Acts 2:12
AMAZED AND CONFUSED. They could not account for the cause of this they were hearing.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMAZED AND CONFUSED. They could not account for the cause of this they were hearing.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE MEN AN DRUNK. In their attempt to _"make fun"_ of what is happening, they accuse them of being drunk - as if that could account for it. [A very potent sweet wine was made by soaking raisins and fermenting the juice.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER STOOD UP. He speaks for the Twelve. He is about to use the "keys" (Matthew 16:19) to open the "door of grace." [He also used these "keys" at the house of Cornelius (_Acts 10),_ and with Simon the magician (_Acts 8_).] WITH THE OTHER ELEVEN. They now begin their _witness_ to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS ONLY NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. This was the normal time for breakfast, and much too early to be drunk! [Breakfast was normally at this time during feast days.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS WHAT THE PROPHET JOEL SPOKE ABOUT. Peter turns to Joel, who lived about 800 B.C., for an explanation of these things (_see_ Joel 2:28-32).... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO IN THE LAST DAYS. The Jews called the last age of time which would begin at the coming of the Messiah, the _last days (see_ Isaiah 2:2). Note that Peter clearly identifies the _last days_ as HAVING BEGUN! I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT. Symbolic of anointing. See Acts 2:4. UPON ALL... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN ON MY SLAVES. God does not place "class limitations" on his Good News (See Galatians 3:28).... [ Continue Reading ]
19-20. I WILL PERFORM MIRACLES. _Johnson_ understands this to refer to the coming destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.). "Day of the Lord" is used by Joel to mean a _great disaster (see Joel 2)._ Compare notes on Matthew 24:29-31. See also 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Colossians 1:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD. Faith is more than knowledge (James 2:19). To "call on the name of the Lord" is to do more than say, "Lord, Lord, open to us." Faith is action (Matthew 7:21). See notes on Acts 22:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
LISTEN TO THESE WORDS! He boldly declares Christ to them. They had been here long enough to have seen at least the events of Christ's final week, plus his crucifixion. They were "eye witnesses" to the miracles, wonders, and signs which proved his Messiahship. The Resurrection is proved by: (1) the p... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD ALREADY DECIDED. God knew before Creation that man would sin, and he decreed that Jesus come and die as our "sin offering" (Ephesians 3:9-11; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:20]. AND YOU KILLED HIM. The fact that God knew what they would do, does not take away their guilt. They acted of their own free... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE THAT DEATH SHOULD HOLD HIM PRISONER. Because he was _life_ (John 1:4); and because it was the Father's will that he should rise from death. This verse sums up the four Gospels.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DAVID SAID ABOUT HIM. Psalms 16:8-11. The spirit, not the exact words, is quoted. IN THE WORLD OF THE DEAD. He would not remain in the grasp of death. David did not say this about himself, but spoke of a descendant (Acts 2:29-30). DEVOTED SERVANT. The Lord Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DIED AND WAS BURIED. David's grave was inside the city walls, and they had all seen it.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD MADE A VOW. Note Peter's reasoning. God had promised David that Christ would sit on his throne. [2 Samuel 7:11-16; Psalms 89:3-4; Psalms 89:35-37; Psalms 132:11.] Note what James says in Acts 15:15-18.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE SPOKE ABOUT. THE MESSIAH. Peter again emphasizes that David spoke of the Lord Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HAS RAISED THIS VERY JESUS. "David prophesied it; we have all seen it." This is their testimony.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAS BEEN RAISED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF GOD. See Philippians 2:6-11. He sits on a heavenly throne. WHAT YOU NOW SEE AND HEAR. These supernormal events are proof that Jesus is not king (Acts 2:30). He has "poured out" this gift.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DAVID HIMSELF. On _"where are the dead?"_ see notes on Luke 16:19-31. RATHER HE SAID. Psalms 110:1. (Jesus also quotes this and applies it to himself, Matthew 22:43-46) THE LORD. God the Father. My LORD. Christ. SIT HERE AT MY RIGHT SIDE. (See Acts 2:33.) The "right side" is the place of honor,... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL I PUT. Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies, and then give up the Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. He has been building up to this. This is the climax! He has proved Jesus to be the Messiah!... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE DEEPLY TROUBLED. Peter has explained the meaning of the signs and wonders they have seen! Now it is clear to them that they are guilty of rejecting God's Messiah and nailing him to the cross! WHAT SHALL WE DO, BROTHERS? This is both a cry of anguish over their guilt, and a confession of fa... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER SAID TO THEM. They have already declared their faith in Christ (Acts 2:37). Now, for the very first time, the terms of pardon under the New Covenant will be announced. Peter will tell them how to reach out through faith to seize the sacrifice of Christ and make themselves part of it. TURN AWAY... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD'S PROMISE. The promise of pardon and the Spirit as a gift. WAS MADE TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. To these Jews who had rejected Christ, and to their descendants. AND TO ALL WHO ARE FAR AWAY. To everybody in the whole world (the Gentiles). ALL WHOM THE LORD OUR GOD CALLS TO HIMSELF. "All men _wi... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE YOURSELVES. This was why he urged them with many other words. True, they could not EARN their salvation [only Jesus could do that for them], but their faith was to _reach_ our through turning from sin and being baptized. This was an act of their FREE WILL (compare the "looking" of John 3:14). T... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY OF THEM BELIEVED. Those who believed, were baptized immediately! [Those who did not believe had no reason to be baptized.] ABOUT THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE. The Twelve could have done the baptising themselves. Chrysostom, assisted by the church elders, immersed 3,000 in one day in 404 A.D. There wer... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SPENT THEIR TIME. A _group_ implies _companionship, solidarity._ In contrast to "saving souls," the Good News makes disciples to Christ! A disciple wants to learn and live the message, and to be part of the COMMUNITY. The very worst calamity for a Christian, was to be excluded from the life of... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE FILLED WITH AWE. Especially the unbelievers. Compare Acts 2:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHARED THEIR BELONGINGS. Remember that many of the group did not live here, but had come to Jerusalem for Passover and Pentecost. Alford (Greek Testament) points out that this situation was unique to the "Church at Jerusalem." It was not done with the idea of bringing all to the same economic le... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY DAY. They met in the temple to be instructed by the apostles. Probably there were "outsiders" there as well. THEY HAD THEIR MEALS TOGETHER. Compare Acts 2:44_. Lipscomb_ says: "It is probable that they met at their homes in companies [small groups] and each company engaged in worship." This wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR GROUP. We commonly use "church" in a specialized sense [Methodist _church;_ Catholic _church,_ etc.]. The ONE CHURCH which Jesus built on the _rock foundation_ of his DIVINITY exists in a _locality_ as a group. It is correct to say that the same _reaching out through faith_ t... [ Continue Reading ]