Acts 2--"What do we do?"

Last time, I talked about how the Pentecost in Acts was the fulfillment of the Pentecost in Exodus. Pilgrims from all over the world had come to commemorate the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.  The worshipers were startled by the news that a sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire had fallen on a group of Jesus' disciples. This phenomena was like the fire and wind on Sinai!  Everyone had seen Jesus do miraculous things, his followers must be doing something amazing too.  The pilgrims ran to the site of the commotion to see for themselves.

When they arrived, they heard the sounds of praise and worship to God--in their own language! What a surprise for non-Jewish believers who had to learn the Hebrew language and customs to worship the True God.  Now God by His Spirit was welcoming them by speaking to them in the intimacy of their mother tongue! This supernatural language was welcoming the world to worship the God of the Hebrews.

At the height of their amazement, Peter stood up and addressed the crowd.
 Ac 2:16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
 Ac 2:17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
 Ac 2:18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
 Ac 2:19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
 Ac 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
 Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.'

The people listening had no doubt heard of the sun turning to darkness on the day of Christ's death, and now saw the tongues of fire.  They had heard of the wonders and signs of Jesus and His followers. 

Peter's sermon went on to explain:

 Ac 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--

 Ac 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

 Ac 2:24 "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

After comparing Christ to King David's prophesies, Peter brought his message to this conclusion:

 Ac 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

The Bible says the people were "cut to the heart" and asked, "what do we do?"

This reaction from the crowd shows the greatest power the Spirit -- the ability to convict men's hearts of their need for God.

Jesus explained that part of the Spirit's work would be to expose the darkness in men's hearts in order to have them filled with Light:   Speaking of the Spirit, He said:   Joh 16:8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
 Joh 16:9 "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

Peter had good reason to use the passage in Joel as his text.  Prior to the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the passage in Joel urges radical humility and seeking God's forgiveness of sins:

 Joe 2:12 ¶ "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."


 Joe 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
 Joe 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;

Even the newlyweds and infants were to be included in seeking God for mercy.   It was after this, or even in response to the coming Spirit outpouring that God did ama
zing works of restoration in the Jewish people in Joel's day. 

Knowing this scripture, the crowd around Peter that day and seeing the very demonstration of the Spirit in front of them, the multi-national crowd cried out with the only question that made sense--"What do I need to do to have God's Spirit, and His law, in my heart like these people!"

Peter's answer was simple:   

 Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 Ac 2:39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Next time, we will take a journey on the meaning of the word "Repent"  and why it was a crucial step in people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

Peter's sermon

Joel two

John

Repentence required