Acts 2:15

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

'FOR THESE ARE NOT DRUNKEN'-The charge of drunkenness must first be handled. For such. charge was very serious: 'it was. strict violation of Jewish law to drink intoxicants on. feast day, especially before noon, for on feast days devout Jews did not even eat their first meal till after the sixth hour, let alone drink.' (Reese p. 57)

'THE THIRD HOUR OF THE DAY'-i.e. about Acts 1 a.m. 'If the charge itself was made in jest, there is good humor in Peter's dismissal of it: it is only the third hour since sunrise, he says, and therefore too early for them to have had any opportunity to drink to excess.' (Bruce p. 67) McGarvey notes, 'Peter had heard what the mockers said, and although it came from only. few, he spoke of it as though it expressed the sentiment of the multitude. This had the advantage of avoiding. personal issue with those who had made the remark, while it was calculated to excite for it the disgust of those who had taken the matter seriously. His answer was not. complete refutation of the charge, for men might be intoxicated at any hour of the day; but the early hour made it highly improbable...while the rest of his discourse was relied upon to demonstrate the falsity of the charge.' (p. 27)

Point to Note:

Be impressed that the various charges brought against Christianity in this book are about as unfounded or lame as this accusation. This should tell us (as many of us already know), that the world doesn't have. good argument against the claims found in the Bible.

Peter's sermon will demonstrate or argue the following points: (a) The time of the fulfillment of the OT prophecies had come. (b) God was with Jesus-as the miracles clearly proved. (c) God raised Jesus from the dead-and the O.T. had even taught such. (d) Jesus is now the reigning Messiah-therefore come to Him for salvation.