This is the day of Pentecost and as the Holy Spirit has come, a crowd has gathered and Peter begins to speak. Peter quotes from the Psalms of David, who the Jewish people respected as a great king and that they would all have known. David prophesied that one would come Peter uses this to declare the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2:27 “because you will not abandon my soul in Hades, nor will you permit your Holy One to experience decay”. Then quotes David again to declare Jesus position in Acts 2:34–35 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ It is these prophetic words about Jesus Christ that are the subject of the teaching in Acts 2:42 “And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.” and the Church was growing and the Lord continued to confirm his word by healing in Acts 3:16 “and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all”.
I Saw The Lord
Acts 2:25–36
Peter has just said to them in
Acts 2:21 And it will be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’
but they, the Jews that were listening, believed that Jesus was cursed because of what it says in
Deuteronomy 21:23 his dead body shall not hang on the tree, but certainly you shall bury him on that day, for cursed by God is one that is being hung; so you shall not defile your land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance.”
For them, if Jesus had received this sentence, then he must have been guilty and “His crucifixion demonstrated that God had rejected His claim and that He was a blasphemer”.1
Peter explains though, that this was all foretold, that the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2:24 demonstrates God’s acceptance of Jesus as Peter quotes Psalm 16 in Acts 25-28 and explains that these “words could not apply to David himself, but looked forward to the ideal king of his house, whose coming had been promised (Ps 132:11)”1
Peter then goes on to explain that “This position as anointed king and Lord had been foretold in Ps 110 by David, who foresaw one of his descendants, whom he styled his ‘Lord’ or master, set by Jehovah in the highest place of honour in heaven.”1 as he closes his message to them in
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!”
The Promise Is For You And Your Children
Everyday Devoting Themselves With One Purpose
Acts 2:42–47
Many believed as they had seen the miracles that Jesus had performed. They knew that he had been crucified, and they had seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus opened the scriptures to his own disciples after his resurrection, so Peter opened the scriptures to the crowd on the day of Pentecost. And now these new believers in
Acts 2:42 And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.
And now the Church began to grow in
Acts 2:46–47 And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.
It was a simple formula, “devoting themselves to the teaching”, “with one purpose”, “breaking bread from house to house”. As they were praising God, they experienced joy and favor as “the Lord was adding”.
Expecting To Receive Something From Them
Faith Through Him Has Given Perfect Health
Acts 3:11–18
This man, who in
Acts 3:2 And a certain man was being carried who was lame from birth. He was placed every day at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful,” so that he could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple courts.
was healed and everyone saw it and knew who this man was, he had been lame! Peter immediately speaks to the crowd around them in
Acts 3:12 And when he saw it, Peter replied to the people, “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?
We often attribute healing power to the minister, the person that God has used to pray for or touch someone’s life, but Peter makes it clear, this isn’t because Peter is someone special. He gives the credit where it is due. This healing happened because of Jesus in
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, after he had decided to release him.
but Peter also declares their guilt in the crucifixion of Jesus so he can declare the power of Jesus resurrection in
Acts 3:15 And you killed the originator of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses!
This power to heal comes through one avenue, and that is “his name”, the name of Jesus in
Acts 3:16 And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
That Times of Refreshing May Come From the Presence of the Lord
Acts 3:19–26
Many Who Listened To The Message Believed
Acts 4:1–4
Study Verses
- Acts 2:25–36 I Saw The Lord
- Acts 2:42–47 Everyday Devoting Themselves With One Purpose
- Acts 3:11–18 Faith Through Him Has Given Perfect Health
Today’s Reading
- Acts 2:25-47
- Acts 3:1-26
- Acts 4:1-4
References
- 1. Bicknell, E. J. (1942). The Acts of the Apostles. In C. Gore, H. L. Goudge, & A. Guillaume (Eds.), A New Commentary on Holy Scripture: Including the Apocrypha (Vol. 3, p. 333). New York: The Macmillan Company.