New Testament Jerusalem Map
I. Your Young Men Will See Vision (14-21)
>1. How does Peter make people pay attention to him? (14)
"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.'" -Acts 2:14
* "Then Peter stood up" -Peter had been bold when Jesus was alive. After Jesus crucifixion Peter and the rest were afraid and lock themselves in their room.
* "with the Eleven" -All the apostles including the newly appointed one.
* "raised his voice and addressed the crowd" -The large amount of people and the great commotion was so great that Peter had to speak loudly, a gift of God was Peter's loud voice.
* "let me explain to you" -Peter wanted to give them spiritual eyes.
* "listen carefully" -Jesus often stated this and "He who has ears, let him hear."
>How does he defend the condition of his people? (15a)
"These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!'" -Acts 2:15
* No respectable Jew would be drunk in Jerusalem on a holiday so early in the morning.
>2. In what ways are the prophesies of the prophet Joel fulfilled? (16)
"'No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:'" -Acts 2:16
* This quote points out this was a sign of a new age, the age of preaching the gospel (aka the church age, the age of grace).
* "Joel" -The quote is from 2:28-32. Joel's prophecy is only three chapters long and mostly about "the Last Days", repentance, and the Millennium reign of the LORD.
* "was spoken by the prophet Joel" -This was from the word of God so Jews would listen to it carefully. They were familiar with the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit helped Peter remember and interpret the word of God.
>In what sense does the work of the Holy Spirit affect all kinds of people? (17-18)
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.'" -Acts 2:17-18
* Peter's quote is interesting since not all of it deals with the event that just took place and all there heard. Some commentaries even say that none of it has to do with the sound made by the Holy Spirit when he came. So why then did Peter quote it? To tell those that heard it that they should not have been surprised for it was nothing compared to other things that the LORD their God will do in the future. Also, one of the several themes of Joel is the need for Judah and Israel to repent.
>How is the work different?
* "In the last days" -A new age of gospel preaching and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we read an Old Testament verse saying "in the last days" we can be assured it is referring to the age we are in, especially the very end of this age, during what we call the tribulation. In the last days also refers to the Millennium.
* "pour out" -great amount
* "all people" -Believers in Jesus (Christians) only, but of all nationality, race, age, gender, physical appearance, etc.
* "Your" -God's children
* "sons and daughters" -young men and young females are included which went against Jewish thought as well as other nationalities of the time.
* "will" -its an absolute
* "prophesy" -correctly teach the Bible, give messages, expound on a passage in the right time and place. Prophesy is mentioned twice in this prophecy but tongues is not. This indicates that prophecy what was important at Pentecost not speaking in tongues.
* "young men will see visions" -visions involve seeing God's redemptive works. The young usually are controlled by passions.
* "old men will dream dreams" -Dreams plant hope and compel us to live according to the hope in the Kingdom of God. Old men usually sleep, think of the good old days, and live the comfortable retired life.
* "even on my servants" -Those God calls are his servants.
* "both men and women" -Gender was not a factor
* Moses said, "I wish that all of your could prophecy."
* Extra ordinary things happen when a person lives by the Spirit for he changes the inner person. Almost unrecognisable on the outside, but on the inside the person's life is changed.
>3. What does verse 19-20 refer to? (Luke. 23:44-45; Luke. 21:11)
Acts 2:19-20 "I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord."
* Jesus taught, "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." (Luke 21:11) Perhaps it can be concluded that this is a fearful and great sign from heaven.
* Jesus's death made it possible for God, the Holy Spirit to dwell with his people. During crucifixion "...about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two." (Luke 23:44-45) The curtain represented God separated from sinful man.
* Jesus taught, "I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." (Acts 2:19-20) Jesus' second coming is glorious, and so was the sending of the Holy Spirit to all his people.
* Some say that all the Joel verses Peter quoted can apply to the Messiah's first coming, ascension, and second very soon coming. However, it is hard to place verses 19 and 20 at his first coming.
* Darkness when Jesus died symbolized men was doing evil by killing Jesus. Judgment day is coming. Jesus' death was preview of the full judgment on this earth.
* Mark 13:24-26 reveals that the change in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is from Pentecost to Jesus' second coming at the end of this age.
>What is the meaning of verse 21?
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' -Acts 2:21
* Includes faith, repentance, serving the Lord and prayer meetings.
* Between the first and second coming.
* The pattern and themes of the message become common in the early church (see chapters 3, 10, & 13):
1) an explanation of events
2) the gospel of Jesus Christ (death and resurrection)
3) an exhortation to repentance and baptism
* The only way to be saved is through Jesus, as he and the apostles taught.
* Peter gives a command and a promise.
II. But God Raised Him From the Dead (22-24)
>4. What are Jesus' impeccable credentials? (22)
""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. -Acts 2:22
* "Jesus of Nazareth" -Jesus had good name to common people.
* "accredited" -by God. God gave credentials of Jesus. Said it had good standing. Shows God's approval on Jesus.
* "miracles, wonders, and signs" -though visible manifestations (healing, raising the dead; water into wine, feed the five thousand, calm the storm; cast out evil spirits.)
* Signs of the Messiah. Proof he was from God and was God.
>How does Peter explain the sovereign work of God and at the same time deal with the sins of people? (23)
"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. -Acts 2:23
* "God's set purpose" -Jesus' death was not Satan's will. Satan deceived himself in thinking killing Jesus was his will and way to win against God.
* "God's set purpose" -Pointed out God's sovereignty in all of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
* "and you" -Pointed out man's accountability, the Jew's sin who were in the crowd were among those saying, "Crucify him." They believed the Roman's were guilty not themselves. Both were guilty. Paul states that our sins crucified Jesus.
* "to death" -salvation. died for the elect.
>5. What did God do for Jesus? (24a)
"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death..." -Acts 2:24a
* Bodily resurrection is God's work.
* "agony of death" -no escape, no freedom, no avoiding, no power over, mental agonies, spiritual agonies.
* Jesus overcame sin and death.
* God revealed his infinite love for man in spite of man's inner rebellious and hatred.
* Resurrection is the ultimate proof of Jesus' authenticity.
>Why is it so inevitable? (24a)
"...because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. -Acts 2:24b
* "impossible" -Jesus was without sin. Jesus is author of life. A book can't kill the author.
* "hold on him" -very visual words.
* Power of God triumphant
* Justice of God.
* Love of God.
III. David's Resurrection Faith (25-36)
>6. How does Apostle Peter show that Jesus was raised according to the Scriptures? (25-28; Psa. 16:8-11)
"I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 16:8-11
"David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' -Acts 2:25-28
* "me" -Christ.
* Uses Scripture to testify to the resurrection fact and foreknowledge. Jesus raised according to Scripture.
* "Holy One" -Jesus the Messiah.
* Verse 27 -David had resurrection faith and concept of the resurrection.
* Verse 25 -David was not shaken when he saw Jesus' resurrection.
>What is Peter's conclusion based on David's of Psalm 16? (29-31)
""Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. -Acts 2:29-31
* David's Psalm was not totally about himself but Jesus.
>7. What is the evidence of Jesus' resurrection? (32-33)
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." -Acts 2:32-33
* More than 500 witnesses. (1 Corinthians 15)
>What happened to the risen Jesus? (33-35)
"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' -Acts 2:33-35
* Psalm 110:1
* Proves Jesus exultation.
* "my Lord" -David's Lord was Jesus.
* "poured out" -another evidence.
>What is the point of Peter's message? (36)
""Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." -Acts 2:36
* To exalt Jesus.
* Point of the Pentecost event was to exalt Jesus as indicated by Peter's message.
