -my church-’. Acts 2:47.
What was the cause of the unity described in verses Acts 2:43-47?