The Apostles Receive the Spirit, 2:1-4.
[1] Acts 2 is one of the most important chapters in the New Testament. It tells about the beginning of the church. For a long time, God had planned for the establishment of the church. Isaiah was a prophet of God who lived more than seven hundred years before the coming of Christ. He predicted that the Word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4). Jesus taught that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47). Some years after this Day of Pentecost, Peter looked back at the events there and spoke of them as the “beginning” (Acts 11:15).
The Day of Pentecost was a Jewish feast day. It came fifty days after the Sabbath of the Passover week. This means it fell on the day after the seventh sabbath or what we call Sunday (Leviticus 23:15).
Those gathered together were the twelve apostles. They were in a house and continued to wait for the coming of the Spirit.
[2-4] Here we see the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise concerning the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5). Note that the text does not say there was literal “wind” or tongues of “fire.” These words are used to describe in symbolic terms the coming of the spirit. These apostles received a complete filling of the Spirit. The purpose of this event was to prepare the apostles for their work in establishing the church.
The immediate result of the coming of the Spirit was seen as the apostles began to speak in tongues. In this case, the ability to speak in tongues was a gift of the Spirit. This gift was the ability to speak in a language they did not know. The text does not say that they spoke in some “heavenly or unknown tongue.” Rather, they spoke in known languages which they had not previously used. They spoke in the various languages of the people who gathered to hear them. Other gifts of the Spirit are mentioned later (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
The Multitude Is Amazed, 2:5-13.
[5] Jews from many nations were present on that Day of Pentecost. Look at a map and locate the nations mentioned here in verses nine through eleven. When they heard a surprising sound, they all came to see what was happening.
[6-13] The multitude was confused because they heard the apostles speaking in their own languages. They knew that this was not natural. Note that the apostles were speaking in known languages. The events were not at all like what some denominations claim they were. You may hear some people making sounds, claiming to be speaking in tongues. Tongue-speaking in the New Testament was a gift of the Spirit. It allowed one to speak in a language which he had not studied, but it was always a true language (1 Corinthians 14:27-35).
Peter and Others Preach the First Gospel Sermon, 2:14-39.
[14-15] Peter stood with the other apostles to explain what was happening. This was the fulfillment of prophecy. Those who heard Peter were Jews. They knew the Law and recognized the word of the prophets.
[16-18] The words which Peter refers to were from the prophet Joel. Joel had spoken of events to come in the “last days.” These words are used several times in the Bible. They refer to the last period of time, which is the Christian age. It is the time of the kingdom of Christ, the time from when the church began to exist until Christ comes again.
Joel wrote that God would pour forth His Spirit upon all people. At this time, God sent His Spirit to the world. Christ had promised that the Spirit would come to the apostles. In many places in the New Testament, we can read about the activity of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:26; Galatians 5:16-17, 25).
The present is tied to the past. The Jews often remembered their ancestors, just as many people do today. God had revealed Himself clearly to the Jewish ancestors, and they had written down the laws and promises of God. The Old Testament was a book of remembrance. But it spoke of a new law, and Jesus brought this new law (Galatians 4:4-7). The Holy Spirit was to guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). The events of this chapter marked the beginning of this new covenant (law) (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 1:1-2). We now have this complete Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This is more than any of our ancestors had.
Not all the events mentioned in this prophecy occurred on the Day of Pentecost. Prophesying, visions, dreams, and other things will be seen as we study further in the Book of Acts. Joel simply prophesied that miraculous events would occur when the Spirit was given. To discover just who would perform those miracles or to know the purpose of them, we have to study in other places (Luke 24:46-49; Acts 8:17-18, 10:1-28; 1 Cor. 12:1-14; John 20:30-31).
[19-21] Before the end of the Christian age, great wonders will be seen. In the Book of Revelation, we can read about some of these things. The important thing for us to remember for today is that salvation is in the name of the Lord. We must turn to Him. We must follow His law.
The New Covenant offers man a new relationship with God. This relationship brings us close to God, in the same way that we are close to members of our own clan. All tribes have rites which bring people into adult status in the clan. Some use circumcision. In Christianity, immersion (baptism) brings one into this covenant relationship. Jesus called this a new birth (John 3:1-5). Just as we are expected to be totally loyal to and united with our clan, so are we to be loyal and united as Christians. When people are not loyal, they are condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
Acts 2:22-28
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you. God proved this by the powerful and amazing things which He did through Jesus among you. You know this is true. 23 You killed this man Jesus by handing him over to lawless men. They nailed him to a cross. But God knew ahead of time that all this would occur; it was part of His plan which He made long ago. 24 Jesus suffered the pains of death, but God set him free. God raised Jesus up from death. It was impossible for death to hold him. 25 This is what David said about Jesus: ‘I always saw the Lord before me, because He is at my right side to keep me secure. 26 So, my heart was glad and my mouth spoke with joy. Yes, even my body will live with hope, 27 because You won’t abandon my soul in death. You will not allow the body of Your holy one to decay in the grave. 28 You taught me how to live. You came near me, and I felt great joy.’ ” Psalm 16:8-11
[22-23] To see the many ways in which Christ had been approved by God, we should read the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Here Peter referred only briefly to the many miracles Jesus performed. They all showed His great power. They proved that He was the Son of God. The people who saw the miracles of Christ could not deny His power. We have a written record of His miracles. When we read of these things, the evidence leads us to believe in Him. John said that these were written “that you might believe” (John 20:30-31). We do not have to see a miracle to believe in Christ. His miracles are confirmed in the Bible, and we can believe when we read.
Peter knew that the people had seen the power of Christ. He also knew that they had delivered up the innocent Christ to death. Read the story of the determination of the Jews to kill Christ, even though they knew He was innocent of their charges (Matthew 27).
Peter also shows that what was done was according to the plan of God. Many Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah. They taught that the Messiah would bring salvation to the people. God knew the power of Satan and of sin. He wanted to help man to overcome this evil. Man did not have the power within himself to pay for his sins.
Animal sacrifices could not adequately pay for sin. Man from the beginning of time has sought to be forgiven for his sins. Often he offered animal sacrifices. But such sacrifices could not cover sin (Hebrews 10:1-10). To help man in his efforts to be cleansed of sin, God planned to send Christ. Christ was willing to give His own body on the cross as a sacrifice for sin. When Christ did this, He opened a way for man to be free from his sins. No more animal sacrifices would have to be made. If man would accept Christ and follow His way, Christ would cleanse man of his sins.
[24] On the third day, God raised up Christ from the grave. He was freed from the pains of death. This means He was released from the imprisonment of death. Satan could not hold the Son of God in death. When Christ rose from the dead, He proved Himself a greater power than Satan (Colossians 2:15; Matthew 12:29; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14-15). When we follow Christ, He is our Saviour. We have access to His great power. We need no longer fear Satan or his evil powers.
[25-28] Peter gave evidence of the resurrection by showing that it was in the plan of God and spoken of by the prophets. David had spoken of the Lord. David had felt His presence, and his hope was in the Lord. David said the Lord would not experience decay. His soul would not be left in Hades. David meant that the Lord’s flesh would not decay in the grave; neither would His soul be left in Hades, the place of the departed spirits. With these words, David was speaking of the time of the death of Christ and His return from the grave.
Acts 2:29-36
29 “My Jewish brothers, I can tell you plainly about David, our ancestor. He died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today. 30 David was a prophet. God vowed to David that one of his descendants would sit upon David’s throne. 31 David knew this before it took place. That is why David said this: ‘He will not be left in death. His body will not decay in the grave.’ Psalm 16:10 David was talking about the Messiah rising from death. 32 So Jesus, not David, is the one whom God raised from death! We are all eye-witnesses of this! 33 Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now Jesus is with God – at His right side. The Father has now given the promise of the Holy Spirit to Jesus. So now, Jesus poured out this which you see and hear. 34 David did not go up to heaven. It was Jesus. David himself said: ‘The Lord God said to my Lord. “Sit at My right side 35 until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘ Psalm 110:1 36 “Therefore, all the people of Israel can be sure of this one thing: God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, this man whom you nailed to the cross!”
[29] David died long ago. The tomb where he was buried was known. Therefore, David was not speaking of himself. He was a prophet and spoke of the resurrection of Christ.
[30-31] David was a prophet of God. God had promised him that one of his own descendants would sit on the throne of God. We know from the lineage of Christ given in Matthew chapter one that Christ was truly of the family of David.
The body of Christ had been laid in a new tomb (Matthew 27:60). After three days, the tomb was empty. Angels had come and had testified of the resurrection (return from the grave). Romans had been guarding the tomb. They had been amazed at the things which happened there. After His resurrection, Jesus had appeared to many (1 Corinthians 15:4-6). He spent forty days with many people before His ascension to heaven. They saw that He was alive. His body had not decayed, for He had the power to defeat Satan.
[32-33] Peter and the other apostles were witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. They had seen Him and felt Him with their own hands (John 20:19-29; Luke 24:39; 1 John 1:1-4). Following His resurrection and after appearing to many, Christ went up to heaven. There He took His place at the right hand of the Father. He then sent the Spirit as He had promised. The miraculous events of Pentecost were the evidences of the coming of the Spirit.
[34-35] It was not David who ascended to God. But he prophesied of the ascension of Christ. There in heaven, Christ would rule His kingdom.
[36] After considering the evidence from David, Peter taught that Jesus was Lord and Christ. The very one whom the Jews had crucified between two common thieves God had raised up to be King and Saviour.
Acts 2:37-47
37 When the people heard this, they felt a sharp, cutting pain in their conscience. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 38 Then Peter answered, “Change your hearts and each one of you must be immersed by the authority of Jesus the Messiah, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you and for your children. It is also for people who are far away, for everyone whom the Lord our God may call.” 40 Peter was warning them with many other words; he was encouraging them, saying, “Be saved from this twisted generation of people!” 41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were immersed. On that day, about 3,000 people were added to the group of believers. 42 After this, the believers dedicated themselves to learning the teaching of the apostles, to sharing with each other, to eating the supper of the Lord, and to prayer.43 God was using the apostles to do many powerful and amazing things; every person felt great respect for God. 44 All of the believers stayed together. They shared everything. 45 They sold their property and the things they owned and they were dividing the money, giving it to anyone who needed it. 46 Every day the believers met together with the same purpose in the temple courtyard. They ate together in their homes, eating their food with joyful hearts. They were very happy. 47 The believers were praising God. All of the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding them to the congregation.
[37] The Jews were convinced by the evidence. They realized that they had killed the Son of God. Sorrow and regret entered their hearts as they realized how big their sin was. What could one do who had done such evil? Could there be any escape from such a sin? Turning to diviners and appealing to ancestors are not the answers. Sin is against God. They were told how to get forgiveness.
[38] In answer to their question, Peter replied that they had to repent and be immersed (baptized). Repentance means a change of heart, mind, and life. It means a change from the former hatred and rejection of Jesus to love and obedience to Him. Baptism is immersion in water in the name of Jesus.
The true translation of the word “baptize” is immerse. Many denominations teach that one may be “baptized” either by immersion in water or by having water sprinkled on the head. The practice of sprinkling for baptism is not found in the New Testament. The universal practice of the early church was to immerse a person in water.
These two requirements given by Peter – repentance and immersion – must be studied seriously. Christ requires these two things of one who wants to be saved. They were essential elements in the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48). Jesus stated what was required for one to be saved. Throughout the Book of Acts, these two important requirements were given when explaining how people were converted.
Attached to these two requirements of repentance and immersion are two promises. One is the forgiveness of sins. When people come to the Lord through repentance and baptism, their sins are forgiven. The other promise is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift is the Holy Spirit Himself. The body of the Christian is called the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The Holy Spirit is said to dwell in the Christian (Romans 8:9). This is not the same as possession by an evil Spirit. This is not the same as the Messiah coming to earth in a human body (the incarnation). This is divine fellowship that Christians now have with God because Jesus’ sacrifice removes our sin. The HOLY Spirit of God can now be in fellowship with us. We are no longer separated from God. We are no longer alone. The Apostle John explains.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:13-16
It is a popular doctrine of man that one’s sins are forgiven the moment he believes in Christ. This doctrine is not taught in the Bible. We can read of many cases in which men believed, but were not saved (John 12:42; Luke 8:13). A man named Cornelius believed in God but was not saved until he heard the words of Peter and obeyed (Acts 11:14-17). Faith in Christ is necessary, but unless it leads the believer to obey the teachings of Christ, it will profit him nothing.
[39] The promise of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit was to be extended to all people (Acts 5:32; Galatians 4:6). But it was a conditional promise. It was to be received only by those who repented and were immersed. The children referred to here are not infants. They are the generations to come.
The Effect of the Sermon and the Progress of the Church, 2:40-47.
[40-41] Many accepted Peter’s teaching and gladly turned from their sins. What a marvellous beginning for the church! What a great victory for Christ to see about 3,000 souls saved on the very day the church started. What those people did then to be saved is exactly what is required of people today.
[42] They spent their days in fellowship and thanksgiving to God. Much time was spent in listening to the teachings of the apostles and in searching out the will of God. They continued in fellowship, which means the sharing of life together. They were continually with other Christians. They were praising God and talking of the great salvation of God. The “breaking of bread” refers to the fellowship meal of communion (the Lord’s Supper). Previously, Christ had instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29). These new Christians remembered the Lord’s sacrifice every first day of the week (Acts 20:7) as we should also do today (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). They also spent much time in prayer.
[43] Many great things happened in those days. The apostles had the power to perform miracles.
[44-45] During that time, Christians shared their possessions. This was a voluntary sharing of goods and not a requirement for being, a Christian. That it was voluntary is seen in the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).
[46] The early Christians continued to go to the temple. While they lived under the Old Testament, they had worshipped in the temple. Now they were under a different law, but they worshipped the same God. The temple was a good place to meet, so they continued to meet there, even though their form of worship had changed. As Christians, they followed the teachings of the apostles, and these teachings later became the New Testament.
[47] Many were saved in those days. Christians were busy teaching people about Christ. Every day sinners turned to the Lord. When they repented of their sins, they were immersed. In this way, their sins were forgiven. This made them members of the Lord’s church. They did not have to wait a long time or finish a catechism class before they could be immersed. They were added to the church by God Himself. They were born into the family of God (John 3:1-5).
Acts 3:1-16
3 1 One day Peter and John went up to the temple courtyard. It was three o’clock in the afternoon. (This was the time for prayer.) 2 A man was there who had been crippled all his life. He couldn’t walk, so some friends carried him to the temple every day. They put him beside one of the gates outside the temple. It was called Beautiful Gate. There the man begged for money from the people who were going into the temple area. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go in, he began to ask them for money. 4 They looked straight at the crippled man and answered, “Look at us!” 5 He looked at them, thinking that they might give him some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold, but I do have something else I can give you: By the authority of Jesus the Messiah “from Nazareth – walk!” 7 Then Peter took hold of the man’s right hand and lifted him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and legs became strong. 8 He jumped up and stood on his feet and he began to walk around. He went into the temple courtyard with them. He was walking and jumping and praising God. 9-10 All of the people recognized him. The people knew he was the beggar who always sat by the temple’s Beautiful Gate. Now they saw him walking and praising God. They were shocked and amazed. They couldn’t understand how this could have happened. 11 The man was holding onto Peter and John. All of the people were stunned. They ran to Peter and John at Solomon’s Porch. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? You are staring at us as though our power made this man walk. Do you think this was done because we are good? 13 No! God did it! He is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob – the same God of all our ancestors. He gave glory to Jesus, His special servant, but you handed Jesus over to evil men. You rejected him in front of Pilate after Pilate had already decided to let him go free. 14 Jesus was holy and innocent, but you said you didn’t want him. You told Pilate to give you a murderer instead of Jesus. 15 And so, you killed the one who gives life, but God raised him from death. We saw this with our own eyes. 16 It was the authority of Jesus which made this crippled man well. This happened because we trusted in the power of Jesus. You can see this man and you know him. He was made completely well because of trusting in Jesus. You all saw it happen!”