Chapter 361 of 957

Peter’S Message

PETER’S MESSAGE

ACTS 2:14-28

Certain Old Testament promises stated that one day the Jews would know God’s power again. Peter claims this was coming to pass.

Verses 14-21. The secret of early Christian testimony to “the mighty works of God” (2:11) is the Spirit, giving them an exuberance and confidence which was mistaken for drunkenness (2:13; cf. Ephesians 5:18). And the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are traced to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (2:16): “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” This citation from the Old Testament underlines a number of basic apostolic convictions:

The church is living in a new era of God’s dealings with men, following directly upon the cross and triumph of Jesus. These are “the last days” (2:17: Hebrews 1:1-2 is the best commentary on this phrase);

The work of the Holy Spirit, restricted in the Old Testament to special persons, is now enlarged to include all believers in Jesus as the Messiah (2:17-18);

The Messianic age is often referred to in Jewish literature as the time of God’s “salvation” (2:21). Peter goes on to declare that that promised time has arrived. The age-to-come has come! See 1 Corinthians 10:11.

2:22-28. Peter goes to the heart of the matter by showing how the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth have inaugurated this new chapter in God’s relations with the world. We must mark again some vital emphases of Christian conviction:

Jesus’ ministry was that of “a Man appointed by God”—ie Messianic (2:22);

His death at the hands of the Romans was no accident, but part of God’s age-old plan (2:23);

Peter’s reference to Psalm 16:25-28 illustrates again the use of Old Testament “testimonies”—ie Scripture passages which point to the Age of the Messiah, now begun. Paul will use the same thought in a later sermon (13:33ff.).

Notes 2:15: “third hour” = 9 a.m.; and on that day a fast was observed until mid-morning. 2:17: the promised Spirit comes on all, irrespective of class and sex (Galatians 3:14,28; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). 2:21: the key word is “saved,” but given here a richer meaning than in Joel 2:28ff. 2:22: a reference to Jesus’ Galilean ministry, evidently known in Jerusalem. 2:24: read “snares set by death.”

To think over What criterion decides the literal (2:27) and non-literal (2:19-20) fulfillment of prophecy?

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