In Search Of Truth, Acts 2

Acts, Chapter 2



The small but growing group of believers encounters God in a major way when the Holy Spirit comes to their meeting and enters into many of these new believers for the first time. (The Apostles received the Holy Spirit in at least some sense already when Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22, but this may have been the completion of the work started there.)


The Holy Spirit gives this group of believers the ability to speak in existing foreign languages that they ordinarily did not speak. Like a good historian, Luke gives very specific references to each country represented among the witnesses of this event.


Before Christ came to do his work on earth, the Holy Spirit entered and left the hearts of God's followers in response to God's will. It was unheard of for the Holy Spirit to be so commonly active in a large group of people. But Peter uses Joel 2:28-32 to remind his Jewish listeners that this kind of widespread activity from the Holy Spirit was prophesied a long time ago in connection to the time leading up to the Messiah's arrival to judge the world.


Peter makes a point here that is so often missed by our culture today. Jesus was given over to be crucified as part of God's plan for humanity. While those who crucified Jesus were responsible for their actions before God, it was also God's choice to allow Jesus to be crucified in order to pay for our mistakes and allow us to have a right relationship with God. Jesus was not just a martyr we should honor or a victim we should pity. Peter boldly states here that although evil was intended by humans, it was God's plan all along to use it for the greatest good humanity has ever known.


Peter explains that Psalm 16:11, written by King David, was a prophecy of the Messiah, who would be descended from David.


For Jesus' genealogy you can check out Matthew 1:1-16 (Genealogy from Joseph's side. Although Jesus was not related to him by blood, genealogies were valued and ordered by the male side, not the female.) and Luke 3:23-31 (A genealogy of Jesus believed to be traced on Mary's side, given the wording and the name "Eli" listed for Jacob's father. We believe Eli was very likely his father-in-law, Mary's biological father.)


Peter explains that Jesus fulfills this prophecy since, although David died, Jesus was not abandonded to Hades, nor did his body have time to undergo the ravages of decay.


Likewise, Psalm 110:1 was confusing to Jews for many years until Jesus came and provided an understanding that God is more than one in person, which is why David could say, "The Lord said to my Lord..."


Peter says that God has made Jesus both Lord (meaning master, or we might say "boss") and Christ (meaning "Anointed One" a prophetic name for the Messiah of Old Testament prophecy).


When those listening realized there was real truth in what Peter was saying, they asked him what to do. Peter uses the Greek word "metanoesate" for "repent". This word indicates regret for one's actions, but also a change of mind, resulting in a different view and understanding of things. When we are called to "repent", God wants us to recognize and have genuine regret for our sins and to have a real desire to change the way we live so we can follow God more closely.


Although some believe that the act of baptism is required for salvation, Peter doesn't use the same "command language" for this in the Greek. While we are still meant to be baptized as a tangible symbol of what God has done spiritually, it is not an act that is required in order to have the promise of forgiveness and eternal life.


Take a look at verses 42-47 and imagine what this kind of church would be like today! Imagine a church today with people who devote themselves to learning from the Bible, who have a strong sense of community, who pray together and for each other, who witness God do amazing things in their lives, who readily share their possessions and who sacrifice financially to help the poor. Imagine a church where people are sincere and aren't simply putting on "good Christian" appearances, where people genuinely love to focus on God and draw people's attention to how awesome he is and where every day there are new people coming and more that are choosing for the very first time to believe in and follow "the Christ".


Now... why don't we ask ourselves, "What can I do to help create this kind of atmosphere at my church?" It can be easy to complain and blame the leaders of our churches for not doing enough to make this kind of church a reality. But the truth is that the kind of church described here existed because EVERYONE was involved in "making it happen." Consider having a heart-to-heart talk and reality check with God this week and ask him, "What part do you want me to play?"



Next Week: More miracles and the "New and Improved Peter" keeps telling it like it is!






Coffee House Question:
What are one or two things that you would really love to be true of the people or atmosphere at a church you attend? (Not necessarily your real church, but an ideal church.)