I. Peter's Sermon__________by Lane Rogers
A. We must begin this section with a discussion of "the last days, that Joel spoke about."
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16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 17'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST
DAYS,' God says, |
1. Context is
everything. When Joel wrote (about 900 years prior to this by some dating methods) and used
the term "the last days," he was speaking of the last days
of Judah and Jerusalem. That is somewhat the meaning here.
The
Last Days is not a reference to the time period we live
in but is generally
a
reference to God's last days of a "Theocratic reign" over
Israel. For example, look at Isaiah 2: 2ff. The church of Christ was
established in "the last days." Another example is Hebrews
1:2. Jesus lived and spoke in the "last days." The last
days were 2000 years ago when God ended His relationship (as in the
OT) with Israel. This particular phrase is known as a "judgment
figure." As a rule, when we see this figure of speech, the
writer is telling us that judgment is on the way.
2. The "all flesh" is a reference to G0d's Spirit being poured out on both Jew and Gentile.
3. It isn't hard to see the fulfillment of verse 18. Before we leave the book of Acts we find these gifts disbursed (cf. Acts 21:9ff, and many places in the book of 1st Corinthians).
B. Further Events Described___Verses 19-21
"One explanation is that the blood and fire, and vapor of smoke were surely found upon this day of the feast. The blood must have flowed from the altars like rivers, as the thousands of animals were sacrificed. The fire and the vapor ascended from those same altars as those 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 the color of blood."
C. "BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD"
All of the events above were going to happen BEFORE the great and glorious Day of the Lord. As we have already mentioned, the DAY OF THE LORD is generally a judgment figure. The question put before us is what judgment is coming? The answer I think is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Verses 20-21 say that everyone will be given an opportunity to be saved (those who call on the name of the Lord) before the Temple is destroyed.
D. YOU HAVE KILLED THE MESSIAH___Verses 22-24
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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-23this 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.24"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. |
(My Paraphrase)
1. Verse 22__ The indictment is clear. You people of Israel have killed this man, Jesus. A man who God used to perform miracles in your midst. You know this to be true.
2 Verse 23__You godless people put Jesus to death and God knew what was going to happen based on His foreknowledge.
3. But what you meant for evil, God used for good. Because of your wicked deeds, Jesus and His resurrection has ended death forever. Death had no power over Jesus and it will have no power over His own people.
4. Here are four Facts that Peter stated.
a. Jesus was approved of God by His mighty works wonders and signs.
b. He was crucified by the Jews, using the lawless hands of the Romans.
c. God had predetermined this based on foreknowledge.
d. God raised the Holy One from the dead.
E. The Proof from the Bible for two of the Above Points (verses 25-32).
F. Maybe the easy way to prove to a Jew that some event was pre-determined by God was to point to the Scripture.
1. The Psalmist is used here. He is called on to "prove" that God was to raise someone from the dead. These words were written 500 t0 700 years before Christ. (V. 25_ Psalm 16:8-11) David is called in as a witness!
2. In verse 26 we have the point. This verse (in Psalms) is written in the 1st person, meaning it can only be a reference to none other than Christ.
3. Verses 27-28__David is saying that because of His knowledge and harmony with the Father, He could look forward and have hope. The Spirit was to leave the Christ but His body did not see corruption. Jesus did not remain the the place of departed spirits.
4. Since the Psalmist used the first person, it becomes necessary to proclaim that He is not talking about David (v. 29). David is still in His tomb.
5. The solution is found in the prophetic office that David held. David knew that God had made a promise to him. That promise was that from David there was to come one who was to occupy David's throne eternally. That throne is in heaven, not on earth.
6. So here is what we have learned.
a. Jesus was to die.
b. Yet His spirit would not remain in hades.
c. Nor would His body decay.
d. Furthermore, Jesus was to be raised and sit on the heavenly throne (David's eternal throne) at the right hand of God.
G. Peter reaches his conclusion! V.33
| V. 33 "Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing." |
It is here that Peter states that Jesus is now enthroned by God. Proof of that enthronement was the coming of the Holy Spirit. All of this makes prophecy fulfilled.
H. Peter's Final Proof! Verses 34-35
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34"For
it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: |
a. What might be said of Christ can never be said of David. David never made any ascent to heaven.
b. Further, David himself denied any idea that this was about himself when he said it was about David's Lord (Jesus)__v.35
I. The Conclusion of the matter___Verse 36
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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." |
The impact of these words can hardly be realized by modern man. But those who heard it, at least some, had blood on their hands!
IV. The Results of Peter's Sermon
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37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall
we do?" 38Peter 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. |
A. The central question asked here is "what must a person do to be saved!
B. The answer, "repent and be immersed by the authority of Jesus and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
C. Just a brief word about the word "baptize."
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βαπτίζω (baptizō, 907); [impf. ἐβάπτιζον]; fut. βαπτίσω; 1
aor. ἐβάπτισα; Pass., [pres. βαπτίζομαι]; impf. ἐβαπτιζόμην; pf. ptcp.
βεβαπτισμένος; 1 aor. ἐβαπτίσθην; 1 fut. βαπτισθήσομαι; 1 aor. mid.
ἐβαπτισάμην; (frequent. [?] fr. βάπτω, like βαλλίζω fr. βάλλω); here
and there in Plat., Polyb., Diod., Strab., Joseph., Plut., al. |
1.
The English word "baptize" is not a translation but a
transliteration. In other words, when the early translators were
working instead of translating the word to "immerse" as is
correct, they transliterated and made a word in English that
sounds like the Greek word. Immerse is the correct translation. There
are different words in Greek for sprinkling.
2. Baptism has ancient roots and since we have a great deal of material on this web site concerning immersion, I will just supply the links.
a. Baptism in Ancient Paganism
b. Baptism in Jewish Christianity
c. The Jewish Roots of Christian Baptism
d. The Mikvah and Ancient Baptism
e. Baptism for Remission of Sins, before Christ in the Dead Sea Scrolls
g. Baptism before Augustine and Total Depravity
h. A Review of Baptism in the Years of 196/197 before Augustine
3. There are also articles about the "Gift of the Holy Spirit" on this site.
1. For a short article look here (The Indwelling of the Spirit and the Empowering of the Spirit)
4. For a Review of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testament look (here 1 2 3 4 5) Click on any number.
5. There are some Gnostic groups that try to make the passage read "repent and be baptized 'because' sins are forgiven but that does not work. The Greek word: Eis is used over 1000 times in the New Testament and never in any case is it translated "because."
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εἰς (eis 1519) |
6. There were 3000 people baptized on this occasion.
Verse 42________They continually devoted themselves to the teachings and participating in the Lord's supper!
Verse 46________Is the common meal.
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