Last week we learned about the miracle of the coming of the Holy Spirit. You may remember how the passage ended. It ended with some thinking that what was happening was so wild, that those who were filled with the Holy Spirit were actually drinking a little too much wine.
Well, that’s not what the people of God are supposed to do at all. In fact, Ephesians 5:18 says. “. . . don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit.”
You may also remember that I said the second part of Acts 2 contains an explanation of what was happening in the first part of Acts 2, the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Peter says this in Acts 2:14–15: “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.”
Peter is essentially saying, “Hey folks . . . it’s still breakfast time . . . these people are not drunk.”
Peter would then go on to explain what was actually happening when the Holy Spirit came.
As a result of what they heard, those listening would be pierced to the heart. That’s the name of today’s sermon, “Pierced to the Heart.”
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer, and then learn more about Peter’s message to those who witnessed the miracle of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
(prayer)
So, let’s recall for a moment what is happening in Acts 2:1-13.
Remember that the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a violent rushing wind (show icon).
Then, the Spirit descended upon each person in a way that was like tongues of fire (show icon).
Then, each person who was filled with the Spirit spoke in foreign languages that were not known to them (show icon).
Then, foreign people who were in Jerusalem heard of the wonders of God in their own native language (show icon).
As a result, those who witnessed this were astounded and perplexed, wondering what it could mean (show icon).
Well, Peter now explains what this means in today’s passage.
So, let’s hear from Peter and see how he handled this moment.
First, we see that . . .
I. Peter knew the Word of God.
In the midst of this wonderful supernatural occurrence, where does Peter turn to explain what is happening? He turns to the Word of God: the Bible!
So, let us turn to the Word of God now ourselves. Look at what Peter says in verses 14-21:
14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy.
19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Peter, stood up with the other eleven apostles and took the crowd to a prophecy from the Old Testament book of Joel. Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32.
Remember that those listening were primarily Jewish people who were in Jerusalem for religious celebrations. So, more than likely they knew the Scripture well, and would have been familiar with this passage that Peter is referencing.
So, Peter takes them to this prophecy to help bring light to what they are witnessing.
Peter makes the connection between what Joel prophesied, and what the Holy Spirit accomplished in Acts 2:1-13.
This prophecy includes several things, and some of it may be unclear to us in terms of how it directly connects to Acts 2:1-13 (we must remember that prophecies are sometimes mysterious).
However, some of this is an obvious connection to what happened there among those people, isn’t it?
Joel says, “I will pour out my Spirit.” We see the Spirit poured out there, don’t we?
Joel says, “your sons and daughters will prophecy.” We see the children of Israel speaking of the wonders of God in a miraculous way, don’t we? By the way, this is one of the reasons that I believe it wasn’t just the twelve apostles who spoke other languages miraculously; Joel says, “your sons and daughters.”
Joel goes on to say, “I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women.” That is what’s happening in Acts 2:1-13.
Joel also says, “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” We’ll see this fulfilled in a moment in this passage, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Notice, though, that Peter does not seek to come up with an explanation all on His own. This is the work of God and it was prophesied in the Word of God.
Peter would go on to talk about what David prophesied concerning the Messiah. Peter says that Jesus is the one of whom David spoke. We’ll cover that more in just a minute.
For now, let us notice that Peter knew the Word of God and Peter used the Word of God in His ministry to others.
Brothers and sisters, if we are going to see God do amazing things in us, we must also know the Word of God.
We must know that God created all things and called it good.
We must know that sin came into the world, bringing death, destruction, and heartache.
We must know that God hates sin, and has prepared eternal destruction and judgment for sin and sinners.
We must know that Jesus is the One who was prophesied to come as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We must know that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
We must know that Jesus brings life to a world plagued by death.
We must know that truth is better than lies. We must know that love is the most powerful force in all the world.
We must know the Word of God if we are going to do the work of God and explain the wonders of God to a watching world.
First, Peter knew the Word of God.
Second, we see that . . .
II. Peter explained the ways of God.
Let’s pick it up in verse 22. Peter said:
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. 25 For David says of him:
I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay.
28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence.
29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Ok, there’s a lot going on in these verses, but let’s try to focus on what Peter is explaining concerning the ways of God.
We see first of all that Peter shifts from Joel to David. Joel was a prophet, and David was a king. However, we see that David was also a prophet in the sense that he delivered messages from God that would later prove to be true concerning Jesus.
Notice before Peter shifts his attention to David, he gives a recap of the life and ministry of Jesus.
Look at verses 22-24.
Peter says God gave His approval to the ministry of Jesus, as was demonstrated with miracles, wonders, and signs.
Peter says that it was God’s plan to deliver Jesus to crucifixion at the hands of evil people, then God raised Jesus to new life.
Peter then concludes by saying that Jesus could not be held by death.
It is at this point that Peter transitions to the words of David from Psalm 16 and Psalm 110.
You see, David prophesied that there would be one who could not be held by death.
David prophesied that there was one whom God would not abandon to Hades (or death or the grave). He says that God would not allow His holy one to see decay.
David says that this one would find gladness in the presence of God, He would sit at God’s right hand, and God would make His enemies His footstool.
Well, of whom could David be speaking?
Many would have thought that David was speaking of himself. In some ways, he was. There was a partial fulfillment of these prophecies in the life of David.
However, there was a much greater fulfillment of these prophecies in the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Messiah, the great king of Israel who descended from the line of David and from the line of God.
Peter points out in Acts 2 that David couldn’t have been speaking of himself only. In fact, Peter says in verse 29, “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.”
Peter is essentially saying, “David did go to the grave. David did face decay. In fact, we can go visit the place where David is buried. So, David couldn’t have been prophesying primarily about himself.”
Then, Peter transitions in verse 32 to say that he and the other eleven are witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus (do you remember when Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses?”).
Then, look at verse 33. Peter boldly says, “Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear.”
Peter is saying, these people are not drunk. What is astounding and perplexing to you is nothing short of the fulfillment of prophecy. What you are seeing and witnessing is what we saw and witnessed: the work of Jesus.
Peter concludes this section by saying in verse 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Church, Jesus is both Lord and Messiah!
If we want people to experience the love and power of God, we must be able to take the Bible and what people are experiencing, put that together, and point them to Jesus, who is both Lord and Messiah.
Peter explained the ways of God to those who were there, so they could understand how Jesus completely fulfilled all that God said He would fulfill, and He was working miracles in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter explained the ways of God.
Finally, we see that . . .
III. Peter was used to do the will of God.
God was doing something special that day, and He would use Peter to do it.
Look at verses 37-41:
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.
When people witnessed the wonders of God, heard the Word of God, and had the ways of God explained to them, then the will of God was lived out in their lives and about 3,000 people were added to the church that day.
Peter said this gift was for “as many as the Lord our God will call.”
The prophecy of Joel said, “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
That day, the Lord God called on about 3,000 people, then they called upon the name of the Lord and they were saved.
What a wonderful work it was as Peter was used to carry out the will of God in the lives of those 3,000 people and in the unleashing of the earth church.
That takes us nicely to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: God can and will work through His people to do wonders.
Church, do you believe this? Do you believe that God is still in the business of working wonders?
May we know the Word of God, may we explain the ways of God, and may we be used to do the will of God, as God works wonders among us.
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Commit to know the Word and ways of God.
If we want to be used by God, we should seek to know God. Let’s dive into His Word to discover more about Him and His ways. The Bible is a treasure; have you discovered this treasure?
Weekly Challenge #2 – Commit to do the will of God.
Are you ready to do what God wants you to do? Are we as a church ready to do what God wants us to do?
Commit yourself to do the will of God.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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