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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon comments on the relationship between giving of Law to Moses and giving of the Spirit - If you will count the days, you will find that it was exactly fifty days after the original Passover that the law was given on Mount Sinai. Many careful readers have observed this, but have feared to attach importance to the fact because the Jews did not connect it with Pentecost. Now we assert that as the inauguration of the law was on Pentecost, so also was the inauguration of the Gospel. At the commencement of the Old Testament dispensation, what manifestation do we get? God gives his people a law. At the commencement of the New Testament dispensation, what do we get? A law? No, the Lord gives his people the Spirit. That is a very different matter. Under the old covenant the command was given; but under the new covenant the will and the power to obey are bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit. No more have we the law upon stone, but the Spirit writes the precept upon the fleshy tablets of the heart. Moses on the mount can only tell us what to do, but Jesus ascended on high pours out the power to do it. Now we are not under the law, but under grace, and the Spirit is our guiding force. In the church of God our rule is not according to the letter of a law, but according to the Spirit of the Lord. Some people look for a specific ordinance for every item of procedure on the part of the church, but, so far as I can see, there is a singular absence of written rule and ritual concerning particulars, apart from the two great standing ordinances. I do believe that under this dispensation saints are left to the freedom of the Spirit, and are not specifically commanded in every detail by a written law. Neither this form of church government, nor that is forced upon us, but life is permitted to assume its own necessary form, under the molding power of the Holy Spirit. (from his sermon on Acts 2:1 - Pentecost) THE SEVEN GREAT FEASTS OF ISRAEL THESE FEASTS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED IN MESSIAH'S FIRST COMING THESE FEASTS WILL BE FULFILLED IN MESSIAH'S SECOND COMING SPRING FEASTS FALL FEASTS 1st Month = Nisan Festival of Passover (Pesach) 3rd Month = Sivan Feast of Pentecost I N T E R L U D E 7th Month = Tishri Festival of Booths (Tabernacles) (Sukkot) Passover Pesach Unleavened Bread First Fruits (Habikkurim) (Reshit Katzir) Feast of Weeks = Festival of the Harvest of the First Fruits (Shavuot) (Picture) Feast of Trumpets Day of Atonement Feast of Booths Lamb's blood on Door Purging Leaven (Sin) Wave Offering (Promise of Harvest to come) (Usually barley) Wave Offering of two loaves of leavened bread (promise of harvest to come) Trumpet Blown - A Holy Convocation Atonement shall be made to cleanse you Celebrates harvest, memorial of God's care in wilderness 1st Month, 14th Day 1st Month, 15th Day (1st & 8th are Sabbath) Day after Sabbath (Dt 26:5-10) 50 Days after first fruits 7th Month, 1st Day (A Sabbath) 7th Month, 10th Day (A Sabbath) 7th Mo, 15th Day 7 Days; Convocation on 8th Day Lev 23:33-44 (1st & 8th are Sabbath) Christ our Passover has been sacrificed Clean out the old leaven… just as you are in fact unleavened Christ has been raised… the first fruits Promise of the Spirit, Mystery of Church - Jews and Gentiles in one body Regathering of Israel before final day of atonement Jeremiah 32:37-41+ Israel repents and looks to Christ in one day Zech 12:10+ Zech 13:1+ Zech 14:9+ All families come to Jerusalem for Feast of Booths Zech 14:16-19+ Acts 2:1-4, 5-47+ Ezekiel 36:24+ Hebrews 9-10 Ezekiel 36:28+ Comments on the chart The Seven Great Feasts of Israel - First Fruits - Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf (Heb = omer) of the first fruits (Heb = reshith) of your harvest to the priest. 11 ‘He shall wave (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST THEN WEST = SYMBOLIZES DEDICATION OF THE HARVEST TO YAHWEH) the sheaf before the LORD for (PURPOSE) you to be accepted (ratson/rason); on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it (USUALLY BARLEY - THE FIRST TO RIPEN). 12 ‘Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering ('olah) to the LORD. 13 ‘Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine. 14 (ONLY AFTER THE WAVE OFFERING ‘Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. (Lev 23:9-14+) In (Dt 26:5-10) the Feast of First Fruits is associated with remembrance of Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The day following the first day of Unleavened Bread is called Reshit Katzir "the beginning of the harvest" or Yom HaBikkurim, "the Day of Firstfruits." In ancient times, on this day a sheaf (omer) of barley (the first grain crop to ripen) was waved before the Lord in a prescribed ceremony which initiated the 49 day countdown to the jubilee harvest festival of Shavuot. The Feast of Firstfruits took place on the day after the Sabbath following Passover, which means it was always on the first day of the week because the Sabbath is the seventh day. At this appointed time Israel was to acknowledge in their hearts and confess before witnesses that the fruits of their labor were a grace-gift from the Almighty, Who is the source of all material and spiritual wealth, and that they no longer lived as slaves in bondage but as free citizens in God’s kingdom (cf Dt 26:5-10+). First fruits was also a type or shadow of the Messiah, and was fulfilled with the resurrection of Jesus. Paul writes "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep....But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,Testament refers to the resurrected Jesus as the firstfruits of those who will be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:20,23+). In Paul's teaching we see the resurrection of Jesus is linked to the historic Feast of Firstfruits. The Gospels tell us that “After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb” (Mt. 28:1). Keep in mind that according to Leviticus 23:11, the Feast of Firstfruits was to be observed on the first day after the Sabbath of Passover. Firsthand reports about the resurrection tell us that Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday, the first day of the week after the seventh-day Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead not on just any day. The reality as it played out was not coincidentally on the first day of the week; rather the Messiah rose according to God’s intentional design in order to fulfill the holy Torah. He rose on HaBikkurim—the Feast of Firstfruits. His resurrection was a promise of the life and everlasting freedom that would come to all who believed in Him. Of the Feast of Firstfruits Alfred Edersheim says, “Each family, and every individual separately acknowledged, by the yearly presentation of the firstfruits, a living relationship between them and God, in virtue of which they gratefully received at His hands all they had or enjoyed, and solemnly dedicated both it and themselves to the Lord.” How much more, then, is this true for those who confess Jesus as Messiah! Those who believe in Jesus can gratefully see Him as the resurrected Firstfruit of the eternal harvest that God has promised to those who trust Him, and rest assured that because He rose from the dead, they too will one day rise from the dead as a firstfruits offering to Jehovah. Now if that doesn't make you shout "Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus!" nothing will! Counting The Sheaves (Sefirat HaOmer - see interesting explanation) Leviticus 23:15 says "You shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed." This commandment is not a holiday as such, but it represents a process still observed among Orthodox, Conservative, and Messianic Jewish synagogues. Together these groups obey the commandment to count the passage of time, day by day, from the Feast of Firstfruits to the next major biblical feast: Shavuot. Shavuot, which will be discussed in greater detail in the next section, is also known as Pentecost, and it falls exactly 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. In synagogues and in Jewish homes the observant Hebrew greets each evening (the beginning of the Jewish day) with special prayers to mark off the days until Shavuot. This observance is not a countdown, but an anticipation of the coming appointed time of God. During this time Psalm 119 is read in the synagogues as observant Jewish people meditate on its words of encouragement. An attitude of anticipation can also be seen in a prayer recited every evening during the Counting of the Sheaves: “May it be Your will, Lord our God, and the God of our forefathers, that in the merit of the omer count that I have counted today, may there be corrected whatever blemish I have caused . . . and may I be cleansed and sanctified with the holiness of Above.” The observant Jewish man or woman looks to these days as a time of introspection, with the nightly prayers helping to examine his or her life, in anticipation of the great work he expects the Creator to do on the 50th day, the Day of Pentecost. Leviticus 23:15 instructs the celebrants to be mindful of the passage of time from Passover to Pentecost, the 49 intermediary days. Some rabbis teach that this time is like waiting for a friend who is coming from afar for a special visit, bearing with him great news. Certainly in the biblical history of the apostles, the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot were spent in fellowship with and being taught by the resurrected Messiah. But He left them with the promise that a unique Counselor would come. And a very intimate friend did visit on Shavuot—the Holy Spirit. Related Resources: Leviticus Commentary for more discussion of Feast of
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Spurgeon - How absolutely necessary is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit! It is not possible for us to promote the glory of God or to bless the souls of men, unless the Holy Spirit shall be in us and with us. Those who were assembled on that memorable day of Pentecost, were all men of prayer and faith; but even these precious gifts are only available when the celestial fire sets them on a blaze. They were all men of experience; most of them had been preachers of the Word and workers of miracles; they had endured trials and troubles in company with their Lord, and had been with him in his temptation. Among them were the apostles and the seventy evangelists, and with them were those honoured women in whose houses the Lord had often been entertained, and who had ministered to him of their substance; yet even these favoured and honoured saints can do nothing without the breath of God the Holy Spirit. Apostles and evangelists dare not even attempt anything alone; they must tarry at Jerusalem till power be given them from on high. It was not a want of education; they had been for three years in the college of Christ, with perfect wisdom as their tutor, matchless eloquence as their instructor, and immaculate perfection as their example; yet they must not venture to open their mouths to testify of the mystery of Jesus, until the anointing Spirit has come with blessed unction from above. Surely if so it was with them, much more must it be the case with us. (from Sermon 511 - Pentecost) Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. suddenly (KJV): Ac 16:25,26 Isa 65:24 Mal 3:1 Lu 2:13 as (KJV): 1Ki 19:11 Ps 18:10 Song 4:16 Eze 3:12,13 37:9,10 Joh 3:8 it (KJV): Ac 4:31 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Amplified When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. ESV And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. KJV And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. NET Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. NIV Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. NLT Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. YLT and there came suddenly out of the heaven a sound as of a bearing violent breath, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, SUDDENLY A NOISE FROM HEAVEN FILLED THE HOUSE Jesus had promised they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and in Acts 2:1-4 Luke describes the baptism. It is interesting to note that the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry was marked by the coming of the Spirit upon Him (Lk 3:21-22+), while in Acts the beginning of the ministry of the disciples of Jesus (and His spiritual Body, the Church) is marked by baptism with the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). And just as Jesus' ministry needed to be empowered by the Spirit (cf Lk 4:1+, "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit," = Lk 4:14+, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME" = Lk 4:18+, Acts 10:38), so too the disciples needed the power of the Spirit of Jesus to minister in His Name. John the Baptist had prophesied that Jesus would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Lk 3:16+). And so here in Acts 2 we see the ascended Christ sending His Spirit (Jn 15:26, 16:7) and baptizing His disciples so that they might "receive power" which would enable them to be His witnesses "to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8+) George Ladd - “Whenever baptism with the Spirit is mentioned after Pentecost, it is never an experience of believers who have already been baptized once with the Spirit but only of new groups of people who are brought to faith in Christ.” (Borrow A theology of the New Testament) Related Resources: Spirit filled believers Are Like Artesian Wells A Spirit Filled Church And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind - The people did not feel the wind, but heard the sound. It was a sound like a wind but there was no wind. And it came with suddenness, without warning, which would have taken the disciples by surprise. This supernatural sound sign like a wind is interesting because the disciples had already been told to expect the Spirit "not many days" after Jesus' ascended (Acts 1:4-5+), but this supernatural sound sign still caught the 120 by surprise. The source of the noise is from heaven, sent from Heaven by Christ (cf Mt 3:11 = Jesus "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit") Who had just returned to Heaven (Acts 1:11+).
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Spurgeon - No doubt this wind (NOTE: NOT AN ACTUAL "WIND" BUT LIKE A WIND. EVEN ASTUTE OBSERVERS LIKE SPURGEON OCCASIONALLY MISINTERPRET WHAT THE TEXT ACTUALLY SAYS - SEE IMPORTANCE OF THE SKILL OF OBSERVATION) was intended to show the irresistible power of the Holy Ghost, for simple as the air is, and apparently feeble, yet set it in motion, and you feel that a thing of life is among you. Make that motion more rapid, and who knows the power of the restless giant who has been awakened? See, it becomes a storm, a tempest, a hurricane, a tornado, a cyclone. (SO YES, WHILE THIS SOUND MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO CONVEY A SENSE OF THE SPIRIT'S POWER, IT PRIMARILY WAS GIVEN AS A SIGN OF HIS PRESENCE, HIS ARRIVAL). Where they were sitting - Why this detail? Well, how did the Jews pray in the first century? Did they pray while sitting? Traditionally, Jews prayed either while standing or kneeling. So this description that they were sitting suggests that they were not praying at this time. You are probably still asking "So what?" The point is that the disciples were not praying for the Spirit arrive and baptize them. God was about to give the Spirit not because they had prayed but because it was His sovereignly determined will and time. This small detail is important because there are many in charismatic circles or of a Pentecostal persuasion who teach that one must pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Nowhere in the NT do we ever read of anyone seeking or praying to be baptized with the Holy Spirit! So if we are not to pray for the Spirit's baptism, how do we receive this baptism? The primary explanation of the baptism with the Spirit is found in 1Co 12:12-13+ For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body (BODY OF CHRIST), so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Paul is explaining that the church is like a human body in the sense that it is one organism but it has many members. So the Body of Christ has many members, Jews and Gentiles who were baptized into Christ's body by the Spirit. The Spirit is the instrument by which we were placed into Christ's body, His Church. This is not something we need to pray for or seek. The only way Paul could say they were all baptized into the body is that he knew they were all baptized with the Spirit at the moment of conversion. Paul is teaching them that this is something that had already happened, not something they needed to seek. The baptism of the Spirit took place when they were converted. When you trusted Christ, you were baptized with the Holy Spirit. You very likely did not immediately feel anything or have any "experience" when God's Spirit transferred you from Satan's kingdom of darkness to Christ's kingdom of light (Col 1:13+, Acts 26:18+) When you were born again by the Spirit, not only were you placed into the body of Christ, the Spirit was placed into you. So now every believer, without exception, possesses the indwelling Holy Spirit for as Paul taught "you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (i.e.,HE IS NOT A BELIEVER!). (Ro 8:9+). Note also that Paul asked the Corinthians "do you not know (IMPLYING THAT THEY DID KNOW!) that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" (1 Cor 6:19+). I will never forget a young man who worked in the hospital laboratory where I was a pathologist. His name was Fred and he was a homosexual who was living in a long term relationship with another man. I actually did not even know he was gay and AIDS positive, but over a period of weeks I and another woman in the lab from a charismatic background both shared the Gospel with Fred who one day was gloriously saved. Almost immediately he moved out of his long term relationship and I began to disciple him at work. He was a man that had become so filled with the Spirit that his joy was irrepressible. He was a joy to disciple. Then one day he came in extremely distraught and downcast. When I asked why, he said that Linda, our charismatic sister in Christ, had told him that now he needed to pray to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He did and nothing happened and his discouragement soon led to disillusionment. It took several several weeks of counseling him from the Word of God to convince him that what Linda was advocating was not Scripturally sound teaching. I have since heard stories similar to this from our saints who were dealing with new believers who naturally were hungry for all that God could give them. So the fruit of this false teaching is not good. Pastor Steve Kreloff, a Jewish believing pastor, has an excellent message on this issue and at about 30' into the message relates his experiences which were similar to mine (The Day of Pentecost). Dear believer "See to it (blepo in the present imperative = command to continually be on the alert so) that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Col 2:8+) Note also that it is Christ Who does the baptizing, not the Spirit. Mt 3:11+ As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He (CHRIST) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John 1:33+ I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon Whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One (CHRIST) Who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ Steven
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Spurgeon - Wind and fire together! Rushing mighty wind (MORE ACCURATELY "LIKE A WIND" BUT NOT ACTUALLY WIND) alone how terrible! Who shall stand against it? See how the gallant ships dash together, and the monarchs of the forest bow their heads. And fire (AGAIN LIKE FIRE) alone! Who shall stand against it when it devours its prey? But set wind and fire to work in hearty union! Remember the old city of London. When first the flames began it was utterly impossible to quench them because the wind fanned the flame, and the buildings gave way before the fire-torrent. Set the prairie on fire. If a rain-shower falls, and the air is still, the grass may perhaps cease to burn, but let the wind encourage the flame, and see how the devourer sweeps along while the tall grass is licked up by tongues of fire. We have lately read of forests on fire. What a sight! Hear how the mighty trees are crashing in the flame! What can stand against it! The fire sets the mountains on a blaze. What a smoke blackens the skies; it grows dark at noon. As hill after hill offers up its sacrifice, the timid imagine that the great day of the Lord has come. If we could see a spiritual conflagration of equal grandeur it would be a consummation devoutly to be wished. O God, send us the Holy Spirit in this fashion: give us both the breath of spiritual life and the fire of unconquerable zeal, till nation after nation shall yield to the sway of Jesus. O thou who art our God, answer us by fire, we pray thee. Answer us both by wind and fire, and then shall we see thee to be God indeed. The kingdom comes not, and the work is flagging. O that thou wouldest send the wind and the fire! Thou wilt do this when we are all of one accord, all believing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer. Lord, bring us to this waiting state. (from Acts 2:2-4 Pentecostal Wind and Fire) James Montgomery
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Spurgeon writes that "Adoration is a fit frame of mind for the believer. When he draws near to God, he enters into a region where everything is surpassingly sublime; miracles of love abound on every hand, and marvels of mingled justice and grace. A traveller among the high Alps often feels overwhelmed with awe, amid their amazing sublimities; much more is this the case when we survey the heights and depths of the mercy and holiness of the Lord." Some commentators (Constable, POSB) feel they were speaking the Gospel, but that seems unlikely. Rather, they were exalting God which would have countered the accusations of the Jews that believers in Jesus were blashpemers, just as they felt He was, but blasphemers would hardly being praising the mighty deeds of God! Their praise was the prelude and preparation for the presentation and proclamation of the Gospel by Peter. Stanley Toussaint - Their message was not one of repentance; it was not the gospel. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Some of the OT mighty deeds they may have referred to include... Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 77:11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. Psalm 96:3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. Psalm 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Spirit filled people are not shy about testifying about the great and mighty deeds of their great God!' Paul Apple on might deeds... Mighty deeds of Forming me in all of my uniqueness – I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. – Ps. 139:14 - Mighty deeds of His New Creation – 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” - Mighty deeds of Judgment – Tower of Babel and Noah’s Flood - Mighty deeds of His dealings with His covenant People – Nation of Israel - Mighty deeds of the Giving of His Law – revelation to guide His people - Mighty deeds of the coming of the promised Messiah – His incarnation by virgin birth - Mighty deeds of Christ accomplished during His earthly ministry - Mighty deeds of His death and resurrection and ascension - Mighty deeds continuing now by the Holy Spirit as recorded in this Book of Acts It was a vision of the Greatness of God that awoke the great Princeton theologian Jonathan Edwards from spiritual lethargy: Jonathan Edwards was suddenly converted, as by a flash of light, in the moment of reading a single verse of the New Testament. He was at home in his father’s house: some hindrances kept him from going to church one Sunday with the family. A couple of hours with nothing to do sent him listlessly into the library: the sight of a dull volume with no title on the leather back of it piqued curiosity as to what it could be: he opened it at random and found it to be a Bible: and then his eye caught this verse: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, Amen!” He tells us in his journal that the immediate effect of it was awakening and alarming to his soul: for it brought him a most novel and most extensive thought of the vastness and majesty of the true Sovereign of the universe. Out of this grew the pain of guilt for having resisted such as a Monarch so long, and for having served Him so poorly. And whereas he had hitherto had slight notions of his own wickedness and very little poignancy of acute remorse, now he felt the deepest contrition. – C. H. Robinson DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS: 1) Does my heart reflect God’s passion for worldwide missions? 2) How has God gotten my attention in the past? 3) What passages help me to reflect on the greatness of God? 4) What type of mocking responses do we see to the gospel message? (Acts Commentary) Acts 2:12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" KJV Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? What does this mean Acts 10:17; 17:20; Luke 15:26; 18:36 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SINCERE SEEKERS SURPRISED BY THE SIGN And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity - Those who were attracted to the supernatural speaking of foreign languages reacted positively but with great wonder at a loss as to what was transpiring. One might call them "sincere seekers," honest hearers seeking answers. Amazement - see preceding discussion of this verb existemi used in Acts 2:7. Both verbs here are imperfect middle indicating that they continued to be amazed and perplexed. Continued in...great perplexity (1280)(diaporeo from dia = through + aporeo= to be perplexed) means to be utterly at a loss, to be puzzled, to be perplexed through and through (thoroughly perplexed). To be in much doubt.
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Spurgeon - “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.” In the worst times that can ever happen, there is still salvation for people. When day turns to night and life becomes death, when the staff of life is broken and the hope of all has fled, there still remains in God, in the person of his dear Son, deliverance to all those who will call on the name of the Lord. We must call on the true God, not on an idol or an image or an impression of our minds. We must call on the living God—call on him who reveals himself in the Bible—call on him who reveals himself in the person of his dear Son. For whosoever will call on this God will be saved. This way of salvation—calling on the name of the Lord—glorifies God. He asks nothing of us but that we ask everything of him. We are the beggars and he is the benefactor. We are in trouble and he is our deliverer. All we have to do is trust him and beg of him. This is easy enough. This puts the matter into the hands of the Lord and takes it out of our hands. Will be saved (4982)(sozo) has the basic meaning of rescuing one from great peril, in this context God's great wrath! Additional nuances include to protect, keep alive, preserve, deliver, heal, be made whole. Sozo is sometimes used of physical deliverance from danger of perishing (see Mt 8:25; Mt 14:30; Lk 23:35; Acts 27:20, 27:31), physical healing from sickness (Mt 9:21, 22; Mk 5:23, Acts 4:9), and deliverance from demonic possession (Lk 8:36). Most often sozo is used as in the present passage to refer to salvation in a spiritual sense. Matthew recorded the angel's conversation with Joseph regarding his betrothed, Mary, declaring "She (Mary) will bear a Son; and you shall call His Name Jesus, for it is He who will save (sozo) His people from their sins." (Mt 1:21) In Mt 1:21 sozo is equated with deliverance from sins (guilt and power of) with Jesus' Name being a transliteration of Joshua meaning "Jehovah is salvation". Luke's uses of sozo - Lk. 6:9; Lk. 7:50; Lk. 8:12; Lk. 8:36; Lk. 8:48; Lk. 8:50; Lk. 9:24; Lk. 9:56; Lk. 13:23; Lk. 17:19; Lk. 18:26; Lk. 18:42; Lk. 19:10; Lk. 23:35; Lk. 23:37; Lk. 23:39; Acts 2:21; Acts 2:40; Acts 2:47; Acts 4:9; Acts 4:12; Acts 11:14; Acts 14:9; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:30; Acts 16:31; Acts 27:20; Acts 27:31 Call for Help Read: Acts 2:14–21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21 After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, “Ring, relax, and wait.” New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament. In the book of Acts, Peter preached a sermon that addressed the error of trying to save ourselves. Luke, who wrote the book, records some remarkable events in which believers in Christ were speaking in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1–12). Peter got up to explain to his Jewish brothers and sisters that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28–32)—the outpouring of the Spirit and a day of salvation. The blessing of the Holy Spirit was now visibly seen in those who called on Jesus for rescue from sin and its effects. Then Peter told them how this salvation is available for anyone (v. 21). Our access to God comes not through keeping the Law but through trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah. If we are trapped in sin, we cannot save ourselves. Our only hope for being rescued is acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Have you called on Jesus to rescue you from your sin? Rescue comes to those who call on Jesus for help. Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- KJV 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: NLT "People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. Men of Israel, listen to these words - Acts 3:12; 5:35; 13:16; 21:28; Isa 41:14 Jesus the Nazarene Acts 4:10; 6:14; 22:8; 24:5; 26:9; Mt 2:23; John 1:45; 19:19 A Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs Acts 10:37; 26:26; Mt 11:2-6; Luke 7:20-23; 24:18; John 3:2; 5:36; 6:14,27; John 7:31; 10:37; 11:47; 12:17; 14:10,11; 15:24; He 2:4 which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know Acts 14:27; Mt 9:8; 12:28; Luke 11:20; John 5:17-20; 9:33; 11:40-42; 14:10,11 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD AUTHENTICATED JESUS AS MESSIAH THROUGH HIS MIRACLES This is Peter's defense of the Gospel which he later wrote about in 1 Peter 3:15+. The Jews had asked him a question "What is this?" And he was ready to make a defense, for he was filled with the Spirit and filled with the Word as he proceeds to repeatedly quote from the Old Testament. Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense (apologia) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. Comment - Apologia was a technical word in law courts speaking of verbal defense presented by a lawyer who defends his client. In a sense Jesus is Peter's "Client" and he presents his defense to the Jewish audience. Men of Israel, listen to these words - As in Acts 2:14 ("give heed to my words") Peter directly addressed the audience as Men of Judea and now gives them another command to listen (both in the aorist imperative = calls for immediate attention! This is urgent! Do this now!). Peter is making a transition to his main subject, Jesus. Notice Peter's appeal is to the Jews in keeping with Paul's statement that the Gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Ro 1:16+). This also fulfills Jesus' words in Acts 1:8+ that "you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem." So Peter's witness empowered by the Spirit begins in Jerusalem. Peter should have spoken "Ichabod" (The Glory has Departed) over these Jews, but instead he speaks words filled with grace. Don't miss the incredible grace God displays by having Peter preach the Gospel first to the very ones who crucified Jesus! Amazing grace indeed! NET Note on men (aner) - The Greek term here is aner, which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage, although it can also be argued that Peter's remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there. Jesus the Nazarene - This is the Name by which our Lord was commonly known during His earthly ministry (Mt. 21:11; Mk 10:47; 14:67; 16:6; Lk 24:19; Jn 18:5, 7). Peter has just described wonders and signs of God's coming wrath and immediately offers his Jewish crowd the only way of escape (cf Heb 2:3) by calling on the Name of the Lord. And then without hesitation, Peter proceeds to elaborate on the Name of the Lord on Whom they must call! That Name is "Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mt 1:21), "and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other Name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12+) While the book of Acts is certainly a record of the Acts of Holy Spirit, the major "act" of the Spirit is to glorify Jesus and so it is fitting that in this sermon Peter does not attempt to explain "tongues" or the actions of the Holy Spirit, but to exalt the Name of Jesus the Nazarene. And this is clearly the pattern for all sermons of all ages, for Jesus is the pinnacle of prophecy (speaking forth), past, present and future. The paradox is that the exalted Name Jesus the Nazarene (Jesus of Nazareth) was the name of a Galilean city that was looked down upon by the more "sophisticated, cosmopolitan" Jews, so that anyone from that village would also be viewed with contempt. This Name Jesus the Nazarene is the name the Jews used to mock and deride Jesus, because they all believed that nothing good came out of Nazareth and certainly not a prophet. Even Nathanael asked his brother Philip "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"" (Jn 1:46) In John 7:52 the Jews said "Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee (where Nazareth was located)." In Jn 19:19 "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Undoubtedly some in Peter's audience had witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus and would have seen this Name on the sign over His head. So it is no accident that Peter chose this Name of Jesus to open his remarks. Some might say that in using the Jews' own derogatory name of Jesus to begin this message, Peter was being somewhat sarcastic (or as a mild rebuke). What is fascinating is that every time Peter mentions Jesus in the rest of Acts, he calls Him Jesus the Nazarene (Acts 3:6, Acts 4:10, Acts 10:38 = "Jesus of Nazareth"). Note that in the next two uses by Peter (Acts 3:6, 4:10), he adds the name "Christ," which would be the equivalent of Messiah. When Saul was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians, he was confronted by Jesus and when he asked "Who art Thou Lord?," Jesus' reply was "I am Jesus the Nazarene Whom you are persecuting." (Acts 22:8, cf Paul's testimony in Acts 26:9). In Acts 24:5 the followers of Jesus were called "the sect of the Nazarenes" among whom Paul was the "ringleader." John
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Spurgeon wrote that "Repentance and faith must go together to complete each other. I compare them to a door and its post. Repentance is the door which shuts out sin, but faith is the post on which its hinges are fixed. A door without a doorpost to hang on is not a door at all, while a doorpost without the door hanging on it is of no value whatever. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder, and these two he has made inseparable—repentance and faith. J C
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Spurgeon - Peter is here speaking of the risen Christ, whom God had raised up, “having loosed the pains of death.” So it is clear that whatever those pains were, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ felt them— He felt them much more than His followers do, for, in His death-agony, He was left without the sustaining help of God and the light of His Father’s Countenance was hidden from Him. His death was a bitter one, indeed! He took the deepest draughts of wormwood and gall, for He had to “taste death for every man,” whatever that mysterious expression may mean. We must never imagine that there was about Christ’s death anything which took away from its bitterness. There was much that increased it, but nothing that diminished it. He was bound, as with strong cords, by the pains of death. All His powers were, for a time, fettered. He was held captive and He did really die. After death, He was buried. But there was this remarkable fact about His dead body—it saw no corruption. In the case of ordinary corpses, corruption begins very speedily. In a climate like that of Jerusalem, it is very quick in doing its work of dissolving the mortal fabric. But, although our Lord did truly die, no taint of corruption came upon His precious body. The reason for that was, first, because it was not necessary. Corruption is not a part of the sentence which Christ had to bear. The penalty of sin is death—and that He bore to the utmost. But there was no necessity that He should also endure the usual consequences of death and, therefore, although He died, His flesh was not permitted to see corruption....Why was it impossible that the bonds of death should hold Christ? There are several reasons: 1) The first is that Christ had in Himself the inherent power to die, and to live again . . . 2) Next, the dignity of His Person rendered it impossible that He should be held by the cords of death, apart from the consent of His own will, = His Deity . . . 3) His redeeming work was done. . . 4) He had His Father’s promise that He should not. . . 5) Because each of His offices (as high priest, King and Redeemer) is everlasting, ordained of God in perpetuity—therefore He must rise from the dead. (Bonds Could Not Hold Him - read the entire sermon for elaboration of Spurgeon's reasons) Thomas
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Spurgeon - This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Here Peter appealed to the eleven, and to all the disciples then present who had seen Jesus after He had risen from the dead (1 Cor 15:3-8). It must have been a very impressive sight as they all stood up bearing witness that they had seen the Christ, who was crucified, alive after His death. It was a wonderful public attestation to that grandest of all facts, the raising again from the dead of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.
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Spurgeon - His personal weakness might cause him to be somewhat moved; but his faith would come in to prevent any very great disturbance; not much would he be tossed about. Moved, as one says, "but not removed." Moved like a ship at anchor which swings with the tide, but is not swept away by the tempest. When a man knows assuredly that the Lord is his salvation, he cannot be very much cast down: it would need more than all the devils in hell greatly to alarm a heart which knows God to be its salvation. Acts 2:26 'THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; KJV Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: My tongue exulted Ps 16:9; 22:22-24; 30:11; 63:5; 71:23 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries In Acts 2:25-36 Peter presents five (some say four) proofs for the resurrection of the Christ, the Messiah: The prophecy of David (Acts 2:25–28 quoting Ps 16:8-11). The testimony of Peter (Acts 2:29–31 alluding to Ps 132:11 and 2 Sa 7:12-13). The eye-witnesses (Acts 2:32). The supernatural events of Pentecost (Acts 2:33) The exaltation and ascension of Jesus, David's "greater Son" (Acts 2:34–35 - quoting Ps 110:1). MESSIAH'S GLAD HEART AND LIVELY HOPE Here are David's words from Psalm 16... Ps 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. Therefore - Term of conclusion. David continues to describe the benefits of setting the LORD always before Him (Ps 16:8, Acts 2:25). Peter's emphasis is of course how this applies to Messiah and he says that because of the confidence that His Father was at His right hand and He would not be shaken, He would be able to express the heart attitude and vocal exultation described below. POSB - Such a consciousness of God’s presence was bound to cause … the heart to rejoice (euphranthe): to be joyful and full of euphoria, full of God’s presence and glory.... the tongue to be glad (egalliasato): to leap for joy and break forth with praise and song. My heart was glad and My tongue exulted - Recall that although applicable to David (see paragraph below), Peter is applying this description to the Messiah, describing His delight and the rejoicing that was in His heart. This description recalls the wonderful description by the writer of Hebrews, who describes "Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2+). Recalling that the heart (kardia) refers to the center of one's being, the center of the personality,
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Spurgeon wrote "Once more, the grim supposition of the text, if ever it was realized by anybody it was realized by our Lord Jesus. Our great covenant Head knows to the full what His members suffer. God did slay Him, and glory be to His blessed Name, He trusted God while He was being slain.” Acts 2:27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. KJV Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Because You will not abandon My soul to Hades Ps 49:15; 86:13; 116:3; Luke 16:23; 1 Cor 15:55; Rev 1:18; 20:13 Nor allow Your Holy One Acts 3:14; 4:27; Ps 89:19; Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; 4:34; 1 John 2:20; Rev 3:7 to undergo decay Acts 2:31; 13:27-37; Job 19:25-27; Jonah 2:6; John 11:39; 1 Cor 15:52 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries In Acts 2:25-36 Peter presents five (some say four) proofs for the resurrection of the Christ, the Messiah: The prophecy of David (Acts 2:25–28 quoting Ps 16:8-11). The testimony of Peter (Acts 2:29–31 alluding to Ps 132:11 and 2 Sa 7:12-13). The eye-witnesses (Acts 2:32). The supernatural events of Pentecost (Acts 2:33) The exaltation and ascension of Jesus, David's "greater Son" (Acts 2:34–35 - quoting Ps 110:1). JESUS' BODY WOULD NOT UNDERGO DECAY Here are David's words from Psalm 16... Ps 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol (Lxx = hades; Hebrew = she'ol), ; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. Because - Another term of explanation, in this context one that is very strategic. What is he explaining? What had Peter just quoted regarding the Messiah? The quotation expressed the Messiah's confidence that His body would "rest" (implying a sojourn, not a permanent state) in the grave and would do so based upon hope. Now Peter explains the hope based on the truth of God's Word.
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Spurgeon - Was not that enough to convince them? They saw and they heard the proofs of the working of the Spirit among them, and Peter told them that “this” was the gift of Christ, who had ascended up on high. It must have been a very striking thing, to have been there, and to have heard and seen these tokens of God setting His seal to the work of Jesus.
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Spurgeon - What a climax to Peter’s sermon! How simple and yet how triumphant is the argument! We do not wonder that men were convinced by it. Apple - Are you willing to submit to Jesus as both Lord and Christ? There can be no salvation apart from repentance of sin. Do you believe that Christ is right now at the right hand of God the Father and actively exercising power and influence over what happens here on earth and in our lives today? The Head of the Church is actively shepherding His flock. He has poured out the Holy Spirit to give us power and direction in fulfilling the Great Commission He has left for us. (The Spread of the Gospel) Darrell Bock - The speech thus shows how God’s activity through Jesus stands at the core of the Christian message. Jesus’s resurrection means far more than merely that there is life after death. It is a vindication of Jesus’s life and mission, a demonstration that Jesus lives and still rules, and a reflection that Jesus is a unique person, sharing the precious presence and glory of God in a unique way. Christ’s death led to Christ’s victory and rule. The reality of the resurrection transformed the apostles from those who were timid to those who were bold to share Jesus with others. Peter also makes clear that the sin of rejecting God’s unique messenger stands at the base of why Jesus had to die and that forgiveness and the Spirit are what the gospel offers, as the next unit will show. The Spirit’s central place in the promise of God also is highlighted here. The Spirit is the evidence that Jesus is raised and reigns with God. The believer’s changed life is a testimony to Jesus’s current activity in the world and enables the mission. So God works through the Son and gives the Spirit. Undergirding the salvation message is the united work of Father, Son, and Spirit. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT - Acts) The Babushka Lady Read: Acts 2:22–36 Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. Acts 2:36 The “Babushka Lady” is one of the mysteries surrounding the 1963 assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. Captured on film recording the events with a movie camera, she has proven to be elusive. This mystery woman, wearing an overcoat and scarf (resembling a Russian babushka), has never been identified and her film has never been seen. For decades, historians and scholars have speculated that fear has prevented the “Babushka Lady” from telling her story of that dark November day. No speculation is needed to understand why Jesus’s disciples hid. They cowered in fear because of the authorities who had killed their Master (John 20:19)—reluctant to come forward and declare their experience. But then Jesus rose from the grave. The Holy Spirit soon arrived and you couldn’t keep those once-timid followers of Christ quiet! On the day of Pentecost, a Spirit-empowered Simon Peter declared, “Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Lord, please give me the strength and boldness to talk to others about You. The opportunity to boldly speak in Jesus’s name is not limited to those with daring personalities or career ministry training. It is the indwelling Spirit who enables us to tell the good news of Jesus. By His strength, we can experience the courage to share our Savior with others. Lord, please give me the strength and boldness to talk to others about You. Speak of the matchless love of Christ to those who need to hear. Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" KJV Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Now when they heard this Acts 5:33; 7:54; Ezek 7:16; Zech 12:10; Luke 3:10; John 8:9; 16:8-11; Ro 7:9; 1 Cor 14:24,25; He 4:12,13 what shall we do? Acts 9:5,6; 16:29-31; 22:10; 24:25,26 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF PETER'S SERMON Tannehill observes that Peter's sermon "‘not only interprets what has happened; it causes something to happen. The audience makes a shattering discovery and is moved to repentance in large numbers." As C H Spurgeon said “It is idle to attempt to heal those who are not wounded, to attempt to clothe those who have never been stripped, and to make those rich who have never realized their poverty” (Acts 2:39 A Far Reaching Promise). In his 1892 work "Soul Winner" Spurgeon accentuated the great need for men to first being convicted of sin before they could even truly see their need for a Savior... Sometimes we are inclined to think that a very great portion of modern revivalism has been more a curse than a blessing, because it has led thousands to a kind of peace before they have known their misery; restoring the prodigal to the Father’s house, and never making him say, ‘Father, I have sinned.’ How can he be healed who is not sick? or he be satisfied with the Bread of Life who is not hungry? The old-fashioned sense of sin is despised and consequently a religion is run up before the foundations are dug out. Everything in this age is shallow. Deep sea fishing is almost an extinct business so far as men’s souls are concerned. The consequence is that men leap into religion and then leap out again (Ed: Like some of the fish I have temporarily had in the boat!). Unhumbled they came to the Church, unhumbled they remain in it, and unhumbled they go from it.” (Woe!) (Bolding added) Now when they heard this - When the Jews heard that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified. Do not miss the critical point that their conviction was wrought by the Spirit when the Word of God was proclaimed. The Word of God is still the method that God uses to bring conviction of sin, so it follows that on one hand, we need to get the Word out and on the other hand realize there will be great resistance to do so, for Satansdoes not want the Word to get out but wants us to use other "evangelistic methods." Satan knows that Martin Luther was right when he wrote "One little Word shall fell him!" (A Mighty Fortress) They were pierced to the heart - The NAS marginal note has this paraphrase "wounded in conscience." The paradoxical point ("pun intended") is that the Jews who had pierced their own Messiah (Zech 12:10+) were now pierced by as their minds were opened (by Peter's words and the Spirit's work Jn 16:9) to this same Messiah and the devastating truth that they had killed Him! Their heart is clearly described in Lk 8:11-15 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.(Lk 8:11-15) Comment - Note well that their heart was good because of God, not their own effort or merit. Jeremiah 17:9 was crystal clear that "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" Why were they "pierced?" Their eyes were opened to understand their own Messiah had been crucified. They realized that they themselves were convicted as complicit in this greatest of crimes against God! They had (and rightly so) a fear of Messiah's righteous wrath for their sin (cf Acts 2:35+), especially because they had sinned against such a brilliant "Light" (cf Jesus' warning - Mt 11:21-24, Lk 10:13-14+). And finally they were likely so smitten because they realized that what they had done (crucified the Messiah) could not be undone! Pierced (2660)(katanusso from kata = intensifies + nusso = to prick, pierce) means to be pricked through, be stabbed, be pricked deeply. Idiomatically katanusso describes "the sharp pain felt in the heart from conviction or remorse" (Friberg). BDAG - "be pierced, stabbed fig., of the feeling of sharp pain connected with anxiety, remorse, etc. Katanusso is used with heart (kardia) as an idiom which means to "to experience acute emotional distress, implying both concern and regret—‘to be greatly troubled, to be acutely distressed,....deeply troubled." (Louw-Nida). Thayer has "metaphorically, to pain the mind sharply, agitate it vehemently: used especially of the emotion of sorrow; they were smitten in heart with poignant sorrow. "Homer used it of horses dinting the earth with their hoofs." (Word Pictures in the New Testament - Acts 2) Vine has this note "primarily, to strike or prick violently, to stun, is used of strong emotion, in Acts 2:37 (Passive Voice), “they were pricked (in their heart).” cp. katanuxis, stupor, torpor of mind, Rom. 11:8." It is interesting that the related noun katanuxis (2659) is used in Romans 11:8+ (2x in Lxx - Ps 60:3, Isa 29:10) where Paul quotes the OT text from Isaiah 29:10 which says "“GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR (katanuxis), EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY!" Katanuxis denotes a senseless mental condition as if in deep sleep which describes Israel's spiritual stupefaction and the tragic inability of Jewish people to even think clearly and rationally about Jesus the Lord and Christ (just watch the reaction you get from a Jewish person at merely the mention of the Name Jesus)! But beloved if you have a Jewish friend (like my former medical practice partner Dr Gerald Jacknow and his wife Karen, both of whom I dearly love and continually pray for God's Spirit to open their blinded spiritual eyes), then be encouraged by watching some of the miraculous personal testimonies of Jewish men and women who Met their Messiah!
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Spurgeon says "There is a great distinction between being cut to the heart (Acts 7:54) and being pricked in the heart. Those who were cut to the heart stoned the preacher (Stephen - Acts 7:57-60); but they who are pricked in the heart yield a sweet obedience to the will of God" R C H
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Spurgeon - The old-fashioned grace of repentance is not to be dispensed with; there must be sorrow for sin; there must be ‘a broken and a contrite heart.’ This, God will not despise; but a ‘conversion’ which does not produce this result, God will not accept as genuine. The need for repentance is not a new message as we see in Jonah’s message to Nineveh and their need for repentance because of their great wickedness Jonah 3:10 “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way; then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.” (See also Jonah 3:8). Steven
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Spurgeon - That is to say, that great covenant promise, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,’ is meant for you, is meant for your children, is meant for Hottentots, is meant for Hindoos, is meant for Greenlanders, is meant for everybody to whom the Lord’s call is addressed. Paul describes the spiritual state of the Gentiles, also called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcsion" (Physically circumcised Jews) Remember (speaking to Gentile believers in Ephesus) that you were at that time (1) separate from Christ, (2) excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and (3) strangers to the covenants of promise, (4) having no hope and (5) without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12-13) And so it follows that the life saving Gospel is available to both Jews and Gentiles, which recalls the earlier passage in Acts 2:21+ stating that "everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved." In Acts 2:21+ the Jews did not yet comprehend to Whom the Name of the Lord referred. But after Peter's clear teaching on Jesus the Nazarene (Acts 2:22-36+), they understood that the Name of the Lord was Jesus Who is both "Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) As Peter said in Acts 4:12 "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” As many as the Lord our God will call to Himself - This is mysterious. The Lord will call to Himself, but those called must still personally, by an act of their own will call on the Name of the Lord! In the final analysis, Jonah in the belly of a fish was right when he declared that "salvation is from the Lord." (Jonah 2:9b) Paul writes that those "whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Ro 8:30+), later (in context of God's calling out of a Jewish remnant) added that "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Ro 11:29+). Joel's prophecy speaks of the need for the called to themselves call - Joel 2:32 And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls. Robertson on as many as the Lord God will call - The Lord God calls men of every nation anywhere whether Jews or Gentiles. It may be doubted how clearly Peter grasped the significance of these words for he will have trouble over this very matter on the housetop in Joppa and in Caesarea, (Acts 10:9, 14-15, 17) but he will see before long the full sweep of the great truth that he here proclaims under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. It was a great moment that Peter here reaches. (Word Pictures in the New Testament - Acts 2)
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Spurgeon - Not, “save yourselves”; but “save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Come out from among them. They are guilty of the death of Christ; you will be found guilty of it, too, unless you now disown the people who committed that awful crime. Come right out from among them, and be altogether separated from them. Kept on exhorting them - Luke uses the imperfect tense which means Peter was exhorting the Jews again and again. One gets the picture of him doing this after the main message of solemn testifying had ended, addressing questions and comments that the Jews must have addressed to Peter. Paul Apple - We are appealing primarily not to the emotions but to the will; so intellectual understanding is a prerequisite and then there must be a call to commitment (Acts Commentary) Exhorting (imploring) (3870)(parakaleo from para = side of, alongside, beside + kaleo = call) means literally to call one alongside, with the primary sense in the NT being to urge someone to take some action, especially some ethical course of action. Saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" - NET = ""Save yourselves from this perverse generation!" Be saved (4982)(sozo) is a command (aorist imperative = speaks of the urgency of the exhortation) and conveys the basic meaning of being rescued from great peril, indeed, " from the wrath (OF GOD) to come." (1 Th 1:10+) Perverse (Crooked) (4646)(skolios; English = scoliosis, abnormal curvature of spine) describes something as literally crooked, bent, deformed or warped (as a piece of wood becomes from dryness). It stands opposed to that which is straight. That which is bent sideways, twisted, and then dishonest, unscrupulous. Peter of course is using skolios figuratively to refer to conduct or lifestyle which deviates from God's standard, which is turned away from the truth. Skolios refers to those things that are morally or spiritually corrupt. We speak of someone's behavior as "crooked" or dishonest. Here Peter is exhorting them to be rescued from outward perverted conduct which characterizes every unregenerate person (and this case a generation), all of whom are crooked in mind, heart, and action, bent ethically in every depraved way imaginable! While Jesus did not use the same word skolios in His ministry among the Jews, He often used similar descriptions - Mt. 12:39; 16:4; 17:17; 23:33-36; Mk 8:38; Lk 9:41; 11:29; 17:25, cf OT descriptions in Dt. 32:5; Ps. 78:8) In Luke Jesus declared “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? "(Lk 9:41+) Warren