Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 is critically important since it demonstrates how the apostles interpreted the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, including the Ascension. Peter uses the Old Testament in this sermon and cites texts which were fulfilled in the events of Jesus’ life, but also in the events of Pentecost.
Peter first explains the significance of the Holy Spirit (2:14-21). Beginning with a prophecy from Joel 2:28-32, Peter states that the presence of the Spirit in the apostles at that moment is what Joel predicted. In short, it is proof that the New Covenant has begun! Several other texts from the Hebrew Bible indicate that the Spirit of God would fall upon his people when the New Age begins (Isa 32:14-15, 44:3; Ezek 11:19, 37:14).
Second, Peter explains that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the purpose of God in his death and was vindicated by God in his resurrection and ascension (2:22-35). The life of Jesus is summarized simply by stating that Jesus was from Nazareth and he was confirmed by God through many miracles. Since this is a summary of the actual sermon, it is entirely possible Peter illustrated this point with his personal experience and witness. Remember that the main theme of chapter one was that the twelve were to be witnesses of these events!
There are several words used to describe the miracles (signs and wonders). Signs is the most significant, since σημειον (semeion) typically refers to a miracle done to prove some sort of point, to make some sort of revelation. Peter states that God did the miracles through Jesus, not that Jesus himself did the miracles. He adds “as you yourselves know,” indicating that at least some of the crowd were witnesses to the miracles of Jesus. It is equally likely that the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans as a rebel was well known by the crowds in Jerusalem.
But Jesus is not dead – God raised him from the dead in fulfillment of prophecy. Peter goes about proving the resurrection quite a bit differently than we do today. He does not mention the empty tomb or challenge the Pharisees to produce a body to prove that Jesus was really dead. Rather than pursue modern logical arguments, he turns to the Psalms and shows that David does not exhaust the meaning of the text. Since the messiah is to be a new David, the psalms Peter cites are turning into prophecies of Jesus’ resurrection.
Before looking at Peter’s use of the Psalms, I want to pause and think a bit about what Peter is claiming here. He is clearly saying that the messianic age has in some way already begun. The Spirit has been poured out on those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The dead have already been raised. Miracles are in fact happening. Remember that the crowd assembled to hear this sermon are religiously observant Jews who are spending time in the Temple during a religious feast. Peter is claiming that the age anticipated in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve is beginning at that moment!
If this is on the right track, what might a religiously observant and biblical educated Jew in the first century have expected, if the messianic age was beginning? I suspect the crowd had a more than a few people with rather fervent messianic hopes. They might have expected Israel to be re-gathered from the nations to Mount Zion to worship the Lord. It is not a surprise, then, to find that Jews from all over the world who believe in Jesus as Messiah settle in Jerusalem to prepare themselves for his soon return.
Are there other elements of this sermon which contribute to the idea that Pentecost is the beginning of the eschatological age?
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January 21, 2013 at 10:17 am
nick_mascorro
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is an important event validating the prophecy of Joel and the beginning of the New Covenant. Before further in depth study, I believed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be of average importance. This is because I always knew that the Holy Spirit was an important event in the New Testament because it gave people from all over the world the ability to hear the wonders of God. But before further study I did not realize that it also fulfilled Joel’s prophecy regarding the New Age. This is because like what is stated in this post, “The spirit of God would fall upon his people when the New Age begins.” The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is an event that is so significant in the validation of Joel’s prophecy because it proves that the new covenant has began because before this time the Spirit of God had not been given to man. However, because of Jesus and what he did on the cross the spirit of God has now been given to man and the old covenant is done and gone and the new covenant is now living and active. Personally, I think that this is so significant because now it is evident that the new covenant brings change because now anyone that calls upon the name of the Lord is saved through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:21). I find this so interesting and impactful because since the indwelling of the Holy Spirit has occurred we can now enjoy a personal relationship with God, and the ability to call on him and be saved.
January 21, 2013 at 1:41 pm
DJ horsfall
Acts 2 talks about how the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost. It first talks about tongues. I have done some studies on speaking in tongues and the “tongues” they are speaking in this chapter is not what people so today in church. But it is pretty amazing. The Holy Spirit made it so that everyone, no matter what language they spoke, could talk to each other and understand each other in their own language. The Holy Spirit did a work in that place. When Peter addresses the crowd he was lead by the Holy Spirit. I like verses 29-40 talking about how God raised Jesus from te dead. Jesus is alive a well to this very day! An how God has promised to send the Holy Spirit. The verses 42-47 is what Christianity should look like today. Being in fellowship, and under the Holy Spirit, they grew together and became strong in their faith. They helped the needy and more an more people were getting saved.
January 21, 2013 at 2:58 pm
annalange
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus taught about the future kingdom saying that it was coming soon (Matt. 4:17). It was prophesied in Matthew 2:6 that He would rule. Peter had studied the scriptures, and he knew that Joel had prophesied of when the Holy Spirit would come upon people and the nation of Israel would be restored. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, Peter was excited. In Peter’s sermon to the Jews, he restates Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-31 saying that “this is that” (Acts 2:16). He truly believed that now was the time that God would restore Israel. He wanted the other disciples and Jews to know that the “great and notable day of the Lord” was coming (Acts 2:20). He challenged the people by saying, “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Peter confirms that Jesus was raised from the dead. “God raised him from the dead in fulfillment of prophecy” (“Peter’s Sermon” post). Peter says that because of Jesus’ resurrection, the beginning of the ecological age is coming. Peter’s speech about the end times was motivational to the Jews because in Acts 2:37, many people were “cut to their heart,” and they asked Peter “what shall we do?” He told them to “repent and be baptized…” (Acts 2:38).
January 21, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Nick Van Loo
The first part of the post that I would like to touch on was that Peter referenced the Old Testament. Marylyn Hickey spoke on the 20th that many people lessen the importance of the OT because it is under the old government. However, Peter and Hickey show the importance of the Old Testament even in the new government. Peter did this by touching on the prophets in the old testament and showing that their prophesies were coming to fruition in the current age.
Peter also highlights the importance and the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit gives power to Christians, but the most significant item brought about by the Holy Spirit was the signal that the New Government has begun thus fulfilling Joel’s prophecy.
I like that Peter talks about his own personal experience and how the crowd “already knows” Jesus miracles that he was talking about. This points to the fact that some people in the crowd already have seen the miracles Jesus has performed and he is speaking to an educated crowd. I like that small detail in the Bible that I have never seen before and legitimizes the whole text for me because it shows that there was history not included in the Bible. If the Bible included every shred of history from that time, it would be impossibly large. The crowd still had strong beliefs in how they felt about Jesus and his legitimacy. Peter was speaking to a hostile crowd that believed strongly one way or another.
I like how Peter did not use logical facts to argue that Jesus was the messiah. Clearly, people were not looking at the facts right in front of their faces or there would have been no dispute in the first place. Peter uses David in the Psalms to provide another argument that the crowd possibly had not thought of before.
Nick Van Loo
January 21, 2013 at 8:29 pm
John Caprari
As others have stated already it’s interesting and also kind of inspiring to see Peter stand up and recite a prophecy from the book of Joel. It seems like this could have been a very well known prophecy among educated Jews because of the implications within. Nevertheless, the bible makes it look like he quoted it in the middle of his sermon. Not only did he do this with this passage but also with a couple Psalms as well. Even though this is impressive, its important to acknowledge that the fulfilling of these prophecies is incredibly more significant. This fulfilling of prophecies through Jesus Christ along with the stating of Jesus’ miracles, wonders, and signs are arguably the more important aspects to Peter’s sermon, especially concerning that this event was the beginning of the eschatological age. However it’s remarkable that Peter presents the gospel in his sermon and tells his audience what they need to do in order to receive the Holy Spirit and salvation. As Anna stated, “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). He told them exactly what their response should look like and the steps they needed to take. Verse 40 possibly adds another element that contributes, which may not be very theological, but more of an affirmation. “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40). This idea of “warning” and “saving yourselves” reveals that there is something that is to come in the future that is not very appealing. It is going to be so bad that you need to be saved and rescued right now. This was not just a passing statement, there was obviously a sense of urgency as the Scripture said Peter pleaded with his audience.
January 22, 2013 at 1:07 am
April Lorenz
Peter’s use of Old Testament before all the Witnesses was a perfect fit instead of arguing about where the Pharisees could have hid the body because all the Jews that were gathered to hear him were devoted to studying the law, and would have known the passages in Psalms that Peter was referring to. He is preaching specifically on these passages to prove that these well-known prophecies were coming true through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter talks about the many “signs” that God has done through Jesus and restates that all of these are fulfillment of scripture. He is trying to make clear to these devout Jews that the Messianic age has started. Near the end of the chapter in verse 41 it says that many believed and that 3000 joined the number of believers that day. They understood and in believing they devoted themselves anew to teaching, and breaking of bread. Verse 47 also says that God kept adding to their number day by day. through Peter’s sermon and teaching, God was bringing the Jews to him and shows him an answer to why the Twelve disciples were told to stay in Jerusalem instead of going out everywhere to preach, connecting chapters one and two.
January 22, 2013 at 2:24 pm
danpierpont
Jesus had gone about, with His disciples doing many signs and miracles. So if Peter did not refer back to O.T. scripture what was keeping the people from thinking it was just another one of their miracles that they could perform. In order for there to be redemption, the law must be fulfilled. Jesus came to fulfill that law. Peter and his sermon explained that Jesus came to meet the requirements of the law in order that we would not have to. For the Jews and people of that age and time this would have been the most awkward time to live in… just imagining these people had to totally change the way they were ‘atoned’… but thats just it, Jesus came to take away any ritual of religion and make it a relationship. Okay, back to the point. The day of Pentecost was a time to rejoice, to come before the Lord and bring Him gifs/sacrifices out of love and not out of duty. Now looking to Acts 2 where Perter had preached that we no longer have rituals, but instead an intercessor for our sins, the Jews, and believers of that day would have been totally shocked.