Lesson 3: Who Is The Lord? (Acts 2.1-36)

Chapter 1 centered around the ascension of Jesus, the Son of God returning to the Father and being given dominion over all things as He sat at the Father’s right hand (see Daniel 7.13-14; Mark 16.19; Ephesians 1.20-23). But even though Jesus had left this earth, He only did so after preparing the apostles to bear witness for Him. In this lesson we will examine how the apostles bore witness to the fact that Jesus is Lord.

Two passages stand out in the text. The first is the final portion of the quotation from Joel: “and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2.21). The time of salvation was upon them, all they needed to do was call on the Lord! But who was the Lord? This is answered by the second passage: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2.36).

Notes From The Text

Vss. 1-4, The Promised Spirit Arrives

• vs. 1, Pentecost: literally means “fiftieth” and refers to the Feast of Weeks which was celebrated 50 days after the Passover (see Leviticus 23.15-21; Deuteronomy 16.9-12). This was one of three annual feasts which Jewish males were required to attend (Deuteronomy 16.16), but in the 1st century as many Jews were still dispersed from Palestine, Pentecost was likely the best attended of all the feast days. It occurred in early Summer following the grain harvest, thus an easier time of year to travel and an occasion of thanksgiving. Later Jewish tradition associated the Feast of Weeks with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
• Vss. 1-4, the Promise fulfilled:
  • There is some debate as to who the “they” in vs. 1 refers to: the 12 apostles or the 120 disciples (1.15). I am convinced that it was the 12. They were the ones Jesus made the promise to in 1.5,8. The antecedent of “they” is “apostles” in 1.26. It was clearly the 12 who spoke on the day of Pentecost (see 2.37). Furthermore, we do not read of any disciple other than the apostles performing miracles until the 7 men of Acts 6 are chosen and the apostles laid their hand on them. Also, they are referred to as “Galileans” in vs. 7, another indication that Jesus’ 12 apostles are meant.
  • That the Spirit is likened to wind and fire in vss. 2-3 is significant. In Ezekiel’s vision of the valley filled with dry bones, it is God’s life-giving breath which arrives like the wind (Ezekiel 37.1-14; cf. John 3.8). God appeared in fire when He commissioned Moses to rescue His people (Exodus 3.2-5) and again when He descended on Sinai to enter into covenant with the people (Exodus 19.18).
  • Jesus had promised that they would receive power when the Spirit came upon them (Acts 1.8). In vs. 4 we see the effect of that power: the Spirit empowered them to “speak in other tongues”, i.e. languages which they had never studied. That these were actual languages and not some “celestial tongue” is evident from vss. 6-8)

Vss. 5-13, The Multitude Gathers

• Vs. 5, it is estimated that the population of Jerusalem would swell from 100,000 inhabitants to as much as 1,000,000 during a feast such as Pentecost.
• Vss. 6-8, these Jews were from across the Roman empire (see vss. 9-11). Each area would have had it’s own regional language, and it is these which those assembled are hearing. Their marvel at the event was only increased by the fact that the speakers were from Galilee, a despised region (see John 7.52).
• Vss. 9-11, compare this with Genesis 10-11. In Genesis 10 we have the list of nations which descended from Noah (representing many of the same areas found in this passage). In Genesis 11 the people are scattered when God confuses their language. Now, God is using their languages to bring salvation!
• Vss. 12-13, two different responses are recorded. Some were amazed and wanted to know what this could possibly mean, others had already made up their minds and so could only mock. You will note that they are all described as “devout men” in vs. 5. The point: you can be devout and still miss it if you allow preconceived notions to cloud your mind, preventing you from listening to the message of God.

Vss. 14-21, Peter Explains What Has Happened

• Vs. 15, “third hour of the day” = 9am. He was responding to mockery, not a real accusation. This response shows just how absurd their mocking was.
• Vss. 16-21, Joel’s prophecy
  • Peter quotes from Joel 2.28-32. The context of Joel was of a great horde of locust which would devour all the produce of the land. The people are summoned to the Temple and called to repent (Joel 2.12-17) and in response the Lord would send healing rains (Joel 2.23). But a greater blessing was coming (Joel 2.28-32). The fact that this blessing was poured out on the day of Pentecost, when the people gave thanks for the harvest, was not by accident.
  • The “last days” is referred to throughout the Old Testament as the time when God’s plans are fulfilled (see Isaiah 2.2; Micah 4.1; Daniel 2.28,44-5). It is an accurate description for the epoch inaugurated by Jesus, an epoch that concludes with His return.
  • Apocalyptic language is used in vs. 19-21. While we are tempted to think of the end of the world, such language was used in the Old Testament to refer to changes in world order (see Isaiah 13.10-13; Ezekiel 32.7). The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus brought about a total upheaval of the world order, so such language is fitting. If looking for a literal fulfillment of these signs, one might look at the events surrounding Jesus’ death (see Matt. 27.51-53; Luke 23.44-45). 
  • Peter’s point in using the prophecy is that God had promised to pour out His Spirit and that prophecy would result. Now, there are both limited and universal applications of this promise. As we will see, there is a sense in which every believer received the Spirit, but prophecy was never a guaranteed gift of any believer. As others have said, the GIFT of the Spirit must be differentiated from the GIFTS of the Spirit.
  • It was the coming of the Spirit that signaled the great Promise of God could now be fulfilled. Now, all who call on the Lord (i.e. put their utmost faith and trust in Him) could be saved (vs. 21). Note that in the Hebrew text of Joel 2.32, “Lord” is the sacred name of God (Yahweh). Peter’s sermon will prove that Jesus is, in fact, Lord!

Vss. 22-36, Peter Bears Witness For Jesus

1. Jesus’ life and death (vss. 22-23)
   1. Vs. 22, Jesus’ miracles were a means of God bearing witness (see Mark 16.20; Hebrews 2.3-4).
   2. Vs. 23, Jesus’ death was not an accident but the fulfillment of God’s purpose (see 1Peter 1.20). Note: this did not absolve the people of their guilt for rejecting Jesus (see vs. 36). “lawless men” could refer to the Romans or to the fact that the Jewish leaders circumvented the Law to condemn Jesus.
2. Jesus’ resurrection (vss. 24-32)
   1. vs. 24, “not possible for him to be held by it” because all occurred according to the definite plan of God (see vs. 23).
   2. Peter’s first proof for the resurrection of Jesus is from Scripture (vss. 25-31). He quotes from Psalm 16.8-11 and alludes to 2Samuel 7.12-16. The promise to establish David’s kingdom wasn’t fulfilled in Solomon, but in Jesus. His reign is eternal because He was raised from the dead, the very resurrection which David prophesied in Psalm 16.
   3. Peter’s second proof was their eyewitness testimony (vs. 32).
3. Jesus’ ascension (vss. 33-35)
   1. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit furnished Peter’s first proof for the ascension of Jesus (vs. 33). Remember Joel’s prophesy was that Jehovah would pour out the Spirit (see Joel 2.28-29; Acts 2.17-18). The fact that Jesus poured out the Spirit speaks to His exaltation!
   2. Scripture once again provided proof for Jesus’ exaltation (vss. 34-35; Psalm 110.1).
4. Conclusion: Jesus is Lord and Christ! (vs. 36)

Kingdom Takeaway: Jesus’ Reign IS Good News!

While on the earth Jesus proclaimed “the gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 4.23). The gospel isn’t simply that our sins are forgiven, it’s that there is a King who reigns; a King who has power over sin and death. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost not only showed the people their guilt in rejecting the King, but heralded that both forgiveness from sin and the promise of the Spirit were now available. They’re available because Jesus is King!