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John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Phillips - These men are not drunk as you suppose - it is after all only nine o'clock in the morning of this great feast day. No For these men are not drunk 1 Sa 1:15 for it is only the third hour of the day Mt 20:3; 1 Th 5:5-8 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries REFUTATION OF THE MOCKERS For (gar)...for (gar) - Term of explanation. What is Peter explaining with the first "for," and the second "for"? Even when the answer is obvious, this is always a good discipline to develop, for asking this question will force you to (1) slow down, (2) examine the context and (3) give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to illuminate the passage. Paul's "for's" are often not as easy as this passage! These men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day - NET = "In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk." With a touch of humor, Peter says it is 9 AM (reckoned from sunrise the Jewish fashion of calculating time - 6 AM + 3 hours = 9 AM) which is not when (most) people get drunk. Only a hard‑core alcoholic would be drunk by 9 AM but certainly not a group of 120 men and women! This fact was so well-known and well-accepted by the Jews that this is all Peter needed to do to refute the mockers. Expository preacher Steven
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Phillips - "This is that!" Never before had there been such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, not even among the Hebrew people. Occasionally in the past God had raised up a Moses or a Malachi, a David or a Daniel, even occasionally some obscure prophet or some godly woman, a Deborah, a Hannah, a Huldah. But never anything like this! Scores of people, all at once, in one place, in evident power, proclaiming the mighty works of God and in the languages of the Gentile world! What before had been restricted and rare was now made available to all. (Exploring Acts) ILLUSTRATION - Peter, A Man Full of God's Word and Spirit - Harry Ironside is a great example of a preacher full of God's Word. Under his mother's guidance Harry began to memorize Scripture when he was three. By age fourteen he had read through the Bible fourteen times, "once for each year." During the rest of his life he read the Bible through at least once a year. A pastor friend told me of a Bible conference at which he and Ironside were two of the speakers. During the conference the speakers discussed their approaches to personal devotions. Each man shared what he had read from the Word that morning. When it was Ironside's turn, he hesitated, then said, "I read the book of Isaiah." He was saturated with the Word of God. I can say with reservation that in the matter of scholarship and preaching, knowledge of the English Bible is of far greater importance than knowing Greek or Hebrew or mastering dogmatics. Karl Barth put it this way, imitating a Biblical warning: "If thou art a learned man, take care lest with all thy erudite reading (which is not reading God's Word) thou forgettest perchance to read God's Word." If we are truly feeding on the Scriptures, the Spirit will be pleased to use us to communicate his truth. Not only was Peter full of the Word, but he was full of the Spirit. (Preaching the Word – Acts: The Church Afire) EXCURSUS ON THE LAST DAYS Anticipate the Lord's coming for His own at any moment, since we are already in the last days. -- John Walvoord Below is a crude schematic which shows the relationship of the Last Days to the Day of the Lord (and other crucial end time events) both of these "days" being mentioned by Peter in his sermon (Acts 2:17, Acts 2:20). THE LAST DAYS First Coming of Christ Church Age Second Coming of Christ Millennial Reign of Christ Last Days Begin Last Days End Day of the LORD begins in Tribulation Last 3.5 years called: Great Tribulation Time of Jacob's Distress Armageddon Day of the Lord ends at end of the Millennium (See 2 Peter 3:10+) John Walvoord one of the leading scholars in the field of eschatology (prophecy) has this explanation of the last days... THE BIBLE USES THE PHRASES “the last days” and “the last times” with reference to several different time periods. Since the coming of God's promised Messiah is identified with the last days, there is a sense in which they began with the incarnation of Jesus Christ: “In these last days He [God] has spoken [finally, once for all] to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:2-note), and “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1 Pet. 1:20-note). Broadly speaking, therefore, the last days include the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the entire history of the church to the present, as well as all events prophesied in the Scriptures that are still unfulfilled (ED: ONE MIGHT ARGUE THIS POINT - IN OTHER WORDS DO THE "LAST DAYS" INCLUDE THE MILLENNIUM, THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT, THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH? JUST ASKING THE QUESTION FOR YOU TO PONDER.) Even near the beginning of the church's history John pointed out that the “many antichrists [who] have come” are evidence that this “is the last hour” (1 John 2:18-note). Although these predicted events may point to the last days in a broader sense than just the life of the church, Paul warned Timothy that “there will be terrible times in the last days” (2 Ti 3:1-note). Then he described the character of people, ending with the clause, “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Ti 3:5-note). Both Peter and Jude warned that in the last days “scoffers” will come ("the last days" = 2 Pet. 3:3-note; "the last time" = Jude 1:18-note). Although such opposers of the Christian faith appeared in the early generations of church history, they apparently will increase and become more active as the church approaches its last days. In the Old Testament the last days are identified with God's yet-future blessings of restoration and salvation for His chosen people Israel (Deut. 30:1-10-commentary). God will pour His Spirit on the people of Israel and save them (Jeremiah 23:3-8; Joel 2:28-32-commentary). The people of Israel will return to the Lord (Hosea 3:5), and God will restore them to the Promised Land and Jerusalem will become the capital of all nations (Isa. 2:2-5-commentary; Micah 4:1-8-commentary). Numerous other prophecies speak of these future blessings for Israel without using the phrase “the last days.” Before that future time of blessedness will occur, a time of conflict and judgment will come in which God will defeat both His human and His satanic enemies (Joel 2:30-31-commentary; Joel 3:9-15-commentary). This time of tribulation is called “the Day of the LORD” (Isaiah 13:6, 9-13-commentary; Zeph. 1:14-18; Mal. 4:1-3, 5-commentary). It in turn will be followed by “the coming of salvation” (1 Pet. 1:5-note) and the fulfillment of Christ's promise of resurrection “at the last day” (John 6:39-40, 44, 54). Anticipate the Lord's coming for His own at any moment, since we are already in the last days. (ED: OF COURSE IF YOU ARE AMONG THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE, THEN YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST. INDEED, YOU WILL SEE THE ANTI-CHRIST BEFORE YOU SEE THE CHRIST, FOR IF THERE IS NO RAPTURE AS TAUGHT BY EXCELLENT TEACHERS LIKE R C SPROUL YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE 7 YEARS OF GOD'S WRATH POURED OUT ON PLANET EARTH - THE 70TH WEEK OF DANIEL)(Borrow The Theological Wordbook) Notice that Dr Walvoord alludes to the Day of the LORD, so the question arises as to how does this "Day" relate to the "last days?" The last days in one sense is the more "all-inclusive" term, which seems to include the first portion of the time period known as the Day of the LORD (see schematic below). Recall that the last days began with Christ's first coming and end at Christ's Second Coming. We are now in the last days, but we are not in the Day of the LORD. If our eschatological chronology is correct, the Day of the LORD begins in the "last" of the last days so to speak. Specifically, the Day of the LORD begins according to some scholars with the rapture of the church and beginning of the Tribulation (7 year period = Daniel's Seventieth Week), whereas others would place the beginning of the Day of the LORD at the mid-point of the Tribulation when the Anti-Christ reveals his Satanically empowered character and initiates the last 3.5 year Great Tribulation (Mt 24:15+, 2 Th 2:3-4+, cf also Acts 2:19-20 describing the dramatic cosmic signs that will precede the onset of the Day of the LORD). The Great Tribulation will be abruptly terminated by the glorious return of Christ (which is also signaled by dramatic cosmic signs - see Mt 24:29,30+), the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16+), at which time He defeats the Anti-Christ and all other godless opposition and establishes His 1000 year Kingdom on earth (See Revelation 19:11-21+, Revelation 20:4-6+). So while the last days includes a "segment" of the Day of the LORD, it would appear that when Christ returns, the last days comes to an end. The Day of the LORD however does not end at the return of Christ, but at the end of the 1000 year reign. Why do we say that? Peter uses the same "time phrase" explaining that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10+) When does this event occur? At the end of the Millennium and just prior to the establishment of the New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 21:1ff+). There is a "strange" (to me) period of time after the present heavens and earth are destroyed as Peter describes. It is during this unusual "interval" of no earth and no heaven that unbelievers from the beginning of time will be judged (the Great White Throne judgment). John seems at a loss for words in describing this unusual time writing "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them." (Rev 20:11+) Notice in this passage, John does not describe an earth or heaven and this would correspond to the fact that Peter says they have been "obliterated" in the Day of the LORD. While one cannot be dogmatic, the end of the earth and heavens (and possibly including the great white throne judgment) would seem to mark the end of that period known as the Day of the LORD. Indeed, if the Day of the LORD is primarily a day of divine judgment, would it not make sense for the final judgment of mankind, the Great White Throne judgment, be the appropriate terminus? It would seem that the phrase, the last days, would have ended 1000 years earlier. Now are you really confused? Realize that this chronological picture is not presented with dogmatism but only as a reasonable possibility! I also realize that in order to explain last days and Day of the LORD one needs to invoke many prophecies from many different books of the Bible, but that is the general nature of prophecy and frankly I think one reason many find it very difficult and/or very confusing. And so in fairness, the Berean reader must understand that much of what is stated above is predicated on a literal interpretation of Scripture regardless whether it is poetic or prophetic, etc. If you are not a literalist, then the preceding analysis probably makes no sense to you. My favorite saying however is if the plain sense of a Biblical text makes good sense in context, than one should not attempt to make some other sense out of it, (such as one is forced to do when spiritualizing a text or using allegorical interpretations) lest it end up being nonsense. The first mention (in the NAS) of the specific phrase "the last days" is found in the Old Testament in Isaiah 2:1-4 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem (NOTE: THIS IS IMPORTANT! THIS "WORD" IS NOT PRIMARILY GIVEN TO THE CHURCH BUT TO THE JEWS. WE AS MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S BODY WILL DEFINITELY PARTICIPATE IN THE . 2 Now it will come about that In the last days, The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it (see depiction of the topography of Jerusalem in this glorious day). 3 And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. (Isaiah 2:1-4--commentary) Comment: Keeping in mind that the last days began with Christ's first coming, here in Isaiah 2:1-4 we have a prophecy which will be fulfilled at Christ's Second Coming. Christ will return at the end of the last half of Daniel's Seventieth Week, specifically at the end of the 3.5 year period (see the other synonymous time phrases = 1260 days, 42 months, "time, times, and half a time") which Jesus' referred to in Matthew 24:21+ as the Great Tribulation. This dreadful time is also referred to by Jeremiah as the Time of Jacob's Distress (Jeremiah 30:7+) and by Daniel as "a time of distress" (Da 12:1+). In His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), Jesus gave His Jewish disciples the specific starting "time" of this horrible 3.5 year period: Therefore when (TIME SENSITIVE WORD - JESUS ALERTS THE JEWS TO SOMETHING CRITICALLY IMPORTANT) you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (Daniel 9:27-commentary), standing in the holy place (REBUILT TEMPLE - cf Rev 11:1-2+) (let the reader understand) (SEE PAUL'S "COMMENTARY" ON THIS SAME EVENT - 2 Thes 2:3+, 2 Th 2:4+), 16 THEN (WHEN? WHEN THEY SEE THE PREVIOUS EVENT TAKE PLACE IN THE TEMPLE!) those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 “For THEN (WHEN? NEAREST ANTECEDENT IS "WHEN" IN Mt 24:15) there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (THIS DESCRIPTION IS CRITICAL AND IS SIMILAR TO THAT IN Daniel 12:1+ - IT STRONGLY REFUTES THE INTERPRETATION BY THOSE WHO SAY THIS PROPHECY HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN 70AD WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED THE TEMPLE, ETC. WHY DO I SAY THAT? BECAUSE THE NAZI HOLOCAUST KILLED FAR MORE JEWS THAN THE ROMANS - YET THERE IS AN EVEN WORSE "HOLOCAUST" COMING WHEN THE ANTICHRIST REVEALS HIMSELF FOR WHO HE REALLY IS AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE 7 YEAR "TRIBULATION" AND 2 OUT 3 JEWS ARE KILLED [Zechariah 13:8-9+] - See Daniel 9:27+). 22 “Unless those days (THESE ARE EVENTS IN THE "LAST DAYS" OVERLAPPING WITH THE DAY OF THE LORD) had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Now, keep in mind that what Jesus is describing in Matthew 24 are just some of the events that will occur in the last days. And notice also that one of the most important days of the last days is described in Matthew 24:15, which sadly is a controversial passage, because this passage will be the key to Jewish survival in the last days! To misinterpret this passage is potentially to miss the way of escape (cf JESUS' WORDS - Mt 24:16-20+) when the Antichrist reveals himself as the Satanically empowered (Revelation 13:4-5+ where "BEAST" = ANTI-CHRIST), Anti-Semitic ruthless leader that he will be for 3.5 years. Because Matthew 24:15 is so important to the nation of Israel, I have written an in depth commentary in which I address and refute the interpretations of those writers who do not interpret the Olivet Discourse literally. Click here for the commentary on Matthew 24:15 (and at the top of the page you can advance to the next verse). The return of the Messiah will (1) put an end to the Great Tribulation and (2) will bring about establishment of His literal, earthly Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-3 are virtually identical passages that describe the setting up of Messiah's Kingdom on earth with His throne in Jerusalem (on Mt Zion-see note). And to reiterate, this general time period is also known as the Day of the LORD, which clealy is not a single day but a period of time in which the LORD engages with the world to bring about judgment of all the ungodly nations and to deliver a redeemed remnant in the nation of Israel (Ro 11:25-29-note, Zech 13:8-9-commentary). Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; KJV Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: It shall be in the last days - Ge 49:1; Isa 2:2; Da 10:14; Hosea 3:5; Micah 4:1; He 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Peter 3:3 God says that "I will pour forth of My Spirit" Acts 10:45; Ps 72:6; Pr 1:23; Isa 32:15,16; 44:3; Ezek 11:19; 36:25-27; Ezek 39:29; Zech 12:10; John 7:39; Titus 3:4-6 On all mankind - Ge 6:12; Ps 65:2; Isa 40:5; 49:26; 66:23; Zech 2:13; Luke 3:6; John 17:2 And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy - Acts 11:28; 21:9; 1 Cor 12:10,28; 14:26-31 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A MESSIANIC PHRASE "THE LAST DAYS" Peter, Jewish to the core, now quotes from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament (not word for word but adapting it to his purpose) before a large Jewish congregation. So in answering their question "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12), He does not answer by giving them an explanation of the Holy Spirit, but by associating the Spirit's coming with the Last Days, an Old Testament phrase that would have been very familiar to his Jewish audience (See Excursus on The Last Days). To the Jews the Last Days referred to when Messiah comes and their hope was that He would conquer Israel's enemies and restore the nation to prominence (one reason many Jews did not think Jesus was the expected Messiah). As shown in the diagram above, the coming of the Messiah inaugurates the Last Days. What the OT prophets did not explicitly state was that while there was one Messiah, He would come two times, and in between these two times we have the Church Age. The Last Days is often confused with the days preceding Messiah's Second Coming (cf Day of the Lord), but that is not the case. To reiterate, the Last Days refers to the period that began with Messiah's first coming and will end when Messiah returns to set up His Kingdom on earth. So we are presently in the Last Days even though they have lasted for almost 2000 years. Are we in the "last" of the last days. Only God knows, but we do know we are one day closer! We see the truth of the last days taught repeatedly in the NT... The apostle John writes Children, it is the last hour (synonymous with last days); and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18+) Peter writes For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times (synonymous with last days) for the sake of you (1 Peter 1:20+) The writer of Hebrews God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Heb. 1:1-2+) Paul writes But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. (2 Timothy 3:1+) James writes Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! (James 5:3) So the last days have been going on for 2000 years and Peter is explaining to the Jewish audience that what was happening on the Day of Pentecost was exactly what the Jewish prophet Joel had predicted would happen in the last days. It follows that for 2000 years the Spirit of God has been poured out on all mankind, whether Jew or Gentile, that has placed their faith in Jesus as their Redeemer and Lord and He will continue to be poured out until the end of this present age, until the end of the last days which will come to an end when Jesus returns. Last (2078)(eschatos gives us "eschatology") an adjective which means last in time or space/place (most remote) (Acts 1:8, Acts 13:47). Eschatos indicates the meaning “last” in the sense of a final stage in a process. For example, in Rev 15:1 the “last seven” plagues of judgment against the earth are declared to be the completion of God’s wrath against the wickedness of humankind. Eschatos can indicate the final element in a significant series. Eschatology then is the study of the "last things", especially the times preceding and culminating in the Second Coming of the King of kings (Rev 17:14+, Rev 19:16+). Indeed, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is the final (eschatos) stage of the drama, the consummation of the history ("HIS-story") of the world! Here is Joel 2:28 "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions." Note that as alluded to above, Peter changes the wording slightly, adapting to his purpose. And so while Joel says "It will come about after this," Peter says it "shall be in the last days." Notice Peter does not say this event on the Day of Pentecost fulfilled Joel's prophecy. John
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Phillips points out that "Twice He said, "I will pour out." The first time, the expression evidently embraces the Hebrew world-"your sons, your daughters, your young men,your old men." The second time, the expression doubtless includes the heathen world, the great Gentile world so long passed by in favor of the Jewish people-"my servants, and my handmaidens." God's interests in this world have ever been wider than the narrow confines of Canaan. The evidence of a worldwide dispersal of Jewish people should have taught the Hebrews that." (Exploring Acts) And they shall prophesy - Joel's original prophecy reads "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:29) Note that the phrase they shall prophesy was not in Joel's prophecy. Why? The simple answer is that Peter under the inspiration of the Spirit repeats the statement from Acts 2:17 (shall prophesy) for emphasis. This recalls the words of Moses in Numbers 11:29. Acts 2:19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. KJV Acts 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: Joel 2:30,31; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Malachi 4:1-6 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOEL'S PROPHECY OF COSMIC SIGNS And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below - Joel's original words were "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth." Here Peter adds "signs" to Joel's prophecy. There are some like I Howard Marshall (TNTC-Acts) who interpret this signs as "probably the gift of tongues and the various healing miracles which are shortly to be recorded." That interpretation is highly unlikely because it yanks "signs on the earth below" out of a context which is clearly referring to the "last" of the last days, that period immediately preceding the return of Christ, which is referred to as the "Tribulation," the seven year period that is terminated by the return of Christ, putting an end to the last days. (Borrow The Acts of the Apostles : an introduction and commentary) John Phillips - It is evident from this reference to the "Day of the Lord" that Pentecost was only a partial fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. There were signs of God's wrath at Calvary-the sun was darkened, the earth shook, the rocks were rent. But, as the Lord made clear in His Olivet discourse, such signs as Joel indicated belong to the time of the second coming of Christ (Mt 24:29-30). (Exploring Acts) Wonders (5059)(see teras) translates a Greek word from which the word terror comes, an emotion which will be most appropriate when God begins to grant these cosmic changes (cf Rev 11:11+, Rev 18:10, 15+). All uses of teras in Acts - Acts 2:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:36; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12. Signs (4592) (see semeion) is something that points to something else, in this context the signs point to the coming judgment of God (cf Rev 12:1, 3+, Rev 15:1+) and also serve as a harbinger of the imminent Second Coming of Christ (cf Mt 24:30+). All uses of semeion in Luke and Acts - Lk. 2:12; Lk. 2:34; Lk. 11:16; Lk. 11:29; Lk. 11:30; Lk. 21:7; Lk. 21:11; Lk. 21:25; Lk. 23:8; Acts 2:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 4:16; Acts 4:22; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:36; Acts 8:6; Acts 8:13; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12. It is interesting that Jesus the Nazarene was a Man attested to the Jews by wonders and signs. Here is the point! If one refuses to heed the wonders and signs of God's Messiah, by default one must experience the wonders and signs of God's Wrath! Blood, and fire and vapor of smoke - Here Peter describes the wonders and signs. These wonders and signs have not yet taken place. So when and where will they take place? The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ describes a number of events that are associated with blood, fire and smoke. Therefore the most logical conclusion is that Peter is describing the events that will be associated with the Day of the Lord during the Seven Year Tribulation that is terminated by the Lord's return (cf Mt 24:22+). Revelation describes signs on the earth... Blood is described in Revelation (see also association with fire below) Rev 6:8+ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (~bloodshed) Rev 6:12+ I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; Rev 8:7-8+ The first (TRUMPET) sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. 8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, Rev 9:15+ And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. (~bloodshed) Revelation 11:6+ These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. Rev 14:20+ And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. Rev 16:3-6+ The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” Fire in Revelation Rev 8:7-10+ The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. 8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. Rev 9:17-18+ And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. Smoke in Revelation Rev 9:1-3+ Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Rev 18:9+ "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her (BABYLON), will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, S Lewis Johnson on whether wonders...signs have been fulfilled in Peter's day - We do not have any indication from the text of the Book of Acts, that these things did take place at that time. Now, if we understand them figuratively, we have a slight problem, since Peter, later in his second letter in the third chapter, refers to much the same kind of thing, and there locates the fulfillment in the future, associated with the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, furthermore, in Revelation 6:12, almost the precise wording is referred there to the second advent of our Lord. So I cannot really subscribe to this interpretation; that is, that everything on the Day of
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Phillips comments on Jesus' miracles "The New Testament records only 36 -- on an average less than one a month for the three and one-half years of His public ministry-for God does not want us to rest our faith on miracles. But what miracles they were! He walked on the sea; He turned water into wine and multiplied loaves and fishes. He banished demons, disease, and death. He healed the sick, cleansed the leper, and raised the dead. And the miracles recorded are a fraction of those He actually performed. Several times the sacred historians simply lump miracles together, telling of the crowds of sick folk who came to Jesus with the comment, "And He healed them all." John ends the gospel narrative by saying that the world itself could not contain the books that could be written about Jesus and His signs." (Exploring Acts) Wonders (5059)(teras) translates a Greek word from which the word terror comes and denotes something unusual (e.g., miracles) that causes the beholder to be startled or to marvel because what they see cannot be readily explained. Teras refers to “something strange", a phenomena which compels one's attention and causes one to "look again" or causes the beholder to marvel. Although teras usually follows “signs,” it sometimes precedes it (Acts 2:22, 2:43; 6:8) or occurs alone (Acts 2:19). It is interesting that Luke does not use teras in his Gospel account but uses it 9 times (out of 16 NT uses) in the book of Acts (Acts 2:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:36; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12). John Polhill makes an excellent point that ""throughout Acts the term 'wonders' only occurs in conjunction with 'signs,' a testimony to the fact that mere marvels have no value in themselves except as they point beyond themselves to the divine power behind them and so lead to faith" (New American Commentary - Acts). Signs (4592) (semeion) refers to what distinguishes one person or thing from another (cf Lk 2:12+, Ro 4:11). In simple terms a sign points to something. As used here by Peter, signs were supernatural phenomena (miracles) that functioned like a "divine finger" pointing to Jesus as One with divine authority. For example, John records "This (Jesus' miracle of creating wine out of water) was the beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him." (John 2:11) Signs were mighty manifestations of the power of God to get the attention of the people to point them to spiritual truth. Nicodemus exclaimed, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him" (John 3:2). In John 6:2 says "a great multitude was following Him, because they were seeing the signs which He was performing on those who were sick." These signs were followed by the sign of feeding the multitude. John writes "Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (Jn 6:14) He then used this supernatural manifestation of power to direct their attention to spiritual truth and teach them that He was the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35, 48). Similarly, Jesus performed the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection as a sign (cf Jn 12:17, 18) which Jesus applied to Himself teaching "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies." (John 11:25). W A Criswell adds that "In the first-century church, there was an increase of supernatural works. They fell into three major categories: (1) miracles (dunamis, Gk.), or literally "works of power"; (2) wonders (teras, Gk.) in the sense of phenomena which compel one's attention or cause one to "look again"; and (3) "signs" (semeion, Gk.) which may or may not always be supernatural like the first two. They are "signs" in the sense of being comparable to prophecies or spiritual truths. Semeion stresses the spiritual truth embodied in the miracle (John 20:30, 31)." (Believer's Study Bible) Which God performed through Him - Indeed, it is notable that throughout this section in which Peter reviews Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension to the Jews, He repeatedly mentions God's role in these events (Acts 2:22, 23, 24, 30, 32, 33, 36, not counting pronouns that clearly refer to God - e.g., Acts 2:25, 27, 28). Clearly, Peter is showing the Jews that God was with Jesus, making his case that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. And so the omnipotent, omniscient God is the "hidden Actor" (so to speak) behind the scenes in control of the scenes He is behind! And He does so all the while allowing men to make choices of their will. Mysterious but true!
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Phillips - The death of Christ was foreknown of God in a past eternity. When God acted in creation, He also acted in redemption. Jesus is described as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). God knew that, given a free will, man would sin; that His holiness would demand full payment for that sin; that His love would provide a free pardon for that sin; that in the fullness of time the Father would send the Son and that the Spirit would prepare His body; that God would become incarnate in Christ; and that, in the end, man would murder Him. All that was foreknown and taken into account by God's determinate counsel. (Exploring Acts) Steven
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Phillips comments that "God's foreknowledge does not absolve man from his fearful guilt. Men crucified the Christ. It was the most wicked thing ever done on this sin-cursed planet. And they had done it; their hands were stained with Jesus' blood. There was no escaping their guilt. They had murdered the Messiah, slain the very Son of the living God. There could be no greater guilt than that." (Ibid) Horton makes an important distinction writing that "It should be emphasized also that Peter was speaking here to Jerusalem Jews, many of whom were involved in the cry "Crucify Him!" The Bible never puts this kind of responsibility or guilt on the Jews in general. For example, in Acts 13:27-29, Paul, speaking to Jews in Pisidian Antioch, is careful to attribute the crucifixion to the people and rulers of Jerusalem, saying "they," not "you." Further, Gentiles had a hand in the crucifying, so the sins of all people nailed Him to the cross (ED: I.E., YOU AND ME!). (Acts: A Logion Press Commentary) Toussaint adds a slightly different thought - Many times the apostles accused the Jews of crucifying Jesus (ED: NOTE PRONOUN "YOU" IN FOLLOWING) (Acts 2:23, 36; 3:14-15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52), though the apostles also held the Gentiles culpable (Acts 2:23; 4:27; cf. Luke 23:24–25). (Bible Knowledge Commentary) MacArthur sums up Peter's point - God used evil men to accomplish His purpose, yet never violated their will or removed their culpability by doing so. Peter thus presents the total sovereignty of God alongside the complete responsibility of man. That apparently paradoxical truth is affirmed throughout Scripture and is illustrated in Luke 22:22. Speaking of His betrayer there, our Lord said, "The Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man through whom He is betrayed!" Men are responsible not for God's plans but for their own sins. The heinous sin of rejecting Jesus Christ was the blackest moment in Israel's history. Far from casting doubt on His messianic credentials, however, that betrayal was part of God's eternal plan. And though Peter does not develop the thought here, the Old Testament clearly teaches that Messiah had to die (cf. Ps. 22; Isa. 53). The death of Jesus Christ, no less than His life, confirmed that He was the Messiah. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts)
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Phillips - "It is not possible!" That is the position taken by the agnostic and atheist when confronted with the resurrection of Christ. "It is contrary to nature, it defies natural law, it never happened, it is a lie propagated by the disciples who stole the body and faked an empty tomb." God takes the same position when confronted with the unbelief of men regarding the resurrection. "God hath raised him up... because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." Hallelujah for such a glorious Divine impossibility! It was impossible for God to leave Jesus in the tomb. It was impossible because He was sinless. "The wages of sin is death," says the Scripture. He did no sin, so obviously, He could not die. But die He did. He died because He was made sin for us, because He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24). Having thus paid the price of our sin, having suffered the extreme penalty and having discharged the debt, "it was not possible that He should be held" by death. The resurrection was part of that "determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23), God's receipt to the believer for a debt paid in full. What a message to herald to that guilty multitude who stood there on that Pentecost morning! What a message to be blazed across the world! (Exploring Acts)
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Phillips - David was so good a singer because he was so great a seer. There is nothing like a glimpse of heaven's viewpoint to put a hallelujah in the heart. To know that, in Christ, God has conquered not only sin and Satan, but the sepulcher as well should ring the joybells in each believing heart. Be glad (2165)(euphraino from eu = well, good + phren = mind, intellect, disposition) means in active sense to make someone glad, to cheer someone up, to make them joyful in mind, to cause them to be glad (2Cor 2:2, Lxx = Ps 19:8, Pr 23:15). Euphraino in Acts 2:26 is in the passive voice and means to be glad, to be joyful, to celebrate or be jubilant (used 4 times with this sense in story of Prodigal son = to feast in token of joy), to enjoy oneself, to be delighted, to keep a day of rejoicing.
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Phillips - The primary reference is to the body of Christ lying in the grave. Jesus knew He was going to be crucified. He also knew He would not see corruption in the grave and that He would rise again the third day. On a number of occasions He foretold those things to His disciples. As man, His confidence was in the Word of God, which He implicitly believed. However, by extension, the truth was David's, too, and ours. "My flesh shall rest in hope!" Christ's resurrection is the guarantee of ours. My flesh also will live in hope - My flesh refers to the physical body. Will live is probably better translated "will dwell in hope" (ESV) or "will rest in hope." (CSB) As viewed from David's perspective, this is a further benefit of setting the Lord always before him, and it speaks of God's blessing in one's life in the future (life after death). The word hope speaks of a glorious future beyond the grave. The phrase will live in hope is more literally "will live upon (epi) hope!" I like that picture, as if we "feed" upon the absolute certainty that God will do good to us and for us in the future and throughout eternity! Blessed Hope indeed (cf Titus 2:13+)! Maclaren applying Psalm 16:9 to believers writes "The heart that expands with such blessed consciousness of possessing God can chant its triumphant song (my heart was glad and my tongue exulted) even in front of the grave....If we would be sure of immortal life, we must make the mortal a God-filled life (AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAY "AMEN!")." Will live (2681)(kataskenoo from kata = down, intensifies + skenoo = pitch one's tent) literally means “to pitch one’s tent” and hence to settle permanently. It is frequently found in the Septuagint and generally stresses the thought of a longer stay. In classical Greek it is used of an encampment. The idea of secure and lasting dwelling is the sense in the LXX uses in Nu 14:30, Dt. 33:12 and here in Ps. 16:9. Kataskenoo has been found on an ancient Christian gravestone (BDAG) and euphemistically means to rest. It remind me of the acronym we often hear "R.I.P."! Of course, the only ones who will truly "Rest In Peace" are those who have during their life obtained that peace with God. As Paul said "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ro 5:1+). The only "door" to peace in this like and the life to come is through faith in the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have "peace with God?" through the Lord Jesus Christ?
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Phillips - Many a time the Old Testament saints must have puzzled over Psalm 16 with its reference to death and preservation from corruption in the grave. How could "the Holy One" of the psalm, the Beloved One, the Messiah, possibly die, and how could He possibly escape the inevitable corruption of the grave if He did? As with so many other prophecies, suddenly all was clear. Holy One (3741)(hósios) pertains to being without fault relative to deity, devout, pious, pleasing to God, holy. In the Septuagint hosios frequently refers to godly ones (Ps 30:4, 31:23, 32:6, 37:28, 50:5, 52:9, 79:2, 85:8, 86:2, etc). It describes a person who lives right before God and so is described as devout, dedicated or holy. The Holy One refers to Jesus in Acts 2:27, Acts 13:35 and Rev 16:5+.
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Phillips - The coming of the Holy Spirit was the crowning proof. Jesus was not only alive from the dead by the power of God's hand, but He was now seated at the right hand of power in heaven. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, long since foretold by Joel, was the proof that Jesus was now seated in the glory. He was the One who had thus sent the Holy Spirit to usher in a new age of grace. Instead of sending down wrath from heaven, He had sent down the Holy Spirit, and in such a way and on such a day as fulfilled the age-old symbols of Pentecost. (Exploring Acts) He has poured forth this which you both see and hear - He is clearly the Lord Jesus. You both see and hear indicates that the out pouring of the Spirit was undeniable. They saw tongues like fire and they heard a sound like a mighty rushing wind and the disciples speaking in tongues, recognizable foreign languages. Peter explains that what the Jewish audience had seen and heard was the work of the risen, ascended Jesus, Who had prophetically promised He would send His Spirit to the disciples. In other words, the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit was dependent on the ascension of Jesus. “When the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, (Jn 15:26) “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (Jn 16:7) Poured forth (1632)(see note above on ekcheo) - In Acts 2:17 Peter quoted Joel's prophecy that the Spirit will be poured out (future tense) and here he uses the aorist tense indicating it has happened and that Jesus is the One Who accomplished the pouring forth of the Spirit. Stated another way, the outpouring of the Spirit was evidence that Jesus was actually exalted at the Father's right hand. Note that in Peter's quote from Joel in Acts 2:17+ he says it was God saying that He was the One Who will pour forth His Spirit on all mankind, and now in Acts 2:33 Peter says it is Jesus Who poured forth the Spirit. Comparing these two passages what is the obvious conclusion? Jesus in Acts 2:33 is God in Acts 2:17. Jesus is God! Now let us apply this truth - The facts are that Jesus is at the right hand of God, directing the affairs of His Body, the church through His "Chief Operating Officer," the Holy Spirit Whom He has poured out on us in abundance. Dear pastor, would you say your Church (part of His Body) is a Spirit Filled Church? Dear believer, is your life Spirit filled, figuratively like an Artesian Well?
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Phillips asks "And what was the sovereign Lord of David (described in Acts 2:34) doing now that He was seated on the very pinnacle of power? He was waiting for God to make His foes His footstool. So let the Jews not think they had won, that they had rid themselves of Him. They could expect fearful vengeance from the God whose Son they had slain if they persisted in their rejection. All they had done fulfilled prophecy, for David had written in the prophetic word that his Son, his Lord, would have foes who would need to be dealt with from on high. (Exploring Acts) I make your enemies a footstool for your feet - The reference is to the execution of the Messiah’s enemies including Satan, for as Paul wrote "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."( (Ro 16:20+) In Philippians Paul describes the fate of Messiah's enemies... Being found in appearance as a man, He (JESUS) humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him (cf Acts 2:33-34), and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW (cf Acts 2:35), of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (cf Acts 2:35), to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:8-11+)
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Phillips writes that the infant church "was a company marked by the tie, that blessed "tie that binds our hearts in Christian love."" (Play "Blest the Tie that Binds" by Bill Gaither) They continued "in fellowship." New links of love were forged that day, a new community created. John wrote later: "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14). The church is a Body, the mystical Body of Christ. Union with the Head means union with the members." (Exploring Acts) Fellowship (2842)(koinonia from koinos = that which is in common, belonging to several) describes the experience of having something in common and/or of sharing things in common with others. It describes a close association involving mutual interests and sharing or to have communion ("intimate fellowship") It denotes the active, joint participation, cooperation and/or sharing in a common interest or activity. McGee on the root word "koinos" - Adolf Deissmann, in his scholarly research in the field of archaeology, threw tremendous light upon New Testament Greek when he discovered the Koine, the vernacular – which means that the New Testament was written in the common everyday Greek of that time. This gives a good understanding of the statement: …And the common people heard him [Christ] gladly. (Mark 12:37) That language was shared by more people of the Roman Empire than any other language. It was understood on the wharves of Corinth and on every ship that sailed the Mediterranean. It was in common use in Jerusalem, in the Temple area, in Athens, on Mars Hill, and it found its way even into the amphitheatre. This language of the New Testament was a universal language. It was called “koine” because it was common to everyone Paul emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in true (spiritual) fellowship - the Holy Spirit brings about unity in the body... 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Philippians 2:1+ Therefore if (SINCE) there is any encouragement in Christ, if (SINCE) there is any consolation of love, if (SINCE) there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if (SINCE) any affection and compassion, ILLUSTRATION OF FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT - Adrian Rogers elaborates on the tuning of instruments: Now, we have a piano here, and we have a piano here. Those pianos ought to be in tune. And, Jim, I was listening this morning—they are; you'll be happy to know that. Those pianos ought to be in tune. Now, I don't know a lot about tuning pianos, but I've read this, and I believe it to be true: that it is virtually impossible to tune one piano to another piano. But, if you get a tuning fork, and tune that piano to the tuning fork, and tune this piano to the tuning fork, do you know what happens? Ipso facto—they're in tune with one another—isn't that true? When you're in tune with Jesus, and I'm in tune with Jesus, then, friend, you're going to be in tune with me, and I'm going to be in tune with you. I mean, that's what happens when we pray—we're seeking God together. (Ed: Bring a tuning instrument to show what happens to the sound of a piano or guitar that is out of tune! Now think about the "music" made by a local Body of Christ which is OUT OF TUNE! Instead of a "symphony" [a harmony of sounds!] it becomes a "cacophony [loud confusing disagreeable sounds]!" Woe!) Marvin
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Phillips says "In baptism we show our death with Christ; in breaking of bread we show His death for us." Related Resources: 1 Corinthians 11:17:22 The Celebration of the Lord's Supper- 1 - John MacArthur 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 The Celebration of the Lord's Supper- 2 - John MacArthur 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 The Celebration of the Lord's Supper - Study Guide (see drop down) - John MacArthur They were continually devoting themselves...to prayer - The Greek word here always refers to prayers to God. What has happened to the old fashioned "prayer meetings?" I think they have gone out of fashion! Persevering prayer is still the charge to a church that would be an "Acts 2 Church"... rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, (Ro 12:12+) Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;(Col. 4:2+) As Phillips phrases it the infant church "was a company marked by the throne. The name of Jesus opened up prayer opportunities never before known, for now we have instant access to the throne of grace (Heb 4:16+). Every aspect of individual life and corporate life can now be related to the throne and to that great High Priest who sits at God's right hand." Prayer (4335)(proseuche from pros = toward or immediately before + euchomai = to pray or vow) is the more general word for prayer. The prefix pros would convey the sense of being immediately before God and hence the ideas of adoration, devotion, and worship. The basic idea is to bring something, and in prayer this pertains to bringing up prayer requests. In early Greek culture an offering was brought with a prayer that it be accepted. Later the idea was changed slightly, so that the thing brought to God was a prayer. In later Greek, prayers appealed to God for His presence. Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence. The apostles had heard Jesus last teaching on prayer in the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16) and now they were practicing what He preached when He said "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn 14:13-14). Related Resources: J Vernon McGee's 10 page booklet - Spiritual Fingerprints of the Visible Church A Spirit Filled Church Acts 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. KJV Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe Acts 5:11,13; Esther 8:17; Jer 33:9; Hosea 3:5; Luke 7:16; 8:37 and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles Acts 3:6-9; 4:33; Acts 5:12,15,16; Acts 9:34,40; Mark 16:17; John 14:12 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AWE PRODUCED BY APOSTLES' WONDERS AND SIGNS Everyone - (Literally every soul) - The text does not state with certainty whether this refers just to the believers or whether it included the unsaved Jews in Jerusalem. One would think the latter as many wonders and signs would point to a supernatural Source, God, and the believers already knew God through their faith in Christ. Certainly Luke's descriptions of the wonders and signs performed through Peter (Acts 3:6-9) and Paul in the rest of Acts were performed before unbelievers. Luke gives a good summary in Acts 4:33 writing "And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all." And again in Acts 5:12 Luke records "At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico." These supernatural signs pointed to Who Jesus really was as Peter clearly declared when he healed the lame man declaring “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene–walk!” (Acts 3:6) And in Acts 9:34 Peter "said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up." Clearly the miraculous healing was meant to point to Jesus Christ, not to Peter. Of course not everyone was filled with awe, but some were filled with jealousy! In the context of multiple healings "the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail." (Acts 5:17-18).
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Phillips - The infant church had more than purity; it had power. The gift of the apostles included the power to work miracles. An ungrieved Holy Spirit poured out His power upon those men, and soon Jerusalem rang with stories of miraculous healings. It was as though Jesus of Nazareth were back, as though He were walking again-giving sight to the blind, making the deaf to hear, the dumb to talk, the dead to live, the lame to walk, cleansing the leper, casting out demons. And so He was. Only now it was His mystical Body that was the vehicle of divine power rather than the material body in which He had lived when in the flesh. (Exploring Acts) For discussion of wonders and signs see use of the same Greek words by Peter in his description of Jesus the Nazarene in Acts 2:22. The purpose of wonders and signs as with the ministry of Jesus was to attract attention and point to spiritual truth and ultimately to Jesus Christ. An excellent example of this purpose is seen in Acts 9:32-35 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you (THE HEALER); get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up (THE HEALING). 35 (THE IMPACT ON THE JEWS) And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Comment - It is fascinating that these miracles were performed by Jesus but as best we can tell from the Gospels very few Jews who witnessed Jesus' miracles acknowledged Him as their Lord. This reminds us of Jesus' promise to His apostles that "greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father (FROM WHICH HE OF COURSE WOULD SEND THE SPIRIT)." (Jn 14:12) The greater work that Jesus was referring to was not that the apostles would do greater miracles or even more miracles but that their miracles would result in many more believers than the similar miracles produced in Jesus' lifetime. Horton points out that "In all missionary advances in the Book of Acts, the Word was accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders (cf. Acts 4:30; 5:12; 14:8-10; 15:12; 19:10-12; cf. 1 Thess. 1:5). (Acts: A Logion Press Commentary) Recall that signs (4592) (see semeion) are something miraculous that points to something else. In this context the signs authenticated both "the message and the messenger, pointing observers toward a divine source of the miracle or a divine truth. Here these signs and wonders authenticated the apostles' message, identifying it as divine truth." (LABC) Here is an old chorus that expresses the awe every believer should pray they might experience in the presence of the Lord... I STAND IN AWE OF YOU (Another version) You are beautiful beyond description Too marvelous for words Too wonderful of comprehension Like nothing ever seen or heard Who can grasp you infinite wisdom Who can fathom the depth of Your love You are beautiful beyond description Majesty enthroned above. And I stand, I stand in awe of You I stand, I stand in awe of You Holy God to Whom all praise is due I stand in awe of You. Acts 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; KJV Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; had all things in common Acts 4:32; Acts 5:4; Acts 6:1-3; 2 Cor 8:9,14,15; 9:6-15; 1 John 3:16-18 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries And all those who had believed - Belief is in the present tense indicating it their belief was an integral part of their lifestyle. Believed (4100) (pisteuo from pistis; pistos) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. They accepted all the revelations of Christ as true and were firmly convicted of His goodness, His power and His nearness to help in life and at the time of death. Beloved, keep in mind that a lot of people in America say "I believe in Jesus," (or "I know about Jesus") but sadly that belief (or knowledge) for many (God is their Judge of course) is more of an intellectual belief (a mental assent, "head" knowledge) much like the "many" Jesus describes in Mt 7:21-23+. On the other hand, genuine belief that leads to salvation, involves not only the consent of one's mind, but an act of one's heart and will. All of Luke's uses of pisteuo - Lk. 1:20; Lk. 1:45; Lk. 8:12; Lk. 8:13; Lk. 8:50; Lk. 16:11; Lk. 20:5; Lk. 22:67; Lk. 24:25; Acts 2:44; Acts 4:4; Acts 4:32; Acts 5:14; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:13; Acts 8:37; Acts 9:26; Acts 9:42; Acts 10:43; Acts 11:17; Acts 11:21; Acts 13:12; Acts 13:39; Acts 13:41; Acts 13:48; Acts 14:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:5; Acts 15:7; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:31; Acts 16:34; Acts 17:12; Acts 17:34; Acts 18:8; Acts 18:27; Acts 19:2; Acts 19:4; Acts 19:18; Acts 21:20; Acts 21:25; Acts 22:19; Acts 24:14; Acts 26:27; Acts 27:25 Related Resource: Study of the phrase obedience of faith Can a person believe in some sense but not be saved? What does it mean to have faith in Jesus? What does it mean to know Jesus? Multiple articles (C H Spurgeon, J C Ryle, Puritans like Thomas Watson, Thomas Brooks, et al) - See Saving Faith Were together - Were together is in the imperfect tense indicating that the believers made a practice of meeting together (again and again). "Remember in what different countries they had been born. The Temple had drawn them to live in Jerusalem, and now their believing drew them together in a different, deeper, and far truer way. Faith in Christ was the bond which made one body of these believers even outwardly." (Lenski (Borrow the interpretation of the acts of the apostles))
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Phillips - It was a true body, each member caring for and nourishing each other member. Here we see the answer to the Lord's prayer: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (Acts 17:20-24) This was true ecumenicalism. The oneness of the early church was organic oneness, not organized oneness. There was a mutual caring and concern for other believers. There was a spontaneous coming together of like-minded believers in love with the Lord, in love with each other, in love with lost souls. (Exploring Acts) ILLUSTRATION - A young fellow who was fed up with church went to see this wise old Christian in his cabin to get some advice. He told him all the things that were bothering him about church, and how he felt that he would be better off without the company of other Christians. As he was speaking, the old man silently took the fire tongs and removed a red-hot glowing coal from the middle of the fire and set it on the hearth. The coal glowed for a while, but eventually dimmed and turned black. He let it sit there a while and then took the tongs and places the coal back in the middle of the fire. Within seconds the coal was glowing red hot once again. The young man took the wordless lesson and left determined to stay with church. Just as coals soon burn out when they are removed from the company of other coals, we will not last long in the faith if we are removed from true fellowship. A New Community Read: Acts 2:1–12, 42–47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44 My friend Carrie’s five-year-old daughter, Maija, has an interesting approach to playtime. She loves mixing together dolls from different playsets to come up with a new community. In the world of her imagination, everything belongs together. These are her people. She believes they are happiest when they’re together, despite being different sizes and shapes. Her creativity reminds me of God’s purpose for the church. On the day of Pentecost, Luke tells us, “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). Though these people were from different cultures and spoke different languages, the Holy Spirit’s arrival made them a new community: the church. From then on, they would be considered one body, unified by the death and resurrection of Jesus. As believers in Christ, we belong together. The leaders of this new body were a group of men Jesus brought together during His time on earth—His disciples. If Jesus hadn’t united them, more than likely they would never have come together. And now more people—“about three thousand” (2:41)—had become Christ-followers. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, this once divided group “had everything in common” (v. 44). They were willing to share what they had with each other. The Holy Spirit continues to bridge the gaps between people groups. We might not always get along, nor readily understand one another. But as believers in Christ, we belong together. Jesus, thank You for dying for us and uniting us as one people in the church. The Holy Spirit turns “us” and “them” into “we.” Acts 2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. KJV Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. they began selling their property and possessions Acts 4:34-37; 5:1,2; 11:29; Luke 12:33,34; 16:9; 18:22; 19:8 were sharing them with all Ps 112:9; Pr 11:24,25; 19:17; Eccl 11:1,2; Isa 58:7-12; 2 Cor 9:1,9; 1 Ti 6:18,19; James 2:14-16; 5:1-5; 1 Jn 3:17 Acts 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A SHARING PEOPLE And they began selling their property and possessions - When the Spirit opens the eyes of our heart to receive a vision of eternity, "the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." Our "give me's" are transformed into "gives!" NET Note on the two similar words property and possessions - It is possible that the first term for property (ktemata) refers to real estate (as later usage seems to indicate) while the second term (huparxeis) refers to possessions in general, but it may also be that the two terms are used together for emphasis, simply indicating that all kinds of possessions were being sold. However, if the first term is more specifically a reference to real estate, it foreshadows the incident with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1–11. Stanley Toussaint makes an interesting comment (you be the judge if it applies to the church today!) - The selling of property and the common possession of the proceeds may imply that the early church expected the Lord to return soon and establish His kingdom. This may explain why the practice was not continued. [Began] selling (4097)(piprasko from perao = to cross, to transport to a distant land) means literally to sell, and is used figuratively of one "sold into bondage to sin" picturing sin as "possessing" the individual, thus a "slave to Sin!" (Woe!) (Ro 7:14+) TDNT on piprasko - In secular Greek piprasko means literally “to sell,” “to sell for a bribe,” or “to lease,” and figuratively “betrayed,” “sold out,” “led astry,” of “mined.” The NT also uses piprasko literally for “to sell” (Mt. 13:46; 18:25; Acts 2:45, etc.), and the figurative sense appears in Rom. 7:14 to describe the desperate plight of the person “sold under sin.” [H. PREISKER, VI, 160] (Borrow Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament : abridged in one volume) Piprasko - 9x in 9v - sales(1), selling(1), sold(7) - Matt. 13:46; Matt. 18:25; Matt. 26:9; Mk. 14:5; Jn. 12:5; Acts 2:45; Acts 4:34; Acts 5:4; Ro 7:14 Piprasko - 32x in 31v in the Septuagint - Ge 31:15; Ex. 22:3; Lev. 25:23; Lev. 25:34; Lev. 25:39; Lev. 25:42; Lev. 25:47; Lev. 25:48; Lev. 27:27; Deut. 15:12; Deut. 21:14; Deut. 28:68; 1 Sam. 23:7; 1 Ki. 21:20; 1 Ki. 21:25; 2 Ki. 17:17; Est. 7:4; Ps. 105:17; Isa. 48:10; Isa. 50:1; Isa. 52:3; Jer. 34:14; Ezek. 48:14; And were sharing them with all as anyone might have need - The qualifying phrase is important. The sharing was based on need. The imperfect tense of were sharing brings this aspect out nicely, for this tense pictures the saints as sharing over and over, again and again. A need would arise and they would share, etc.