Peter Addresses The People Of Israel

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 – Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. Acts 2: 22 - 24

Peter tells them about David, their beloved king, and the reverence which he has given to Jesus, Messiah. He reminded them, of how David also spoke of a rejoicing heart and glad tongue, knowing that he would rest in hope. He also spoke of Jesus’ Resurrection, when he wrote that God would not allow His Holy One, Jesus, Son of Man, to see corruption.  

Peter then closes this second section with words of Eternal life with Christ. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence. Acts 2: 28

Peter now addresses Men and Brethren

We accept that Peter is inclusive in his speech and that the term, men, includes women and the term brethren, includes sisters in Christ Jesus. 

Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you about the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Acts 2: 29

Peter knows how revered King David is to the Jewish people and he does not hesitate to speak of Jesus’ Resurrection, making references to David. He tells them of Jesus’ Ascension, of which they, the disciples, were made witnesses. He informs them that Jesus, being exalted to the Right Hand of God, received from Father God, the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has poured out this Holy Spirit and that is what they were seeing and hearing in the disciples.

He reasoned with them about David, that David did not ascend into the heavens, but this is what he confessed.  He said that the LORD, said to his Lord to sit at His Right Hand, until He made His enemies His footstool. Peter proves to them that David was not speaking about himself, but Jesus.

Peter then closes this third section with words of declaration and conviction. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Luke 2: 36.

Peter is open, honest, blunt and bold, as the Holy Spirit, through him, convicts people of sin. Don’t lose sight of the fact of his specific hearers. At the moment, he is speaking directly to the brethren. Men and brethren, let me speak freely unto you. He has told them to their faces that they had crucified Messiah, Jesus. He was quick in convincing them that God has made Jesus, both Lord and God.

In the Power of the Holy Spirit, speaking with a new tongue, the Holy Spirit works wonders through Peter. We also note the response, the fruit born from his first Spirit-enabled sermon. When the people heard all that Peter said, they were strongly and deeply convicted, and asked Peter and the rest of the disciples what they had to do to be saved. Listeners wanted salvation and asked for it.

Listen with all your heart, mind, soul and strength to what Peter tells them. For all of us who are seeking salvation; all who are not too sure of where they are; all who do not know the peace and power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit, receive Peter’s words. These are Spirit-filled words.

May the Holy Spirit still work wonders and bring fruit from these words. Amen!

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2: 38b – 39.

Peter continued to testify and exhort the hearers of whom many heeded. On that first Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit, through the Preaching of Spirit-filled Peter, on that Harvest Festival celebration time, a mighty harvest of about three thousand Jews, devout people from all over the world, was brought in. Who can match the spectacular, incomprehensible wisdom and working of God, the Holy Ghost?  Here is a word to shake many of us, believers, out of our self-righteous slumber. Devout, religious people, worshippers of the One True God, in obedience to Him have come to celebrate the Feast of Harvest. They have come with their first fruits of grain, new wine, olives and much more. But look! Holy Spirit comes like a mighty wind, blowing where He wills and how He wills, shakes down a harvest as nobody’s business. Fruit are reaped for the Lord. They, who have come to Jerusalem, with their firstfruits, to celebrate the Festival of Harvest, are made fruit themselves, living fruit, to celebrate a new, first Harvest of the Holy Spirit.  These converts, saved and empowered, have become the Lord God’s living fruit!

The Church is born! Hallelujah!

Can you imagine the spread of the Gospel, through these new, Blood-washed, Spirit-baptized men and women? Faith allows us to see and believe that the works of the Holy Spirit continued in these new converts who returned home after the Festival of Weeks or Harvest. Surely, as Peter promised, they would have received the Holy Spirit and surely, He would endue them with new tongues, to speak the wonders of God when they returned home. They came from all over the world, to celebrate God’s command to observe the Feast of Weeks. Now they will return home, God’s own harvest, His first fruits, filled with the Holy Spirit, to spread the Good News, in their own language, with new, Spirit-enabled tongues.

One sure manifestation of the Indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives, is the new tongues which He gives to each, to speak, not only in other tongues, but in our own tongues, fruit-reaping words, which bring the harvest of souls, for God’s Kingdom.