Peter's Sermon At Pentecost [part 2] Series

ACTS 2:21-36

PETER'S SERMON AT PENTECOST [Part 2]

[Luke 24:45-48]

Peter’s Pentecost [50th day after 2nd day of Passover; Jewish Feast of Weeks-Shavuoth] message turns here to the main theme: the proclamation that Jesus is Lord and Messiah (CIT). He bases his case on Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and exaltation. After the preaching (kerygma) of the gospel, he will call listeners to repentance (v. 38) and salvation (40).

In this second part of his message Peter first reviews [or summarizes the essential features of the Jesus’ story] the Gospel of Jesus Christ that: His ministry was empowered by God; He was put to death by human hands yet according to God’s will; resurrected by God; and exalted to glory. These things the apostles have witnessed (v. 32).

Peter also explains Jesus’ death and resurrection in light of two Davidic psalms: 16:8–11 and 110:1. The citation of two OT Scriptures fulfilled by Jesus’ life and resurrection prove Him to be the Messiah.

I. JESUS DIED, 22-23.

II. JESUS ROSE, 24-32.

III. JESUS EXALTED, 33-35.

IV. JESUS THE MESSIAH, 36.

Following Peter’s quotation of Joel 2:28-32, which pointed out the bases for the supernatural phenomena that was occurring, he supplies key gospel facts in verses 22-24. Peter begins by reviewing known facts from the life of Jesus in verse 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.

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus” It is all about Him. The good news (‘gospel’) is JESUS!” This Jesus was a man, truly a man. He was human. But He was not just a man. “Jesus was “a man approved-accredited by God.” Jesus was “authenticated,” “proved,” or “demonstrated to be from God.”

How was Jesus authenticated “by God” to them? By the supernatural works of divine power He performed. These supernatural works of Jesus fell into three major categories. The first is miracles (dunamis, Gk.), or literally, “works of power.” These mighty acts were evidence of the power of God working among them. Second is wonders (teras, Gk.) in the sense of phenomena which compel one’s attention or cause one to “look again.” Third is “signs” (segmeion, Gk.) which may or may not always be supernatural like the first two. They are “signs” in the sense of being comparable to prophecies or spiritual truths. Signs are things that point to greater spiritual truth. They were signs of the kingdom and age to come (Heb. 6:5; Lk. 11:20). [Segmeion stresses the spiritual truth embodied in the miracle (John 20:30, 31). Criswell, W. A., Patterson, P., Clendenen, E. R., Akin, D. L., Chamberlin, M., Patterson, D. K., & Pogue, J. (Eds.). (1991). Believer’s Study Bible (electronic ed., Ac 2:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.] Jesus’ supernatural works, Peter said, were God’s way of verifying Jesus’ claims to mankind (1 Cor. 1:22; 14:22).

Yet this Jesus was put to death by crucifixion. Verse 23 declares though that it was God’s fixed plan and perfect foresight involved in all the steps of this lawless act. “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.

Jesus didn’t simply die, He was “put to death.” His death wasn’t an accident. In the divine paradox God “handed over” Jesus for crucifixion, but “wicked men, put Him to death.” How strikingly is the criminality of Christ’s murderers here presented in harmony with the eternal purpose to surrender Him into their hands!

The point of this verse is clear: the Crucifixion was no accident. It was in God’s set purpose (Gk. boule, “plan”) and was God’s determined will, not merely His inclination. It was a divine necessity (4:28). [When Peter referred to “you,” he meant Jews; and by wicked men he perhaps meant Gentiles because the word “wicked” means lawless (anomon). Both Gentiles and Jews were implicated in Christ’s death. Many times the apostles accused the Jews of crucifying Jesus (2:23, 36; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:28), though the apostles also held the Gentiles culpable (2:23; 4:27; cf. Luke 23:24–25). [Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 358). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

It was God’s plan and He did it. Those who crucified Jesus thought they were the deciders of His destiny, but God’s greater will was being done through it all. The Suffering Savior’s death was God’s will for the judgment and Atonement of sin.

It is told that in the First World War there was a young French soldier who was SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. His arm was so badly smashed that it had to be amputated. He was a magnificent specimen of young manhood, and the surgeon was grieved that he had to cut off his maimed arm. So he waited beside his bedside to tell him the bad news when he recovered consciousness. When the lad’s eyes opened, the surgeon said to him: "I am sorry to tell you that you have lost your arm." "Sir," said the lad, "I did not lose it; I gave it--for France."