Introduction
An architect's impression of the temple at Jerusalem where the early believers met (v 46).
Peter gives his message in the temple after the apostles have received the Holy Spirit. Having denied Jesus three times, he now witnesses fearlessly in Jerusalem. He tells his hearers that repentance, belief and baptism are all essential.
Verses
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7They were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath:
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
and signs on the earth beneath:
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him amongst you, even as you yourselves know,
23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
29“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
36“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptised. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
47praising God, and having favour with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
Questions
1. After receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles went out to speak to the people. Why were the people surprised by what they heard?
v 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
2. When Peter told them that they had crucified the "Christ" , the people asked what they should do. What was Peter’s reply?
v 38 .... Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. What did those "who gladly received his word (and) were baptised" do afterwards?
v 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 13 The apostles receive special Holy Spirit powers enabling them to give their message in the languages of people from many countries listening to them
- v 14 to 21 Peter explains that what they had just seen was predicted by the Old Testament prophet Joel (ch. 2 v 28 to 32)
- v 22 to 40 Peter preaches some first-century Christian beliefs to fellow Jews. He says that all who are baptised will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
- v 41 Those who receive the message are baptised
- v 42 to 47 The newly baptised believers share everything and meet together in the temple. Their basis is the apostles' teaching, breaking of bread and prayer
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