Empowered by the Spirit. Acts 2:1-47

Transcription

1 1 Empowered by the Spirit Acts 2:1-47

2 2 Text: Acts 2:1-47, Empowered by the Spirit The Holy Spirit Comes In Power 1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7. Utterly amazed, they asked: Aren t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8. Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9. Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome

3 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! 12. Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? 13. Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine. 14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It s only nine in the morning! 16. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 22. Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

4 This man was handed over to you by God s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25. David said about him: I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27. because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. 29. Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand 35. until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

5 Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. 37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? 38. Peter replied, 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off for all whom the Lord our God will call. 40. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44. All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

6 6 Introduction: I. This chapter gives the account of the establishment of the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! II. This book, Acts of the Apostles, could be called Acts of the Holy Spirit because it relates mighty deeds of devout Christians who were moved, empowered by the Holy Spirit. A. The lame were made to walk. B. The sick were healed. C. The dead were raised. D. The Word of God was inerrantly proclaimed to the saving of tens of thousands of souls, three thousand (3,000) on the day the church began. III. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our day as well. The Holy Spirit works today providentially and through the inspired Scriptures. A. Sinners become saints. B. Drunkards become models of sobriety. C. Debaucherers become examples of purity. D. Thieves become honest. E. Lazy people become industrious.

7 7 IV. Let us turn our attention now to this amazing second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Commentary: Apostles Baptized by Holy Spirit Acts 2:1, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (NIV) I. Pentecost was one of the three principal feasts of the Jews. A. 2 Chronicles 8:12, 13, On the altar of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord, according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons and the three annual festivals the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. (NIV) B. The other two major feasts were Passover and Tabernacles. C. Pentecost is also known as First Fruits, Harvest Festival, Feast of Weeks. D. Pentecost means fiftieth referring to the fact that it came fifty days after the first Sabbath following the beginning of Passover.

8 8 E. This feast is called the Feast of Weeks because it came seven weeks following Passover. F. Pentecost always fell on Sunday, the Lord s day of resurrection. II. The apostles were all together, unified, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. A. It was now ten days since Christ had ascended. III. At Passover Jesus was crucified as a criminal. On the occasion of the next feast, Jesus was fully exonerated! Acts 2:2-4, Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV) I. Suddenly without warning a mighty sound as of a rushing violent wind from heaven filled the house where the apostles were sitting. A. Wind did not fill the houses. The sound as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house. B. Tongues appeared to the apostles parting asunder as of fire and came to rest on each apostle.

9 9 C. All the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and were enabled to speak with other tongues. D. These events remind us of the events at Mt. Sinai. Exodus 19:16, 18, 19, On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (NIV) E. Hebrews 12:29, for our God is a consuming fire. (NIV) F. John 3:8, The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (NIV) II. The apostles, Wesley observed, spoke languages of which they had been before ignorant. (They) spoke each language as readily, properly, and elegantly as if it had been their mother tongue. A. Did each apostle speak in a different language or... B. did each apostle speak and many listeners of different languages hear in various native tongues?

10 10 Acts 2:5, 6, Now there were staying in Jerusalem Godfearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (NIV) I. Jews at that time were present in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven. A. When they heard the sound as of a rushing wind which was heard all over the city, the multitude came together. B. The multitudes were confounded because each man understood the apostles in his own language. C. Everett F. Harrison stated, By a miracle, the language of the apostles was translated by the Holy Spirit into many diverse languages without a human translator. D. Harrison further stated, This phenomenon is not the same as the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 which languages were unintelligible until interpreted. Acts 2:7, Utterly amazed, they asked: Aren t all these who are speaking Galileans? (NIV) I. The listening multitudes were amazed that the apostles were speaking so as to be understood in the native languages of all the listeners.

11 11 II. They were especially amazed and made to marvel because it was soon known that the apostles were Galileans without study of linguistics and other languages. Acts 2:8-13, Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine. (NIV) I. The multitudes were astounded and asked, How do we each one hear in our own native languages? II. Represented in Jerusalem were:... A. Parthians, people of Parthia located southeast of the Caspian Sea in ancient Persia (Iran). B. Medes, people from media, an ancient Eastern country of Asia situated north of the Persian Gulf, south of the Caspian Sea, and west of Parthia. C. Elamites, descendants of Elam who lived in the area east of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

12 12 D. dwellers in Mesopotamia, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. E. dwellers in Judaea, the southern major division of Palestine in the first century A.D. F. dwellers in Cappadocia, a large Roman Province in eastern Asia Minor. G. dwellers in Pontus, a province in northern Asia Minor (modern Turkey) situated on the southern shore of the Black Sea. H. dwellers in Asia, a Roman Province, Western Asia Minor including Mysia, Lydia, Caria and Western Phrygia. I. dwellers in Phrygia, a large province of the mountainous region of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). J. dwellers in Pamphylia, a Roman province on the southern coast of central Asia Minor (modern Turkey). K. dwellers in Egypt, a major country in the northeast part of Africa. L. dwellers in parts of Libya about Cyrene, a north African country west of Egypt, the capital of which was Cyrene. M. sojourners from Rome on the west coast of Italy, capital of the Roman Empire. N. Jews and Proselytes.

13 13 O. Cretans, inhabitants of the island of Crete in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. P. Arabians, dwellers in the Arabian Peninsula, located between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. III. All acknowledged that they heard the apostles speaking in their own languages the mighty works of God. A. They were amazed and perplexed and asked what all this meant. B. Others claimed mockingly that the apostles were drunk and that this accounted for these mighty wonders. C. The world has many in religious matters who make totally ridiculous statements and hold indefensible positions. Acts 2:14-16, Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (NIV) I. Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and, in the absence of amplification, spoke in a loud voice to the assembled multitudes.

14 14 II. Peter addressed those assembled who included Judaeans and those dwelling in Jerusalem from all the places listed in verses A. Peter asked for their attention. B. Peter refuted the idea that the apostles were drunk by saying it was then only 9 A.M. C. This statement did not prove the apostles were sober, but it indicated the fact that drunkenness was unlikely at that hour. D. This was all the attention this ridiculous charge deserved. E. Peter said what was happening had been foretold by the prophet Joel! 1. Joel 2:28-32, And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord

15 15 has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. (NIV) III. All the apostles had spoken earlier. Now Peter became the chief speaker and used for the first time the keys of the kingdom of heaven. A. Matthew 16:19, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (NIV) B. Peter bound and loosed as the Holy Spirit dictated. Peter s Pentecost Sermon Acts 2:17, In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (NIV) I. It will come to pass in the last days... A. The last days are the Christian dispensation, age, the days of the Messiah. 1. Hebrews 1:2, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe (NIV)

16 Peter 1:20, He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (NIV) 3. 1 John 2:18, Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. (NIV) 4. Mark 12:6, He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all saying, they will respect my son. (NIV) 5. Micah 4:1, In the last days the mountain of the Lord s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. (NIV) 6. Jeremiah 31:31-35, The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, Know the Lord, because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares

17 17 the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar the Lord Almighty is his name: (NIV) 7. Isaiah 2:2, In the last days the mountain of the Lord s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (NIV) II. I will pour out my Spirit upon representatives of all flesh; that is, representatives of all believers of whatever race, place of residence or gender. III. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; that is, representatives of all God s children were to prophesy A. Numbers 11:29, But Moses replied, Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them! (NIV) IV. Your young men shall see visions. Your old men shall dream dreams. A. Both representatives of young and old believers would be recipients of the Spirit and its enabling power and inspiration.

18 18 Note: What you are seeing today is the fulfillment of Joel s prophesy because of the resurrection of Christ, the Messiah, Peter said. Acts 2:18, Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (NIV) I. In the last days, the days of the Messiah, God s servants, male and female, would receive God s spirit and they would prophecy. A. Galatians 3:28, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NIV) B. Servants and handmaids refer to people of low estate. All are eligible to participate in the blessings made available through Christ. Acts 2:19, 20, I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. (NIV) I. I will show wonders in the heaven above,... A. These wonders had taken place on the occasion of Christ s crucifixion. B. The sun s light failed.

19 19 C. Pontius Pilate wrote Tiberius Caesar, The moon, being like blood, did not shine the whole night. (Tertullian, Ante- Nicene Fathers, Pilate to Tiberius, Grand Rapids; Wm. B. Eerdmans, Publishers, 1957, Volume III, p. 463) II. And signs on the earth beneath.... A. Earthquake. B. Rending of the veil of the temple. C. Resurrection of many dead after Christ was raised. III. Blood, and fire and vapor of smoke:... A. Blood and fire and vapor of smoke were present on all Jewish feast days when approximately 250,000 animals were slaughtered in sacrifice. B. Joel s prophecy foretold a feast day for the day of the Lord. C. Fearful judgment was about to fall upon the Jews. IV. The sun shall be turned into darkness.... A. At Christ s crucifixion the sun did not shine. V. Before the day of the Lord comes, that great and notable day of the Lord. A. The day of the death of Christ.

20 20 B. The day of the second coming of Christ and eternal judgment. C. The day on which the church began. Acts 2:21, And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (NIV) I. It will be in the Christian dispensation that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. A. Peter s sermon had to do with man s salvation and how man can acquire this salvation. B. How can a sinner call upon the name of the Lord? 1. Is this simply praying for salvation?... praising the Lord? 2. Matthew 7:21, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (NIV) 3. Luke 6:46, Why do you call me, lord, Lord and do not do what I say? (NIV) 4. Acts 15:17, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things (NIV)

21 Acts 2:21, And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (NIV) Acts 2:22, Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. (NIV) I. Since the audience to which Peter spoke consisted of Jews and proselytes, Peer spoke to them as, Ye men of Israel. II. Jesus of Nazareth was:... A. a man approved of God evidenced by... B. mighty works and wonders and signs (These words apply to all of Jesus miracles.)... C. performed publicly in full view of all the people... D. by the power of God. Acts 2:23, 24, This man was handed over to you by God s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (NIV) I. God by his determinate counsel and foreknowledge delivered Jesus into the hands of lawless men who crucified him.

22 22 II. God then raised Jesus from the dead because it was not possible that death could be victorious over God s only begotten Son. A. Lawless carries with it the idea of flagrant defiance of the will of God. B. Romans and the Jewish leaders flagrantly defied the will of God when they delivered Jesus to be crucified. III. Peter had regained his courage! He confronted the multitude with charges that could have led to his summary execution. Acts 2:25-28, David said about him: I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. (NIV) I. Some of what Peter had said to this point was clearly evident to everyone. II. Some of what Peter said required proof which he now presents to his hearers. III. Peter appealed to David for proof of what he had just said about Jesus.

23 23 A. Psalm 16:8-11, I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV) B. These words of David spoken in the first person actually apply to David s great son, Jesus Christ. Acts 2:29-31, Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. (NIV) I. These words could not refer to David personally because David s tomb was right there in Jerusalem. II. David had been promised that a son would be raised up to sit on his throne forever. III. David foresaw this and spoke of the Christ who would not remain dead, but would be resurrected to sit eternally on David s throne.

24 24 A. Jesus now sits at God s right hand ruling the chosen people, the Israel of God! B. By the resurrection Jesus was proved to be the fulfillment of David s prophecy. Acts 2:32, God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. (NIV) I. God raised Jesus from the dead, Peter declared. II. Peter further stated that all of the apostles (and others) were witnesses of the resurrection! A. Acts 10:40, 41, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (NIV) III. The resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian religion! IV. Scriptures: A. 2 Samuel 7:12-16, When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men,

25 25 with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever. (NIV) B. Psalm 89:3, 4, You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations. (NIV) C. Psalm 89:35-37, Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness and I will not lie to David that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. (NIV) D. The divine kingdom over which Jesus reigns is spiritual, not temporal, military or political. Acts 2:33, This man was handed over to you by God s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. I. Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God. II. Jesus received the Father s promise of the Holy Spirit and what the multitudes were then witnessing was the result of Jesus pouring his spirit upon the apostles.

26 26 III. Jesus in heaven was and is concerned with matters on earth and acts on behalf of his people on earth. A. Because we believe God acts in the affairs of mankind, Christians pray! Acts 2:34, 35, For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. (NIV) I. This scripture is a quotation from Psalm 110:1, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. (NIV) II. David s son was David s Lord. A. Matthew 22:41-46, While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? The son of David, they replied. He said to them, How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord? For he says, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. If then David calls him Lord, how can he be his son? No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (NIV) B. David had not ascended to heaven. Jesus had ascended to heaven.

27 27 III. Jesus is to sit at God s right hand until his enemies are defeated, made fully and totally subservient to Christ. Acts 2:36, Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. (NIV) I. Peter concluded his sermon with the dynamic persuasive statement, Let all the house of Israel know without a doubt that you have crucified the long awaited Messiah! A. The point is that those who had opposed Jesus had opposed God who sent him and that they were lost and without God and without hope in the world. B. These words were especially addressed to Jews who had participated in delivering Jesus to be crucified rather than to those of the Diaspora. II. The Gospel was here delivered to the Jews first. Acts 2:37, When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? (NIV) I. These listeners took to heart what Peter had said, were cut to the heart, and were filled with guilt! II. Those who were so influenced by Peter s sermon asked, What shall we do to be saved?

28 28 A. Brethren, as used in this verse, refers to Jewish brethren. B. At the point of this question the listeners believed, but they knew they were not then saved and asked what they had to do to be forgiven. C. The prayer of Jesus on the cross, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, was answered on Pentecost. D. Peter now tells the believing listeners how to call on the name of the Lord so as to be saved. Acts 2:38, Peter replied, 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. (NIV) I. Peter replied:... A. repent and... B. be baptized everyone of you by the authority, in the name of Jesus Christ for, unto, in order to obtain the forgiveness of your sins. II. God then would send the gift of the Holy Spirit upon those who had sincerely responded to the word of the Lord preached by the apostle Peter.

29 29 Acts 2:39, The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off for all whom the Lord our God will call. (NIV) I. These conditions of salvation with the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who complied with these conditions applied to the Jews who then were listening to Peter s sermon, their children, and to their most distant relatives, even to Gentiles who were, in Jewish opinion, very far off. Acts 2:40, With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. (NIV) I. With many other words Peter exhorted his listeners, Save yourselves from this crooked generation! A. Was the first century generation more crooked than the twenty-first century generation? B. How can we save ourselves? 1. 1 Timothy 4:16, Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (NIV) 2. Philippians 2:12, Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (NIV)

30 30 C. In what ways is it impossible to save ourselves? Response to Peter s Pentecost Sermon Acts 2:41, Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (NIV) I. Some received, believed and obeyed the teachings of Peter in this sermon and some didn t. II. Those who complied with Peter s sermon instructions were saved and those who did not comply remained dead in the guilt of their sins. III. Three thousand people were baptized that very day and were numbered with the disciples, added to the church. A. Exodus 32:25-28, Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, Whoever is for the Lord, come to me. And all the Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor. The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. (NIV)

31 31 B. At Sinai 3,000 perished! At Pentecost 3,000 were saved. Acts 2:42, They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NIV) I. The group/church continued steadfastly:... A. in the apostles teaching. Romans 15:16, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NIV) B. in fellowship (financial assistance to needy fellow Christians),... C. in breaking of bread (communion, Lord s Supper), and... D. in prayers. II. It is absolutely essential to our salvation, mandatory that we also continue steadfastly in the apostles teaching, in Christian fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. Acts 2:43, Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. (NIV)

32 32 I. Awe, fear came upon every soul among the believers and evidently upon some who were not yet convinced of the truth of the gospel. II. This was due to many signs and wonders being performed by the apostles through the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:44, 45, All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (NIV) I. All believers were:... A. united,... B. generous to one another as members of God s family, and... C. willing to sell possessions and goods evidently putting the proceeds into a common treasury so the needs of all could be met. D. All of the possessions of all the Christians were not sold. This was not a command to the church universal. It was an outpouring of love. How were those from all over the known world to live, meet their expenses when the lengths of their visits to Pentecost were extended? E. We too may want to sell certain personal possessions, put the money in a common treasury and use it to perform God s work.

33 33 Acts 2:46, Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (NIV) I. The disciples continued with one accord, in unity, in the temple on a daily basis. II. They were happy people who gave thanks for their residential food, meals. III. They had a singleness of heart, (emotion), they loved each other, and they had a single purpose; that is, to preach and live the gospel of the resurrected Christ! Acts 2:47, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV) I. The disciples praised God. II. The disciples had favor with all the people reminding us of the popularity of Jesus in the early days of his ministry. III. The church continued to grow on a daily basis. Conclusion: I. The converts of Acts 2:... A. found the power to change.

34 34 B. looked to Jesus for the more abundant life. John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) C. knew real change comes from within. Mark 7:21-23, For from within, out of men s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean. (NIV) II. The early church was excited, enthused, generous and unified. No wonder the church grew on a daily basis. III. Many of life s decisions can be framed in a yes/no format. A. Do you believe in Jesus? B. Will you follow Jesus wherever he leads? IV. If you were a reporter for the Jerusalem Herald on Pentecost of Acts 2, what would you write? A. Who? B. What? C. Where? D. When?

35 35 E. Why? V. How can we improve in regard to:... A. the apostles teaching? B. fellowship? C. breaking of bread? D. prayers?

36 36 Questions on Acts 2:1-47 If you were writing for The Jerusalem Post about the events of Acts 2, what would you say in answer to these questions? 1. Who? 2. What? 3. Where? 4. When?

37 Why? How can we improve in regard to: the apostles teaching? 7. fellowship? 8. breaking of bread?

38 prayers? 10. What must we do to be saved? 11. Is that really all? 12. Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit? If not, why Not?

39 Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? If not, why not? 14. How many became Christians on this birthday of the church? On what day of the week did the church start? Why was it appropriate that the church begin on this day? Who were the people to whom the apostles preached on Pentecost? 15. Parthians.

40 Medes. 17. Elamites. 18. Mesopotamians. 19. Judaeans. 20. dwellers in Pontus.

41 dwellers in Asia. 22. dwellers in Phrygia. 23. dwellers in Pamphylia. 24. dwellers in Egypt. 25. dwellers in part of Libya about Cyrene.

42 Romans. 27. Cretans. 28. Arabians. 29. Did the proselyte converts include Gentiles? What are proselytes?

43 In this Pentecost sermon what points did Peter make by referring to David? 31. On Pentecost who preached? See verses 6 and 7.