Acts 2 starts with the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The miracle of the indwelling power of God within believing man was a world changing event. Those that were onlookers saw the flame, tongues of fire and hear their native languages spoken. Even in the midst of this, there were ones who did not believe. Peter took decisive action, empowered the Holy Spirit, he spoke to the vast crowd that had gathered. He was eloquent, persuasive and grounded in scripture as well as his personal experience with Jesus.

Acts 2:14-21 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Peter proceeded to explain that what was happening had been foretold centuries before by the prophet Joel. He reminded them that God had promised redemption for everyone who asks in verse 21.

Peter continued talk to them about what Jesus had done in their midst and what had happened to him. He incudes the words of David had said about the coming Messiah. Acts 2:22-35 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
²⁶ therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ ²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 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. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,  until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ David knew that the Messiah would not see corruption but did not know how that would actually come to pass. Peter explains David’s words as pointing to Jesus death and resurrection and where He is now after his ascension.

Peter concludes his powerful sermon with therefore as all he has said before is true. He gives a call to repentance. Acts 2:36-40 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Peter’s words were believed as Luke added verse 41 “ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” That has got to be one of the biggest crusades ever with 3,000 people coming to know the Lord Jesus! The early Christians must have been mightily encouraged by the response of unbelievers and fired up to continue witnessing for Jesus. When someone comes to know the Lord, it releases an energy to you and them that is unlike anything on earth. When you speak about the Lord, He empowers you and energizes you. This happens as he quickens His spirit within you. Think back on experiences you have had involving new believers. You can’t even contain the joy. I imagine that is just a fraction of what we will experience repeatedly in His presence.

May the joy of this passage stir you to witness for Jesus. Just the mention of His name will bring you joy!

Linda