Sunday School Lessons: Acts 2 Pt. 2

 

 Lesson 4

Acts 2:14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

Who was with Peter?
To whom was Peter speaking?

These were all Jews; the church was made up of all Jews on the day of Pentecost.  (Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, ends of the earth—eventually the church would expand to include Gentile believers)

Acts 2: 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

He is saying “this is LIKE what was spoken by Joel.  How do we know this?

Acts 2: 17" 'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.
 18Even on my servants, both men and women,
      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
      and they will prophesy.
 19I will show wonders in the heaven above
      and signs on the earth below,
      blood and fire and billows of smoke.
 20The sun will be turned to darkness
      and the moon to blood
      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
 21And everyone who calls
      on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Peter is quoting this as a reminder that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was foretold.  The men were mocking the Apostles, suggesting they were drunk.  In this way, Peter is letting them know that this is nothing strange—they should have been expecting it!  We know that this isn’t a complete fulfillment of the Joel passage, though, because not everything that Joel predicted happened on that particular day.

Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But 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.

After Peter has just told them that what happened that day should not be surprising, he goes on to say two important things.

1. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection was not a surprise to God, nor did it happen outside of His control.  He determined it and He knew it would happen just the way it did.

    2.  Even though He planned it, that did not take the responsibility away from those who were responsible for bringing it about historically.

Who was responsible for bringing it about?
    Religious rulers
    Crowds
    Judas
    Roman government
    All of us, because of our sin

We needed a Savior!  Jesus went to the cross “for the joy that was set before Him (He) endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

The people that Peter was speaking to may have been part of the crowd that cried, “Crucify Him!” 

The theme of the first sermon preached in the newly formed church was about Christ—His life, His death, His burial, His resurrection!  Peter was telling them the Good News—the Gospel!

Acts 2:25David said about him:
   " 'I saw the Lord always before me.
      Because he is at my right hand,
      I will not be shaken.
 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
      my body also will live in hope,
 27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
      nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
 28You have made known to me the paths of life;
      you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

Peter is quoting Psalm 16, where David is speaking about the resurrection of Christ.  It was a prophecy that has now been fulfilled:

29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
   " 'The Lord said to my Lord:
      "Sit at my right hand
 35until I make your enemies
      a footstool for your feet." '
 36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Peter was reminding them that David could not have been talking about himself because he had died and they all knew where his grave was!  And in vs. 32, he reminds them that they were ALL witnesses of the resurrection.
Peter quotes Psalm 110 to let them know where Jesus is now and what He is doing.  He is in heaven, seated at the right Hand of the Father, and He is both Lord and Savior. 

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

This message convicted them of their sin.  They wanted to know what they should do.  Notice, these men are no longer mocking the Apostles, they are calling them “brothers.”

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Peter tells them they must repent and be baptized.
 
Review the Great Commission. 

Jesus had told the Apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and now He is here.  He will be given to all believers—those present that day and every believer that God adds to the church—all whom the Lord our God will call.

Salvation belongs to God!

Peter continued to preach and warned them against going back to their old ways.
The hearers believed Peter and were baptized that day.  Three thousand!   
These new believers’ lives were changed!  They “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread (communion) and to prayer. 

What else did they do?

How did all this change effect their lives?

Who did the signs and wonders?

Who added to the church?

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.

Comments

[Jesus]

Actually Peter did a good thing by warning them against going back to their old ways.
I like Peter's preaching.