This summer has been particularly dry. If you have been traveling or noticing the news, there are varying degrees of drought across North America. The recent rains have turned things around. As the recent rain has been pored out, previously parched and lifeless vegetation is beginning to come to life.
In Acts 2, when Peter explained the works of God, it was attested to by the Holy Spirit by His coming as of tongues of fire and the sound like a mighty wind and the miracle of languages to the crowd. Previously spiritually dead people were coming to life and were now amazed, confused and wanted an explanation.
Peter's address was respectful, yet firm. He proceeded calmly to show them their error. When (some) ridicule us or the gospel, we should answer them kindly and respectfully, yet firmly. We should reason with them coolly, and convince them of their error, (Proverbs 15:1). In this case Peter acted on the principle which he afterward proclaimed to all: 1 Peter 3:15 [15]but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (ESV) (Albert Barnes: Notes on the New Testament: Acts–Romans [Grand Rapids: Baker, reprint of the 1884–85 edition], 29–30.)
Before launching into the main body of his sermon, Peter discusses what is immediately on the people’s minds—the phenomena of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the saints of God for ministry. He begins by giving a 1) Refutation of the charge of drunkenness (Acts 2:14-15). Then he offers an 2) Explanation of Pentecost based on Old Testament prophecy (Acts 2:16-21)..
1) The Refutation (Acts 2:14-15)
Acts 2:14-15 [14]But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. [15]For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (ESV)
Peter had been the acknowledged leader and often the spokesman for the apostles during Christ’s earthly ministry. In all four lists of apostles, his name is first (Matt. 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; Acts 1:13). Just think, of all the disciples, Peter was the one to preach the first Christian sermon! The one who denied knowing Jesus three times (cf. Luke 23)! Peter’s change from cowardice and denial to boldness and spiritual insight is another evidence that the age of the Spirit had dawned with life-changing power (Utley, R. J. (2003). Vol. Volume 3B: Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts. Study Guide Commentary Series (27). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.).
• Faith in the resurrected Christ means that our past life does not need to be a barrier to our present life. We don't have to beat ourselves up over our past mistakes. In Christ, there is new hope and new opportunity.
Peter now continues in the leadership role, standing with/taking his stand, along with the eleven other apostles, facing the crowd. The eleven included Matthias, chosen earlier to replace the traitor Judas and complete the ranks of the twelve. As eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ themselves, they supported Peter.
Peter lifted upraised his voice so the huge crowd could hear him. This address refers to a Spirit-inspired utterance. Peter probably spoke in Aramaic, the vernacular language of Palestine and thus familiar to his hearers, who included the men of Judea (The residents of Jerusalem), and all who dwell/live in Jerusalem (The multitudes who had flocked there to celebrate Pentecost). The Semitic expression let this be known to you, and give ear/heed to my words (ἐνωτισασθε τα ῥηματα μου [enōtisasthe ta rhēmata mou]) is used only here in the N.T. It expresses an obligation on the speaker and also on the (hearers) who should sit where they can hear with the ears which they have (Robertson, A. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 2:14). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
• Presenting the truths of God is an obligation on the speaker to accurately, impassioned, and authoritatively say: "thus says the Lord himself". It is not a time to reminisce, tell you of all my opinions or bind human obligations to your life. For the hearers, there is an obligation to receive the word as from God Himself and live in accordance with the directives.
We'll look at now at Ephesians 5
Peter refutes the false charge in verse 15, that the disciples were drunk (cf. v. 13). He dismisses the accusation as absurd, since it was only the third hour of the day. The third hour of the day, extended from eight to nine o’clock in the morning, according to the modern computation, was the first of the three stated hours of daily prayer [see below, 3:1 c. and 10:3–6.—TR.] which coincided with the morning sacrifice [Ex. 29. 38–42; Numb. 28:3–8]; (Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Gotthard, V. L., Gerok, C., & Schaeffer, C. F. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Acts (40). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.).
Ephesians 5:15-21 [15]Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16]making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. [17]Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18]And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, [20]giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21]submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (ESV)
• Being a Christian means submission to Christ. That means that we are not controlled by anything other than Christ. Not money, drugs, alcohol or any other addiction. Being filled with Spirit, what occurred at Pentecost, meant being controlled and submitted to God over anything else.
But how was Peter's explanation that it was only the third hour of the day a statement against the charge of drunkenness? Josephus (Josephus Life 279)., the Jewish historian, tells us that the first meal of the day was not until the fourth hour, and on the Sabbath, a larger meal was served at the sixth hour, around noon. Peter’s responses in our language and custom today would be, “What do you mean? We haven’t even had breakfast yet and lunch won’t be for three hours!” The Jews of that time made morning sacrifices before the first meal and wine was consumed only at the main meal. The criticism was out of line and Peter wanted those who had made it to know how absurd it was (Ogilvie, L. J., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1983). Vol. 28: Acts. The Preacher’s Commentary Series (67). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
• Many of the common stereotypes of Christianity revolve around some mistaken idea that it is all about works and is defined about what you don't do. We should never fear or avoid these misunderstandings. It is a great opportunity to explain what Christianity is.
• Christianity is about who is the joyous center of your life through faith and living that kind of life. Peter is about to explain this.
Illustration: The monarch butterfly is a familiar sight. Few butterflies can compare with the beauty of its orange, yellow, and black wings. Each year people in many regions enjoy the unique pleasure of seeing thousands of monarch butterflies fill the sky in their annual migration south. They spend the winter in forests of fir trees in the volcanic highlands of south-central Mexico. Environmentalists have identified nine areas where the monarchs cluster in colonies, and Mexico has designated five of these sites as sanctuaries of protection.
But that isn’t enough, say researchers. The sanctuaries cover only sixty-two square miles. Meanwhile poor farmers and commercial loggers are clearing fir forests, at times even in the restricted zones, putting increasing pressure on existing butterfly colonies.
Like these beautiful, fragile monarch butterflies coming to their winter home, God’s Spirit usually fills our hearts in gentle ways. We must intentionally keep a sanctuary for him, for many things would encroach upon his home in us. Our sense of his manifest presence, our ability to hear his thoughts, our awareness of his direction—all can be lost if we do not safeguard a place for him (Larson, C. B. (2002). 750 engaging illustrations for preachers, teachers & writers (249–250). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
2) The Explanation (Acts 2:16–21)
Acts 2:16-21[16]But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: [17]"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [18]even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. [19]And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; [20]the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. [21]And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (ESV)
What transpired on the Day of Pentecost was not a drunken aberration. Rather, as Peter now demonstrates, it was connected to what was uttered/spoken through the prophet Joel (cf. Joel 2:28–32). The prophet uttered these words about 870 B.C. Joel’s prophecy was originally given after a locust plague had ravaged the land, creating a severe famine. Joel called the people to repentance, promising the restoration of their prosperity (Polhill, J. B. (1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American Commentary (109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
What was the involved in the prophesy? The Hebrew of Joel originally reads “afterwards.”. Peter’s rendition is intentionally different, probably signaling that the last days have begun (Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 2:17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
The phrase in verse 17, "the last days" is a common Old Testament expression (cf. Isa. 2:2; Jer. 23:20; 49:39; Ezek. 38:16; Hos. 3:5; Micah 4:1). It denotes the time when Messiah would come to set up His kingdom. That there would be two comings of Messiah, separated by a long intervening period, was not fully explained in the Old Testament. The two comings, however, can be inferred from the two purposes for Messiah’s coming set forth in the Old Testament. On the one hand, the Old Testament teaches that Messiah would come as the Suffering Servant, to die for the sins of His people (Isa. 53). On the other hand, it also teaches that Messiah would come in glory to set up His kingdom (Isa. 9:6).
The first coming of Christ ushered in the last days. First John 2:18 says, “Children, it is the last hour.” Peter writes that Christ “has appeared in these last times for the sake of you” (1 Peter 1:20). The writer of Hebrews informs us that God “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb. 1:2), and “now once at the consummation of the ages [Christ] has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). The last days have thus lasted nearly two thousand years. During that time, God has graciously called Gentiles to salvation and chastened Israel for her unbelief.
Joel prophesied the Day of Pentecost, speaking where God will pour out/forth of [His] Spirit. The verb “pour out” (ἐκχέω, ekcheō) in reference to the Spirit is the image is of a torrential downpour that is poured out on a parched earth (Bock, D. L. (2007). Acts. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (113). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.).
The Spirit is poured out upon all flesh/mankind, with people of all sexes and out of all nations now being indwelled with the Holy Spirit through faith (Titus 3:5–6). Resident now in the heart of believers and foreshadowing a future global scope, there is perfect peace (Isa. 9:7). Likewise, Christ reigns now in the hearts of His people (Luke 1:33), which foreshadows the future worldwide reign when Christ will judge all (Acts 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1); What will ultimately come to full fruition in the kingdom began to be seen at Pentecost.
Obviously, however, not all the components of Joel’s prophecy are prefigured in the church age. It is not until the Spirit is poured out upon all flesh/mankind in the future fulfillment of the kingdom, Peter says, that your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Visions and dreams such as OT prophets enjoyed gave insight into the heavenly world, so that God’s character and will could be proclaimed. However, in Acts, the knowledge of God which the Spirit kindles in believers comes from the glorified Christ through the preaching of the gospel (Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar New Testament Commentary (141–142). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.).
It is then, God says in verse 18 that even upon my male servants and my female servants in those days I will pour out/forth My Spirit and they shall prophesy. Prophesy (forth telling of the truth of scripture) was exercised in the early church (cf. Acts 21:8–11) and continues in a nonrevelatory sense throughout this age. The chief effect of the Spirit’s activity is always prophesying, not in the narrow sense of foretelling future events, but in the broad and far more important sense of voicing the saving and blessed will of God to (people) everywhere. In 1 Cor. 14 Paul speaks of this as the best and highest gift of the Spirit; and Luther writes: “What are all other gifts together compared to this gift, that the Spirit of God himself, the eternal God, comes down into our hearts, yea, into our bodies and dwells in us, rules, guides, leads us! Thus now, as concerning this passage of the prophet, prophesying, visions, dreams are all one thing, namely the knowledge of God through Christ, which the Holy Spirit kindles and makes to burn through the Word of the gospel.” (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles (74–75). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.)
In verse 19, the wonders in the heavens/sky above, and signs on the earth beneath occurred at Pentecost. The signs of blood, fire, or vapor of smoke, and in verse 20, the sun turned into darkness, and the moon into blood could be understood as having actually taken place in the natural world “during the early afternoon of the day of our Lord’s crucifixion,” when “the sun turned into darkness” and “the paschal full moon … appeared blood-red in the sky in consequence of that preternatural gloom” (Matt. 27:45) (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (276). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
Yet, these were only foreshadows of what is to come as described in the yet future event when the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. The day of the Lord may refer to any time God acts in judgment (cf. Isa. 13:6ff; Ezek. 30:2ff; Joel 1:15; 2:1–11; 3:14; Amos 5:18–20; Obad. 15; Zeph. 1:14–18). In this passage, however, the ultimate day of the Lord associated with the second coming of Christ is in view (cf. 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2). That is clear from the details of Joel’s prophecy. and going on to foresee the coming of the Day of the Lord, the dawn of the messianic age, when the Spirit would be poured out on all of Israel....The messianic age had already dawned in the resurrection of Christ, that we are indeed already living in the final days of God’s saving history. For Peter the universal pouring out of the Spirit on the whole Christian group was demonstration that the end time had come (Polhill, J. B. (1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American Commentary (109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
We’ll look briefly at Matthew 24
The signs in the earth and heavens Joel mentions are connected elsewhere in Scripture with the events surrounding Christ’s second coming (cf. Rev. 6:8; 8:7-8, 9:15, 14:20, 16:3). Revelation also mentions fire in connection with the time surrounding Christ’s second coming: (Rev. 8:5, 8:7-10). Finally, Revelation mentions smoke at that time: (Rev. 9:2-3, 17-18, 18:9, 18). These words are best understood in connection with the final appearing of Jesus and the day of judgment (2 Peter 3:7–10) (Gaertner, D. (1995). Acts. The College Press NIV Commentary (Ac 2:21). Joplin, MO: College Press.).
In Matthew 24:29–30, the Lord Jesus Christ described the changes in the sun, moon, and stars that would accompany His second coming:
Matthew 24:29-30 [29]"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [30]Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (ESV)
• Some of those cosmic disturbances had been prefigured by the events surrounding Christ’s death on the cross (cf. Luke 23:44–45), and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD..
After hearing Peter quote Joel’s terrifying description of the day of the Lord, the crowd would naturally want to know how to avoid being caught in that time of terror and devastation. Peter then delivers the climax of his quote from Joel in verse 21: And it shall come to pass/be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. There is salvation for those who turn to the Savior. In the main body of his sermon, Peter describes to his hearers exactly who that Savior is and what He requires for salvation. According to this verse (quoted also in Romans 10:13), the issue in salvation isn’t who a person is or what he or she has done; the issue is simple trust and humility. Everyone who looks to the Lord for forgiveness will find it. (Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts. Life Application Bible Commentary (30). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.)
Yet, this only applies to the one who calls. This is an AORIST MIDDLE SUBJUNCTIVE. Human response is part of God’s plan for salvation (cf. Joel 2:32; John 1:12, 3:16; and Romans 10:9–13). Individual human beings are called on to repent and believe the gospel, and to enter into a personal relationship with God through Christ (cf. 3:16, 19; 20:21; Mark 1:15). It is not just a general wish for deliverance for one must call on the name of the Lord. This refers to the character of Jesus or teachings about Him. It has both the personal and doctrinal element. (Utley, R. J. (2003). Vol. Volume 3B: Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts. Study Guide Commentary Series (33). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.)
The events recorded in scripture and the fragility of life as evidenced by everyday events are self-evident of the reality of death for everyone. The only question is if you think that you are perfect and able to stand before God and say that you have never messed up. Otherwise, you admit that you have come short, need forgiveness from God and trust Him alone for eternal life. With this is the guarantee here and now that you will be saved from the wrath of God (Rom. 5) that will one day come.
(Format Note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1994). Acts. MacArthur New Testament Commentary (45–55). Chicago: Moody Press.)
