Acts 2:22-24:
Feb 2. 2013:
Act 2 is just overflowing with so many wonderful points. Today, I am going to just list the ones that really spoke to me. Comments welcome.
Verses 1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Again, we see them all together. Can you imagine what it was like to have the power of the Holy Spirit move like a violent wind from Heaven. They began to speak in tongues “as the Spirit enabled them”. The gift and ability to speak in tongues MUST come from the Spirit enabling us, in order to do His work. In the next verses (5-13), we see that those with the gift were able to understand, “interpret,” what was being said. We also see in 13, that evidently, some did not have understanding and mocked them. Is that how the world is in today’s time? Those who are true believers understand the work we must do and we “look different” from those around us. Those who are not, mock and make fun because without the “eyes of the Spirit”, they do not understand.
In the next section, we see an explanation by Peter and he shares the prophecy from Joel of the wonders and visions of God.
In verses 22-24, Peter talks to these “men of Israel” and shares with them that Jesus was sent by God, to them, showing signs of miracles, wonders, and signs. But God had a set purpose and foreknowledge that these men of Israel and wicked men would put him to death on the cross. And then we see one of my favorite phrases in the Bible, ““BUT GOD” raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, BECAUSE it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Now THAT is the power of the Holy Spirit!! Have you been “raised from the dead?” We are all “dead in our sin”. Only through the power of God calling us out of death, can we be raised to a life in Him. Without that, we are helpless in our death and no hope of salvation.
Verse 25-28 is such an inspiration for me. “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.”” Are you often “shaken”? If the Lord is before you, you do not have to be. We can rejoice, be glad, and have hope, because that same Holy Spirit that raised Christ is the same Holy Spirit that raises us to life and dwells in us today.
In 29-36, Peter continues to share the Promise to David as the one who would “sit on the throne” was Jesus, the Christ. He also reminds them that they have witnessed the resurrection of Christ, and this same Jesus was the one THEY crucified. And then in verse 37, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.” When we realize it was OUR sin, OUR guilt, OUR pride, OUR place that Jesus took upon himself, so that we may have LIFE, does it “cut to your heart?” How can we really understand that and not be effected? They even asked, “what can we do?”
Verses 38-39 is instruction on what they must do. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Repentance is a “turning from sin.” It is much easier to confess our sin, than to repent of our sin. We also see again that not everyone receives the “Holy Spirit”, but even those who are “far off” can be called by the Lord our God, to repentance.
Peter continued to plead with them and warn them. How many are we pleading with to come to Christ? How many are we warning of the wrath of God?
In verses 44-47, we see the heart of the first church. They had everything in common, they gave all they had for others as they had need, they met together EVERYDAY, sharing meals, praising God, and enjoying each other. And through this, the Lord added to their number daily, those who were being saved.
My prayer is that we can experience God’s power, and understand the agony Christ suffered, in our place, that we can be “cut to the heart” for acts of sin, that we can plead and warn those who are not “in Christ”, that we can have the same communion and fellowship that this first group of believers had, so that the Lord will add to our number daily, all for the Glory of God. Amen
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