Jesus Is Not Dead Series

"Jesus Is Not Dead”

Acts 2:22-28

As we continue through Acts; we are looking at the sermon from Peter and are on Point 2.

Verses 14-16 is an introduction and testimony as to what is taking place with great power from God.

Verses 17-22 is point 1 as Peter reminds them what Joel said: Joel 2:28-32 Same words as Peter speaks in theses verses.

Vs. 22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

Notice Jesus’ approval was of God.

How often do we wish to be recognized by others?

Peer-pressure can become a deadly tool if we allow the opinions of others to sway our actions.

Jesus did not perform “miracles and wonders and signs” to impress anyone, but He used them to confirm that He was in fact sent to do the Fathers will.

Then Peter said: “as ye yourselves also know:”

Point 2 in Peter’s message:

II. It was God Who Crucified Jesus

Vs. 23 “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

Determinate - to mark out the boundaries or limits (of any place or thing) 1b to determine, appoint

Counsel - to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded

by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God; - “God not only foreknew that it would be, but determined that it should be, who does all things after the counsel of his own will;”

(John Gill)

a. It would be easy to say that the Roman soldiers put Jesus on the cross and executed Him.

And that would be true in the literal sense.

b. It could be also argued that the religious crowd insisted that they crucify Jesus as we know was true in Matthew 27:22-25 “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.”

Although this is true we still have not seen the whole picture.

c. It was God who placed Jesus on the cross.

God placed His son on the cross by using others:

By wicked hands - Greek: “through or by the hands of the lawless or wicked.” This refers, doubtless, to Pilate and the Roman soldiers, through whose instrumentality this had been done.

(1) The Jews had not the power of inflicting death themselves.

(2) The term used here, “wicked,” is not applicable to the Jews, but to the Romans. It properly means lawless, or those who had not the Law, and is often applied to the pagan.

(3) The punishment which was inflicted was a Roman punishment.

(4) It was a matter of fact that the Jews, though they had condemned him, yet had not put him to death themselves, but had demanded it of the Romans. But, though they had employed the Romans to do it, still they were the prime movers in the deed; they had plotted, and compassed, and demanded his death, and they were, therefore, not the less guilty.”

(Albert Barnes / Barnes Notes)

It was God Who Raised Jesus From The Dead

Vs. 24 “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

A side thought. The resurrection was done by God:

God The Father: Acts 2:24a “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:”

God The Son: John 10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

God The Holy Spirit: Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Having loosed the pains of death - “it means to make free or to liberate. The idea is of untying a band, because the word translated “pains” often means “a cord or band.”

That is why Paul could pen such victorious words concerning death.