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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Guzik adds that "Jewish tradition also taught that Pentecost marked the day when the Law was given to Israel. The Jews sometimes called Pentecost shimchath torah, or “Joy of the Law.” On the Old Testament Day of Pentecost Israel received the Law; on the New Testament Day of Pentecost the Church received the Spirit of Grace in fullness." (Acts 2 Commentary) Longnecker - The Spirit’s coming signals the essential difference between the Jewish faith and commitment to Jesus, for whereas the former is Torah centered and Torah directed, the latter is Christ centered and Spirit directed.
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Guzik quips that in the past "the Holy Spirit was given in drops, now He is poured forth!" (Acts 2 Commentary) ESV Study Bible (borrow) has an interesting note that "Most rabbis believed that the Spirit had ceased speaking through human prophets with the last of the OT prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). Joel’s prophecy of an outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh was understood as referring to a new messianic age." Ray Pritchard on pour out My Spirit - Let’s break that sentence down for a moment: I—the sovereignty of God. Will—the determination of God. Pour Out—the generosity of God. My Spirit—the personality of God. This is one of the greatest statements in the Bible. This is how God ignites kingdom life in his people. He pours out his Spirit on them and they are never the same again. When God promises to “pour out” the Spirit, this is more than a trickle. It means that God plans to release the floodgates of heaven into the human heart. No man can do this on his own. I can preach for hours, but I cannot pour out God’s Spirit upon you. This is not the result of church membership or the organized aspects of local church life. This is God doing what only God can do. I think that’s part of what Donald Miller had in mind. We must individually go to God for this outpouring, and he must come to us with the power of his Spirit. Unless that happens, we will never be changed. And when that does happen, we will never be the same again. (I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All People) Related Resource: What does it mean that God will pour out His Spirit on all people Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams - A number of commentators interpret these descriptions as representative of the different classes of people on whom the Spirit will be poured out. In other words, those who will receive the Spirit include male and female, young and old, those who are poor both men and women (bondslaves in Acts 2:18). Some like John MacArthur feel that "It is only in those days (ED: THE FUTURE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM) that such extensive prophesying will take place. The nature of the prophesying, dreams, and visions that will take place remains a mystery. Prophecy was exercised in the early church (cf. Acts 21:8-11) and continues in a non-revelatory sense throughout this age." (Ibid) It is notable that the 120 disciples on whom the Spirit had been poured out did include men and women and in one sense they were prophesying because filled with the Spirit they were speaking forth the mighty deeds of God. (Acts 2:11) G Campbell
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Guzik - “It was not possible that the chosen one of God should remain in the grip of death; ‘the abyss can no more hold the Redeemer than a pregnant woman can hold the child in her body.’” (Bruce, quoting Bertram) (Acts 2 Commentary) POSB - It was impossible for death to hold Christ. Why? There are several significant reasons. a. There was God’s foreknowledge and determinate counsel. God knew that the way of the cross and resurrection was the very best way to save the world. Therefore, nothing could stop God from following through with the death and resurrection of His Son. (Acts 2:25–28.) b. Jesus was approved by God. He had God’s approval, sanction, accreditation, endorsement. Jesus Christ was perfectly acceptable to God (see note—Acts 2:22–24 for discussion). c. Jesus’ resurrection was foretold by Scripture, and Scripture must be fulfilled (see note—Mt. 17:23 for all the verses in the New Testament). d. Jesus was Life itself. He possesses the very being, essence, quality, substance, and energy of life. He is The Life, Life itself; therefore, He is the source of all life. All life finds its source in the energy and being of Christ Himself. Therefore, being Life, death could not engulf Him any more than darkness can engulf light. Jn. 14:6.) e. Jesus was sinless. Death exists or happens because everything is short of perfection—short of what it should be—short of God’s glory. This is true of man. Man dies because he has “sinned and come short of God’s glory” (Ro. 3:23). Sin is …being short, missing the mark, transgressing God’s glory And it is sin that causes death. Therefore Jesus Christ, being sinless, did not have to die. He died because He willed to die for man. The point is this: Jesus was sinless and perfect and righteous (Jn. 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pt. 1:9; 2:22). He was the Ideal Man, the Sinless Man, the Perfect Man—the Ideal Pattern for all other men. Therefore, when He died for men, He died as the Ideal Man or the Ideal Pattern. And death cannot hold the Ideal Man, for the Ideal Man came short in nothing. He was not short in life; therefore, He was destined to live forever. He was Perfect Life and Perfect Man. As the Scripture says, “It was not possible that He should be held by it [death].” (See Ro. 1:4.) MacArthur on the importance of the Resurrection - Now the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well known to all of us is the cornerstone of Christianity. It is mentioned at least 104 times in the New Testament. It is, without question, the most profound and prominent point in biblical history and in all redemptive history. When the apostolic company, for example, after the apostasy and suicide of Judas, met together for the purpose of selecting one to complete their number again to twelve, in the process of their selection the statement was made that the reason for which one was to be chosen was that he might be a witness with us of the resurrection. That become the very chief thing, the great issue in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, that He was alive. For that’s what sets Him apart from every other religious leader who ever existed. He came out of the grave alive. The crucifixion loses its meaning without the resurrection, as we well know. The resurrection becomes in Scripture the crowning proof, not only of Jesus’ deity, but the guarantee of our own resurrection. And if you remove the resurrection, then the death of Christ is the heroic death of a noble martyr or it’s the pathetic death of a deranged mad man or it’s the execution of a fraud and it can’t be anything more without the resurrection. And so we would conclude then it’s not primarily His teaching, it’s not primarily His miracles, it’s not even primarily His dying that is the key it is primarily His rising again. Unless Jesus Christ had risen there would be no church. At the death of Christ, the disciples were scattered like chaff in the breeze. They were regathered when He arose from the grave and the church was born. And this became the cornerstone of all great apostolic preaching. And it’s still the life blood of Christianity. D L Moody - I CAN imagine when they laid our Lord in Joseph’s tomb one might have seen Death sitting over that sepulcher, saying, “I have Him; He is my victim. He said He was the Resurrection and the Life. Now I hold Him in my cold embrace. They thought He was never going to die; but see Him now. He has had to pay tribute to me.” Never! The glorious morning comes, the Son of man bursts asunder the hands of death, and rises, a conqueror, from the grave. “Because I live,” He shouts, “ye shall live also.” Yes, we shall live also—is it not good news? We Will Be Like Him! Read: Acts 2:22-36 The Lord Jesus Christ . . . will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body. —Philippians 3:20-21 One fall my grandsons gathered cocoons they found in a swamp. The boys hung the dry, unattractive, and motionless objects in a cool place for the winter. The following spring they moved the cocoons to a place in the warm sun. Soon there emerged from the tomb of one cocoon a gorgeous creature —a luna moth, gracefully unfolding its drying wings in readiness to take its flight into the sky. Its colors were indescribable, and it was unspeakably graceful in its unhurried stretching and folding of its delicate wings. Yes, springtime is resurrection time. The emergence of the moth, though, is not a true resurrection from death but a metamorphosis of life. It is a change in form because of its inner life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, however, was life from the dead. But it was also a metamorphosis. As Jesus was changed into an infinitely more beautiful form, so shall our resurrection be. The Greek word translated “fashioned” or “conformed” in Philippians 3:21 is summorphon, meaning “to change form” or “metamorphose.” Because Jesus rose from the grave, we can be confident that our bodies will be changed and fashioned to be like His glorious body. Yes, one day we will be like Him! We will reflect the glory of Christ when we see Him face to face. Acts 2:25 "For David says of Him, 'I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. KJV Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: For David says of Him Acts 2:29,30; 13:32-36 I saw the Lord always in my presence - Ps 16:8-11 For He is at My right hand - Ps 73:23; 109:31; 110:5; Isa 41:13; 50:7-9; John 16:32 So that I will not be shaken - Ps 21:7; 30:6; 62:2,6 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). On the basis of these clear proofs Peter was able to reach the rock solid conclusion... “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36) And this result in a Spirit wrought conviction... 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?” (Acts 2:37) PETER APPEALS TO For - Term of explanation. What truth has Peter just plainly declared to the Jews? "God raised Him up." So what is he doing in this passage? Clearly, he is providing Scriptural evidence to support his statement that God the Father resurrected His Messiah. And so Peter now recites the second of his three OT quotations, this time from the Psalter, specifically Psalm 16:8-11. Remember that all caps in the NAS signifies a direct quotation from the Old Testament (cf Acts 2:25-28). Jesus Himself had attested to the value of the OT Scriptures to reveal to the Jews that He was the Messiah. He appealed to the OT Scriptures both before and after His resurrection, which is undoubtedly when Peter's mind was opened to the OT passages that spoke of the coming of Messiah. John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling (THE BASIC PROBLEM OF THE JEWS) to come to Me so that you may have life. Luke 24:27+ (THE TWO ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS) Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Lk. 24:44-48+ Now He said to them (HERE JESUS IS SPEAKING TO THE DISCIPLES INCLUDING PETER) , “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things (PETER WAS BEING PREPARED TO PROCLAIM THESE TRUTHS ON PENTECOST). Kent: Peter was well aware that most of his audience, though willing perhaps to admit the miraculous deeds of Jesus, would reject his messiahship because he had been executed as a criminal. Therefore, he showed from Psalm 16:8-11 that Messiah’s death was included in the will of God and was predicted in Scripture. For (gar) - This is a term of explanation. What is Peter explaining to his Jewish audience? What was the last truth he had just declared about Messiah? Had he not just said that the Messiah could not be held by death? So now Peter proceeds to defend this statement by appealing to the OT Scriptures. Peter quotes Ps 16:8-11 to support his declaration that God raised Jesus from the dead which fulfilled David’s prophecy concerning the resurrection of the Messiah. So Peter appeals to Psalm 16 which is recognized by almost all authorities as a Messianic Psalm and is probably the clearest prediction of Messiah's resurrection in the OT. David wrote the words but Peter is saying these words apply to the Messiah. Indeed, Jewish tradition applied Psalm 16 to the Messiah. Dr A Cohen, a non-believing Jewish writer, comments on Psalm 16 that “Ineffable happiness has been his lot (ED: i.e., "fullness of joy" in Ps 16:11) because of his complete submission to God. It is pure speculation to assign the composition to any particular period of David’s life.” Cohen is agreeing that David did not fulfill the words he himself had penned. David says of Him - Who is Him? In context Peter sees this as referring to Jesus the Nazarene. In other words although written by David, the words are prophetically spoken by the Messiah. The following statement in Acts 2:27 is "nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay" supports the interpretation that Ps 16:8-11 is fulfilled in the Messiah and not in the life of David. David was a man who died and his body underwent decay. It follows that these words cannot describe David which is exactly what Peter confidently says in Acts 2:29 "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.' A T
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Guzik comments on Ps 16:9 as it applied to David (and thus to all believers), even though it was clearly Messianic - For those who do not live out a true commitment to God, it is easy for them to think of what such a commitment costs them. This is not entirely bad, because this kind of decision to set the Lord always before one’s self does have a cost, and the cost should be counted and appreciated. It may cost certain pleasures, popularity, anonymity, family relationships, life goals, career choices, financial priorities, and so forth. Yet David also tells us some of the benefits of such a life decision: my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. There was happiness and a glory David knew by this life commitment that he would not have known otherwise. David could maturely understand both the costs and the benefits, and sing a song of praise about his life decision. (Acts 2 Commentary) John
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Guzik - In quoting and applying this passage from Psalm 16 to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Peter showed a remarkably sophisticated understanding of the work of Jesus on the cross. He understood that because Jesus bore our sin without becoming a sinner, He remained the Holy One, even in His death. Since it is incomprehensible that God’s Holy One should be bound by death, the resurrection was absolutely inevitable. As Peter said: It was not possible that He should be held by death (Acts 2:24). The fact that Jesus remained God’s Holy One despite the ordeal of the cross demonstrates that Jesus bore the penalty of human sin without becoming a sinner Himself. It also shows that this payment of sins was perfect and complete, they only type of payment a Holy One could make. In these ways (as Peter understood), the resurrection proves the perfection of Jesus’ work on the cross. We might imagine Jesus taking this promise to Himself in the agony before and during the crucifixion, and even afterwards. “It was as though our Lord had stayed his soul upon these words as He left this world and entered the unseen. . . . He sang, as He went, this hymn of immortal hope.” (Meyer) (Acts 2 Commentary) John
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Guzik - The path of life is something enjoyed by the believer both now, and in eternity. God gives us eternal life to enjoy as a present gift, extending into eternity. (Acts 2 Commentary)
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Guzik - David had full confidence that his life with God – both now and forevermore – would be marked by the highest and best pleasures. This is life lived above shallow entertainments and excitements. These pleasures are enjoyed at a place: “We are also told that heaven is to be enjoyed at the right hand of God. The right hand, even on earth, is the place of favor, and the place of honor, and they place of security. The right-hand place is always regarded as the place of dignity and nobility in all courts. God is not going to give his people any left-handed heaven, but they are to dwell at his right hand for evermore.” At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore: This tells that both in this life and the life beyond, true pleasures forevermore are found at the right hand of God, not in separation from Him. In his fictional work The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote in the voice of a senior devil, complaining about the “unfair advantage” that God has against the devils as they do their dark work: “He’s a hedonist at heart. All those fasts and vigils and stakes and crosses are only a façade. Or only like foam on the sea shore. Out at sea, out in His sea, there is pleasure, and more pleasure. He makes no secret of it; at His right hand are ‘pleasures for evermore’. Ugh! I don’t think He has the least inkling of that high and austere mystery to which we rise in the Miserific Vision. He’s vulgar, Wormwood. He has a bourgeois mind. He has filled His world full of pleasures. There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least—sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working, Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us. We fight under cruel disadvantages. Nothing is naturally on our side.” The conclusion of this Psalm is especially wonderful when we consider how it began. “The refugee of verse 1 finds himself an heir, and his inheritance beyond all imagining and all exploring.” (Kidner) When we go back to the first verse, we remember that this life of gladness and rejoicing and fullness of joy is not a problem-free life. It is a life that may be challenged, and face attack on many levels. Yet in that a life commitment to God has been made and is enjoyed, it is a secure, happy, blessed life. (Acts 2 Commentary) Acts 2:29 "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. KJV Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. let me or, I may. Brethren, I may confidently say to you. Acts 26:26 regarding the patriarch Acts 7:8,9; He 7:4 David Acts 13:36; 1 Kings 2:10 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). THE CRUX OF PETER'S ARGUMENT FROM PSALM 16 Brethren - Literally it reads "Men, brethren" where brethren is adelphos. Peter is obviously using this designation not to refer to the Jews as Christian brethren but as fellow countrymen, fellow Jews (cf Acts 3:22). I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David - Peter is pointing out that Psalm 16:8-11 cannot be speaking only of David. Peter's confidence and certainty is based on well-known facts, the fact that he died and the fact that his tomb is present. Confidently (freely and boldly) (3954)(parrhesia/parresia from pás = all + rhesis = speech, act of speaking) is literally all speech or speaking all things and thereby conveys the idea of freedom to say all. The basic idea in the word is freedom of speech, when the word flowed freely. It is that attitude of openness that stems from freedom and lack of fear ("shaking" fear - godly, reverential fear is always appropriate) means in essence the freedom to say all. Greeks used parrhesia of those with the right to speak openly in the assembly. Speaking with plainness, openness and confidence (Acts 2:29). Speaking publicly or in the open (Jn 7:13, 11:54, 18:20) and then something done in public (Jn 7:26, Col 2:15-note) Robertson on confidently (freely - KJV) - Telling it all (pan = all, rhēsia from eipon = to speak), with fullness, with boldness. Luke is fond of the phrase (as in Acts 4:13). It is a new start for Simon Peter, full of boldness and courage. (Word Pictures in the New Testament - Acts 2) Luke's uses of parrhesia - Acts 2:29; Acts 4:13; Acts 4:29; Acts 4:31; Acts 28:31. Patriarch (3966)(patriarches from patria = race, lineage from pater = father + arche = beginning or head) means literally chief father. A patriarch is thus a ruling ancestor who may have been the founding father of a family, a clan, or a nation.(Holman) Patriarches was used of an important male ancestor -- patriarch, father of a tribe or nation, progenitor, chief of a family. This term is usually used of Israel's founding fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). Luke 2:4 has the phrase "family of David," but this is the only time David is specifically called a patriarch.
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Guzik - Jesus of Nazareth, the man they all knew (as you yourselves also know, Acts 2:22), was the one who fulfilled this prophetic Psalm. How did Peter know this? He saw the resurrected Jesus! The basic evidence of the resurrection was simply the report of reliable eyewitnesses (Acts 2 Commentary) Paul Apple - God raised Him up again! Resurrection is key to our personal Christian faith and witness to others. Think of the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men. Couldn't put Humpty together again. How about the power of God to put your life back together – in fact to impart new spiritual life; in fact to raise your body from the dead and grant you eternal existence in the presence of God? Illustration: We have a lot of "Jigsaw Christians" these days: Every time they're faced with problems, they go to pieces. Has Jesus made you whole? Are you living a life of joy and hope? Illustration: "There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them." (Clare Boothe Luce) Play the trump card as you witness to others about the resurrected and reigning Lord Jesus Christ. There is no answer to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (The Spread of the Gospel) Phil Newton: But God Raised Him Up Again = The resurrection of Jesus Christ tends to make many religious and not-so-religious people squirm or even angry. Consider what the resurrection implies: Jesus Christ, the Son of God was indeed crucified, and then in three days was bodily resurrected; that puts Him in a unique category among all humanity (He must be who He claims to be-God Incarnate); that also demands response to His call for repentance and faith. If the bodily resurrection is true then everything that Jesus Christ and His followers claimed concerning Him has validity. The gospel message is then, the most important truth for every person. The certainty of the resurrection, therefore, will not let men ignore or slide by their need for faith in Christ. ( God Raised Him Up Again) To which we are all witnesses - Here we see the convergence of the witness of the OT Scriptures and the witness of the witnesses! All the apostles and in fact all of the 120 disciples present with him. Recall that the 11 apostles took their stand with Peter (Acts 2:14+) and probably were nodding in agreement as Peter uttered these words! On several occasions in Acts the apostles alluded to the fact that they were witnesses of the resurrected Christ (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 5:30; 10:39–41; 13:30–34, Acts 17:31). Clearly it is a truth God wants us to proclaim! Have you spoken with anyone about the resurrection of Jesus Christ this past week...month...year...decade...ever? Scott Bayles - When Peter said “we are all witnesses,” he probably waved him arm, indicating the other eleven Apostles. The Law of Moses said that “The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15NLT+). The case for Christ was established not by just two or three witnesses, but twelve men and at least a half dozen women (ED: I THINK THE NUMBER IS 120 WITNESSES!). Peter’s audience was looking, but at twelve men of unimpeachable character who personally had nothing to gain and everything to lose by preaching Jesus Christ. Even if you reject the miracles, the prophesies and everything else the Bible says, you’ve still got to deal with the testimony of twelve men who say they saw Jesus come back from the dead. They believed it with all their hearts and they died for their belief. How else can we explain that? (From Bible Outlines) Witnesses (3144)(martus/martys) describes one who remembers something and testifies concerning what they remember. Thus martus has a two fold meaning of (1) describing one who has seen and/or experienced something or someone and (2) one who testifies to what he or she saw. The testimony could be in a legal setting (Mk 14:63; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28) or in the general sense of recounting firsthand knowledge (Lk 11:48; 1Ti. 6:12; Heb 12:1; 1Pe 5:1). A martus is especially an "eye witness" which is what Peter is saying in this verse. Jesus appeared at least ten times after His resurrection before He ascended into heaven. There were apparently many more appearances not recorded (see Jn. 20:30–31; 21:25). 1 Cor 15 He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9–11; Jn. 20:11–18). He appeared to the women running to tell the disciples about the empty tomb (Mt. 28:8–10). He appeared to Peter, probably to assure him of his restoration (Lu. 24:34; 1 Co. 15:5). He appeared to the two Emmaus disciples sometime in the early evening (Mk. 16:12; Lu. 24:13–42). He appeared to the disciples with Thomas absent (Mk. 16:14; Lu. 24:36–43; Jn. 20:19–25). One week later, He appeared to the disciples who had gone fishing (Jn. 20). He appeared to 500 believers most of whom remain until now (1 Co. 15:6). He appeared to the apostles (Mt. 28:16–20; Mk. 16:15–18). He appeared to James, the Lord’s half-brother (1 Co. 15:7). He appeared to the believers at His ascension (Mk. 16:19–20; Lu. 24:44–53; Ac. 1:3–12). It should be remembered that since Jesus’ ascension He has appeared at least two other times. He appeared to Stephen at his martyrdom (Acts 7:55–56). He appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-7). Paul Apple gives a good summary of Peter's sermon up to this point - Four parts (The Spread of the Gospel) (1) Acts 2:1-4 The Experience of the Coming of the Holy Spirit in Power Startling – came suddenly – even though they were obediently waiting in Jerusalem - Impressive and Powerful – sound like a rushing wind; tongues of fire - Two powerful forces of nature that spread rapidly Personally and Profoundly Life Changing Impactful on Others Acts 2:5-13 The Explanation by the Assembled Crowd of Foreign Jews Communication in known foreign languages regarding the mighty deeds of God - Varying initial reactions – Amazed, Astonished, Perplexed, Mocking . . . Acts 2:14-24 The Supernatural Explanation rendered by God’s spokesman the Apostle Peter Consistent with OT Prophecy – Joel 2 – “this is that” – not complete fulfillment - Authenticating the Messianic credentials of Jesus -- His Life = Attested to by God with miracles and wonders and signs -- His Death = no surprise but part of God’s sovereign, predetermined plan -- His Resurrection = key; Death could not hold Jesus; God raised Him up Acts 2:22-32 Three Dramatic Implications of the Resurrection Puts God’s Stamp of Authentication on Jesus the Nazarene as the promised Messiah Transformed Death into a Doorway to a Joyful and Hopeful Eternal Outcome The Resurrection of the Messiah was Anticipated by OT Prophecy, Accomplished by God and now Attested to by Many Witnesses Acts 2:33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. KJV Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God Acts 5:31; Ps 89:19,24; 118:16,22,23; Isa 52:13; 53:12; Mt 28:18; Mark 16:19; John 17:5; Eph 1:20-23; Php 2:9-11; He 1:2-4; 10:12; 1 Peter 1:21; 3:22 having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49; John 7:38,39; Jn 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7-15 He has poured forth this which you both see and hear - Acts 2:17,38,39; 10:45; Ro 5:5; Eph 4:8; Titus 3:6 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). THE EXALTATION OF MESSIAH Peter now answers the question posed by F F Bruce "But where was He now, if He was raised from the dead?" Messiah's Ascension is a necessary sequel to His Resurrection and the precursor of His exaltation and His subsequent pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost. Peter describes ascension he had personally witnessed. And after He (JESUS) had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11+) And as
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Guzik - Repent sounds like such a harsh word in the mouths of many preachers and in the ears of many listeners, but it is an essential aspect of the gospel. Repent has been rightly called “the first word of the gospel.” (Cf John the Baptist - Mt 3:2 and Jesus - Mt 4:17) (Acts 2 Commentary)
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Guzik - Many in this crowd went back home, traveling far from Jerusalem, taking the good news of Jesus Christ with them. (Acts 2 Commentary)
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Guzik - The Jews had a tremendous custom of hospitality during any major feast like Pentecost. Visitors were received into private homes, and no one could charge for giving a bed or a room to a visitor or for supplying their basic needs. The Christians took this tremendous feast-time hospitality and made it an everyday thing. (Acts 2 Commentary) And had all things in common - Had is in the imperfect tense which means they "kept on having, a habit in the present emergency (ED: MANY OF THE NEW BELIEVERS WERE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, REMOVED FROM THEIR NORMAL SUPPLY OF SHELTER AND SUPPLY)." (ATR) A T Robertson on had all things in common - It was not actual communism, but they held all their property ready for use for the common good as it was needed (Acts 4:32). This situation appears nowhere else except in Jerusalem and was evidently due to special conditions there which did not survive permanently. Later Paul will take a special collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. (Word Pictures in the New Testament - Acts 2) Luke records a similar description of the sharing nature of the first church And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. (Acts 4:32) Life Application Bible Commentary helps us understand the unique situation of this first church composed of residents of Jerusalem and pilgrims from other countries - Of the thousands of Jews who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Pentecost, many may have come as early as Passover (fifty days earlier). Now they were extending their stay in Jerusalem even longer to learn the basics of this newfound Christian faith. Many would likely need financial or physical help from those who lived in Jerusalem to be able to remain this long. When a need arose, believers would sell their possessions to help the needy person. This practice of having everything in common was likely a response to that specific need. After the incidents of Acts 5:1-11 (Ananias and Sapphira), there is no further mention of this particular practice of sharing everything, at least to the extent that it was practiced in the first few weeks of the church's life. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts) Common (2839)(koinos) is related to the word for fellowship in Acts 2:42 (koinonia) and the sense in the present context is that of common property in the sense of property ready to be shared if needed. In a spiritual sense koinos was used to describe "a common faith" (Titus 1:4) and a "common salvation" (Jude 1:3) Because of their spiritual communion, the natural (supernatural) fruit was material communion. When we realize we are all pilgrims, and all equal at the foot of the Cross and that we will spend eternity together with Christ, sharing becomes not a burden but a blessing. When our vision of our life is predominantly vertical, it radically impacts our horizontal lifestyle. (See Vertical Vision). For completeness, note that koinos in some contexts can mean profane (Heb 10:29) or unclean (Rev 21:27). Koinos also gives us the word Koine which was the Greek language commonly spoken and written in the Near East in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. John
Atos 2
Guzik - With the influx of more that 3,000 believers, most of whom stayed in Jerusalem and didn’t have jobs, the family of Christians had to share if they were to survive. We shouldn’t regard this as an early experiment in communism because it was voluntary, temporary, and flawed to the extent that the church in Jerusalem was in continual need of financial support from other churches. Also, we don’t have any evidence this continued very long. (ED: AS NOTED ABOVE THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS PRACTICE AFTER ACTS 5)....The Jews had a tremendous custom of hospitality during any major feast like Pentecost; all visitors were received into private homes, and no one could charge for giving a bed or a room to a visitor or for supplying their basic needs. The Christians took this tremendous feast-time hospitality and made it an everyday thing. (Acts 2 Commentary) ILLUSTRATION - When I was a lad in high school, I went once on a camping trip with some of the boys from school, organized by several of the teachers. During the day we helped the war effort by assisting farmers in the harvest fields. At night we sat around a campfire or played games. One of the teachers was a communist. He used his influence to try to persuade us to espouse his social and political views. He appealed to the early church as being communistic-people shared. The motto was: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. "That was the slogan of the early church," he said; "that is the slogan of communists today." The flaw in his argument is obvious. The sharing of the early church was spontaneous and motivated by Holy Spirit love. It was not a totalitarian system clamped on people against their will. An open-air preacher was being heckled by a communist in the crowd. About that time a drunken derelict staggered past, a pitiable object, down at heel and arrayed in rags. The communist pointed to him. "Given the opportunity," he said, "Communism would put a new suit on that man. What does your Christianity do for him?" Said the preacher, "Given the opportunity, Christ would put a new man in that suit." That was the secret of the mutual sharing of the early church. This was no government or ecclesiastical welfare program. This was not cold charity. This was the Body at work. This was the hand caring for the foot, the eye looking out for the ear. This was love, not law; compassion, not compulsion. The communist ideal is noble enough, but it breaks down because it leaves out God and relies on force (John Phillips) Acts 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, KJV Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple Acts 1:14; 3:1; 5:42; Luke 24:53 breaking bread Acts 2:42; 20:7 from house to house. Acts 1:13; 1 Cor 11:20-22 they were taking their meals together with gladness Acts 16:34; Dt 12:7,12; 16:11; Nehemiah 8:10; Eccl 9:7; Luke 11:41; 1 Cor 10:30,31 sincerity of heart Ps 86:11; Mt 6:22; Ro 12:8; 2 Cor 1:12; 11:3; Eph 6:5; Col 3:22 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UNITY OF THE SPIRIT ON DISPLAY DAY BY DAY Day by day - The idea is daily. Their fellowship was not restricted to Sundays, but continued throughout the week. "Christians were not content to just be one another once a week for services; they were a true community – meeting as often as possible – both informally and for teaching and worship times." (proskartereo) in Acts 2:42 to describe the church's continual activities. Here the word describes their continual spiritual mindset of the disciples. Continuing is in the present tense so one might say they were continually continuing! O what a fellowship it must have been! With one mind (3661)(homothumadon/homothymadon from a combination of homos = same + thumos/thymos = temperament or mind) means with one mind, unity of purpose, of one accord. In a word it means together. One lexicon says homothumadon means "to be of one soul." It speaks of an action agreed upon unanimously (with one impulse) or by common consent. Homothumadon was frequently used in secular settings to describe the unanimity of a synod, of creditors, of a husband and wife, of brother. Was it not the essence of homothumadon for which Jesus prayed - “And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one." (John 17:22) And so here in Acts 2:42-47 we see part of God's answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17! The ultimate answer will be when we are all together in His presence! O glorious day! It is fascinating (and probably in an accident) that the adverb humothumadon is used most often in the Book of Acts - Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:24; Acts 5:12; Acts 7:57; Acts 8:6; Acts 12:20; Acts 15:25; Acts 18:12; Acts 19:29; Rom. 15:6. While many of these uses describe the church, several uses actually describe the opponents of the Gospel! As unified as the believers were to spread the good news, the unbelievers were unified to impede the spread. Of course, the difference is the former had the power of God the Creator, while the latter had the power of the created angel Satan! Temple (2413)(hieros) in this context refers to the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and includes not only the Temple building but the courts and all the sacred ground or enclosure. They would not have been meeting in the Temple building per se but in the courts surrounding the temple proper. Most commentaries agree that the new believers were in the Temple praying, but did not continue their former Jewish practices of offering sacrifices as called for in the Mosaic Law. All of Luke's uses of hieros - Lk. 2:27; Lk. 2:37; Lk. 2:46; Lk. 4:9; Lk. 18:10; Lk. 19:45; Lk. 19:47; Lk. 20:1; Lk. 21:5; Lk. 21:37; Lk. 21:38; Lk. 22:52; Lk. 22:53; Lk. 24:53; Acts 2:46; Acts 3:1; Acts 3:2; Acts 3:3; Acts 3:8; Acts 3:10; Acts 4:1; Acts 5:20; Acts 5:21; Acts 5:24; Acts 5:25; Acts 5:42; Acts 19:27; Acts 21:26; Acts 21:27; Acts 21:28; Acts 21:29; Acts 21:30; Acts 22:17; Acts 24:6; Acts 24:12; Acts 24:18; Acts 25:8; Acts 26:21 Breaking bread from house to house - Acts 2:42 says "They were continually devoting themselves to the...breaking of bread." The phrase is the same as in this passage and clearly indicates they were eating meals together, but they were also most likely celebrating the Lord's Supper. If that was the case, it suggests they were celebrating communion almost daily! That is a long way from the common practice in modern churches! John Stott comments that "certainly it is always healthy when the more formal and dignified services of the local church are complemented with the informality and exuberance of home meetings. There is no need to polarize between the structured and the unstructured, the traditional and the spontaneous. The church needs both." (Borrow The message of Acts : the Spirit, the church & the world) They were taking their meals together - Were taking is the imperfect tense indicating they were doing this over and over.