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6. Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36)
ACTS 2:14-21
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. 18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Speaking with tongues is important, but prophesying is more important. Speaking with tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit, in which man turns completely towards God, thanking, praising, and praying to Him, usually without understanding and in one´s own words. True prophesying, however, pricks the hearers’ heart, and causes him to stand up in God’s presence.
After the astonished Jews heard the apostles praising God with tongues of joy and praise, the Holy Spirit’s sermon from Peter’s mouth pricked their hearts. The apostle clearly testified to them that the Spirit of God had appeared, and revealed the reason for His coming.
Peter did not stand alone before the crowd, shining with eloquence to fascinate the hearers. Instead, all twelve apostles came together and become a group of prayer warriors, all standing around the speaker. Peter probably felt it difficult to speak to the crowd, without having prepared beforehand. Yet the Spirit of Truth calmed his thoughts and encouraged his heart, as if he had not lived just a few days ago with the disciples behind locked doors out of fear of the Jews. Now that God’s power had entered them, their tongues became fluent. Words from the Holy Spirit struck their hearts, and God spoke through His apostles. Peter did not fall into a trance before his hearers, but stood before them and spoke calmly and respectfully.
Firstly, Peter answered the scoffing Jews by briefly telling them that it was improbable that anyone would, in such a religious city, be drunk at nine o’clock in the morning. Neighbors would not bear with that. Moreover, such behavior would subject the drunkard to severe punishment.
Secondly, the fisher of men turned to those who were open to his preaching. He asked them to listen and open their ears, so that the Spirit of God might come into them. Peter did not preach to the crowd using tearful, sensitive, or psychological effects, neither did he command severe judgment to force man´s will to yield. Instead, he pointed out the prophecies of the Old Testament, along with their fulfillment in due time. He offered an explanation of what had occurred before their eyes using words from the Holy Bible. He declared to them that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, which they had witnessed with their own eyes, was simply the fulfillment of the promises God had given in His word.
The leader of the apostles had the courage to quote a well-known statement of scripture to the Jews: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” This prophecy had been fulfilled and tangibly realized. The Holy Spirit is now dwelling in the world. We need not ask that He be brought down again, but just receive Him, as a child receives a present. We must only thank the Lord for Him. This Spirit jumps from the words of scripture into our eyes, in the same way the gospel of Christ converts us and renews our minds. Fasting, asceticism and severe self-discipline cannot make our bodies a fountain for the good Spirit. Yet this divine person of the trinity is present, and expects us to receive Him and open our hearts to Him. Joyfully and thankfully we need to recall the words of Jesus to His disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The prophet Joel foretold from old that both men and women, young and old, would receive God’s Spirit. The Jews were not the only chosen ones to receive the Promise of Christ. This prophecy constitutes a great miracle for the Jews, for, spiritually considered, it cancels all the differences between man and woman, parent and child, free and slave, Jews and Gentiles. Today all men can enter into God’s pleasure. His joy reigns in the whole world and is realized in the brokenhearted, those who believe in Him who was crucified and raised again.
God spoke through the prophet Joel, as well as through the Apostle Peter, that the outpouring of this Holy Spirit would be a distinct sign of the end time. God had patiently tolerated wicked men for thousands of years. Yet on the cross, the Son of God forgave all our sins. Therefore, the Spirit could come in power and without hindrance. Whoever receives the Holy Spirit prophecies, knows God, praises Him, and glorifies Christ. He who does not receive God’s Spirit falls into judgment, and this judgment does not only come in the last day. It began to fall when the Holy Spirit was poured out. He who does not receive everlasting life is condemned, while he who opens himself to the Spirit of God experiences eternal life. He recognizes God and grows in the knowledge of His will. Moreover, he in whom the Holy Spirit dwells becomes a son of the Holy God.
The good news of this grace is accompanied with fearful depictions of the passing away of the universe, where the atmosphere of our globe is said to be darkened through gases and dust. Rivers of blood will be shed in world wars, the earth torn apart by earthquakes, with devils bursting forth like destructive smoke to tempt all those who were not sealed with Christ’s Spirit.
Then comes the Day of the Lord, the last hour, when Christ appears in a luminous cloud like lightning in the darkness. Then it becomes clear that the earth will tremble for fear of the Coming One. Forces of hell will prepare themselves for the last battle against God before their final fall. It is necessary to recognize that knowledge and teaching about the Day of Judgment, including its accompanying signs, are definite fundamentals of the New Testament.
Yet the one who has God’s Spirit dwelling in him has passed through the heavens, and has the life of God in his mortal body. He can pray an answerable prayer, for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer, who puts the name of Christ on his tongue that he may call on His name. He will certainly answer us. He who prays in the power of the Holy Spirit, sprinkled with the blood of Christ, is immediately saved. This is our comfort, certainty, and guarantee in the Holy Spirit. Christ will show the absolute solidity of His salvation at the Last Judgment, protecting His followers in the flames of God’s anger.
PRAYER: We glorify You, O Lord, and thank You, for Your Holy Spirit is present in our desperate world. He dwells in hearts that have been purified by Your blood. We worship and glorify You for the everlasting life You have freely given us apart from deeds. Fill many of our friends with Your power and open their ears, that they may hear Your voice and joyfully do Your will.
QUESTION:
- What were the main points of the first part of Peter’s sermon?