Peter’s Sermon – After Pentecost

At Pentecost Peter changed. First, he became more humble. But, he remained brave enough to become a powerful speaker for Christ. This post marks the account taken from Acts 2:14-41. It tells how King David foretold Jesus to be the absolute ruler of Israel.

Peter’s sermon touched hearts. And, 3,000 people came to Christ. After all, this is what Christianity is all about, isn’t it?

Peter’s Sermon – The Day of Pentecost Happened, Now What?

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. – Acts 2:22-24 NASB

The In-gathering

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. – Acts 2:37-41 NASB

Why Were People Willing to Believe During Peter’s Sermon?

In the first part of his sermon, Peter reminds the people of what happened 50 days earlier at Calvary. First, he reminded them of the miracle they had witnessed. And, he shared the power of Jesus. And finally, he taught that Jesus had the power to perform miracles and save them from their troubles.

Many of them most likely knew about (or heard about) the crucifixion and resurrection of the Rabbi. And this was Passover. So, many of the people trekked to Jerusalem.

Why Is the Resurrection so Important?

Simply stated, without the resurrection there is no reason to accept Christ as Savior. Without a doubt this event completes the circle of faith as told in the three steps.

David Foretold the Coming

David wrote Psalm 16:8-11. In it, he foretold how the Messiah would be resurrected. And remember, David himself died and was buried.

Many Jews missed this point. They looked for a physical king to sit on the throne. They waited for a military leader to overthrow the Roman government.

In reality, Jesus had the power to bring the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, empowering Peter to become a bold spokesperson for Christ.

Until now, Peter remained “on the fence” with his faith before the cross (remember the three-times denial?). But he never wavered from his mission to share the good news after that moment.

How are We Saved?

As Peter explains in verse 38 and 39, the first steps in following Christ involves repenting and be baptism. Repentance is a profound act of turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness. It signifies a heartfelt acknowledgment of one’s wrongdoings and a sincere commitment to change. This transformative step is essential for aligning oneself with God’s will and starting a new life in Christ.

What Does Baptism Mean?

Basically, baptism shows an outward expression of an inward change. And no, it’s not a magic ritual as many believe.

First, we can be sorry for our sins with no real change. But, when we hand them over to God for forgiveness, change happens.

And the good news? If we ask, He forgives us through Jesus Christ!

With that said, let’s use boldness in our faith as Peter did.

Love in Christ

– Bob

If you would like to discover more about the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to read this.