“THE POWERFUL PREACHING OF PETER ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST” ACTS 2:36-47

As you recall, a great multitude had gathered because they were so astonished by the phenomenon of tongues speaking among the Galilean.  This phenomenon impressed them so much until they asked the question, “What meaneth this?”  The unbelieving Jews at Pentecost could not believe the movement of the Holy Spirit and mocked what took place, for verse Acts 2:13 says, “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”  These unbelieving Jews witnessed the event that took place at Pentecost, yet they did not believe!  Their reaction prompted Peter to stand boldly with the eleven and declare that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah as recorded in verses 14 through 40.  Peter informed the crowd that, although they rejected Christ, the program of God included the death and resurrection of Christ because it was foretold in scripture.

The basic theme of Peter’s message is seen in verse 36 that says, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  Peter wanted this crowd to know that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (Christ).  He wanted the whole nation to know that the same Jesus that was crucified, God had appointed Him “both Lord and Christ.”  The message that Peter presented to this crowd brought deep conviction to some, for verse 37 states, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  The crowd that heard Peter’s message was under deep conviction because they were guilty of rejecting the Messiah, whom God had sent.

Having acknowledged their guilt in verse 36, Peter responded to their question with this answer, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Peter directs this audience to do two things: “repent and be baptized.”  When an unsaved person repents he or she is changing one’s mind or one’s purpose.  The audience that Peter was preaching to needed to change their minds with respect to Jesus, the Messiah, the Appointed One that God sent!  This audience needed to view Jesus Christ as God viewed Him.  The needed to not only feel sorrow for their sin of rejecting the Messiah, but they needed to change their minds and identify Him as the Messiah as God viewed Him.

Not only was the audience directed by Peter to repent, they were also exhorted to be water baptized as a visible sign of an invisible change that would take place in their hearts.  Through water baptism, those who accepted Christ were making a public acknowledgement that they were identified with Christ.  Because their sins had been remitted, they were publicly baptized as a means of acknowledging that fact.

As a result of genuine repentance, the gift of the Holy Ghost is promised (vv. 38b-40).  Because the Jewish people had been callous to the truth, Peter warned this audience to save themselves from having a rebellious attitude (v. 40).  The overwhelming response is seen in verse 41 which states,  “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

The early church was characterized in four ways:  “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine; they fellowshipped; they broke bread; and they prayed” (v. 42).  As a result of their new found existence, four marvelous results took place among them: fear came upon them (v. 43); an unusual fellowship existed among them (vv. 44-46); the church was spiritually enriched by the Lord (v. 47).

May God Bless!