Atos 2

Atos 2

William MacDonald - As Bengel said, “The sting of the speech is put at the end”—THIS JESUS, whom you crucified. They had crucified God’s Anointed One, and the coming of the Holy Spirit was evidence that Jesus had been exalted in heaven (see John 7:39+ "But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." -- ED NOTE: THE FACT THAT THE SPIRIT HAD BEEN GIVEN ON PENTECOST IS MORE EVIDENCE THAT JESUS HAD BEEN RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD, FOR HOW COULD HE BE GLORIFIED IF HE NOT BEEN RESURRECTED?). (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - Don't misunderstand this statement. Peter is not saying that God the Father will MAKE Jesus something (someone) that He was not before His incarnation. Beloved, Jesus has ALWAYS been Lord and Christ (Messiah), but by His death, resurrection and exaltation the Father "installs" (so to speak) Him in His rightful exalted position before all creation or as Peter says in Acts 10:36 "He is Lord of all!" It is worth noting that Peter's sermon repeatedly emphasizes the central role of God the Father. Acts 2:17 In the last days God says that I will pour forth of My Spirit Acts 2:22 Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God Acts 2:22 miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, Acts 2:24 God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, Acts 2:30 God had sworn to David to seat one of his descendants (MESSIAH) upon his throne Acts 2:32 This Jesus God raised up again Acts 2:33 Exalted to the right hand of God Acts 2:33 Received the promise of the Spirit from the Father (only time called Father) Acts 2:36 God has made Him both Lord and Christ. In fact one might say that Acts 2 is saturated with the doctrine of the Trinity! Know for certain literally is "for certain know." Certain (aphalos) is the first word in the Greek sentence emphasizing even more the absolute certainty of Peter's dramatic declaration!. His presentation of the evidence that Jesus is the Messiah and the Lord God should leave not a hint of doubt in the minds of his Jewish audience. As we might say today in the courtroom (and in a sense Peter was in a "courtroom" giving his defense of Jesus), Peter declared the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, of course is ultimately the One Who opened the spiritual eyes of the Jews to turn from darkness to light (Acts 26:18+), enabling them to obey Peter's command to know!