Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: apostles

Acts 5 Not so fast to justice – Gamaliel – גַּמְלִיאֵל
Who is this man Gamaliel?

An angel brought the Apostles out of their prison cell, unbeknownst to the ruling council of Jerusalem who are about to try them for speaking the Name of Jesus AGAIN. When they discover that the Apostles somehow once again preach to the people in the Temple, they order the captain of the guard to bring them back to trial. He does so without violence or strong-armed coercion. Gamaliel in ‘a word to the wise’ cautions the Sanhedrin against zeal in their haste to prevail.
Who is this man Gamaliel?
ACTS 5: Advice from Gamaliel
Gamaliel = “my recompenser is God” Γαμαλιήλ
‘Take heed to yourselves’
Gamaliel advises them to cease and desist
Tehillim (Psalms) 37 :
θεομάχος – Fighting against God
Encouraging the persecuted church three decades later
The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem
Arrested AND Released

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. – Acts 5:29 NKJV

And as Simon Peter now enrages some by his boldness of speech, an important leader of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel, stands and orders the Apostles to be removed from their court before sentencing.

He is not the high priest or even a member of the majority leading party of Sadducees. But the Pharisee Gamaliel obviously holds a high position of accountability as a minority leader who is involved in these proceedings.

ACTS 5: Advice from Gamaliel

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.
Acts 5:34 NKJV

35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [be careful] take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men [referring to the outspoken Apostles Peter and John].

Gamaliel = “my recompenser is God” Γαμαλιήλ

Why do enraged leaders who demand instant justice even listen to reason?

Gamaliel holds a reputation of wise council and teaching respected even by those with other beliefs. In addition to God’s providential intervention (as Luke has just shown us by the angel’s leading of the Apostles back to the temple), Gamaliel is a political VIP. Look at his resume (below).

His Name:

Γαμαλιήλ, ὁ, (גַּמְלִיאֵל recompense of God [God, the Avenger, Fürst]; Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:20), indeclinable (source: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1059: Γαμαλιήλ)

Gamaliel (distinguished by the Jews from his grandson of the same name by the title הַזָּקֵן, the elder),
- a Pharisee and doctor of the law,
- son of R. Simeon, grandson of Hillel, and
- teacher of the apostle Paul.
- He is said to have had very great influence in the Sanhedrin, and to have died [~A.D. 52} eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem.
- A man of permanent renown among the Jews: Acts 5:34; Acts 22:3.
```
Recall now in hearing this caution of Gamaliel to Jerusalem's leaders in about A.D. 33 that Luke records these ACTS for readers some thirty years later after A.D. 61.
```
‘Take heed to yourselves’

And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men.
ACTS 5:35 NASB – Caution to the leaders of Jerusalem by Rabbi Gamaliel

The renowned rabbi Gamaliel gives them solid examples WHY the other leaders ought to be careful before they make a rash judgment against the Apostles.
- 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.
  - [YET] He was killed,
  - all his followers were dispersed,
  - and it all came to nothing.
- 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led [drew away] a band of people in revolt.
  - He too was killed,
  - and all his followers were scattered.
```
These revolts from various Jewish wars against their Roman masters likely remained familiar to the Jews at the time Luke wrote ACTS of the Apostles just a few years before the fall of Jerusalem.
```
Gamaliel advises them to cease and desist

38 And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away [ἀφίστημι] from these men and leave them alone..

[As the rabbi likely paused here.. and as Gamaliel would have done frequently with his disciples to let his teaching sink in.. those hearing this respected Pharisee awaited his reason for such advice..]

..for if the source of this plan or movement is men, it will be overthrown..

[Of course, every man must have thought..]

but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
Acts of the Apostles 5:39 – the caution of Gamaliel to religious rulers of Jerusalem
```
[Oh.. (and perhaps some would have thought of the Psalm of David)]
```
Tehillim (Psalms) 37 :

כִּי יְהוָה אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹב אֶת־חֲסִידָיו לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָרוּ וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽת׃
Psalm 37:28 WLC
```
A Psalm of David.
Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And decay like the green plants.
```
For the LORD loves justice
And does not abandon His godly ones;
They are protected forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
Psalm 37:28 NASB20

θεομάχος – Fighting against God

Therefore Gamaliel concludes:

But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Acts of the Apostles 5:39 NLT

40 His speech persuaded them.

They called the apostles in and had them flogged.

Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Encouraging the persecuted church three decades later

PUBLISHED ~A.D. 61 + Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church

Luke tells us in these early stories of the ACTS of the CHURCH and of the APOSTLES in JERUSALEM why the Gospel JESUS CHRIST will cause believers much suffering.

Gamaliel, now known as the Apostle Paul’s mentor, has also died by now. History will continue to prove him right as the Church grows in Jerusalem, BUT NOT without much suffering.

Therefore, the early readers of ACTS will be personally encouraged by the example of the Apostles Luke records at the end of this section about the Church in Jerusalem.

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem

There is scarcely another period in history so full of vice, corruption, and disaster as the six years between the Neronian persecution and the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophetic description of the last days by our Lord began to be fulfilled before the generation to which he spoke had passed away, and the day of judgment seemed to be close at hand. So the Christians believed and had good reason to believe.

Under the last governors, Felix, Festus, Albinus, and Florus, moral corruption and the dissolution of all social ties, but at the same time the oppressiveness of the Roman yoke, increased every year.

At last, in the month of May, A.D. 66, under the last procurator, Gessius Florus (from 65 onward), a wicked and cruel tyrant who, as Josephus says, was placed as a hangman over evil-doers, an organized rebellion broke out against the Romans, but at the same time a terrible civil war also between different parties of the revolters themselves, especially between the Zealots, and the Moderates, or the Radicals and Conservatives.
Source: BibleHub.org – History of the Christian Church, Volume I — Philip Schaff

ACTS of the Apostles continued..

5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.
Acts of the Apostles 5:42 NASB20
```
And .. To Be Continued...
```
December 4, 2021
Arrested AND Released
So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out..
Acts of the Apostles 5:18-19a – CSB

ACTS of Arrests witnessed by the Apostles

Politically motivated religious leaders of Jerusalem now begin to develop a dossier of accusations against Peter, John and the Apostles, because as disciples of the Messiah Jesus they boldly proclaim the Lord’s resurrection from His horrific death on a cross.

As they once again imprison the Apostles, let’s look back briefly at what Annas, Caiaphas and the ruling council of Jerusalem have on them. Herod’s palace records also add evidence.

Simon, a Galilean fisherman, aka Peter, had been a disciple of John the Baptist.

John baptized disciples, even JEWS, to REPENT about three years ago.

Herod had John the Baptizer beheaded.

Pharisees report that Simon and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle of Apostles.

The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
Gospel of Luke 5:30 NASB20

Simon Peter identified near Jesus’ trial

Witnessed just three months ago just prior to the Passover feast by a servant of the High Priest:

Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
Gospel of Luke 22:55-56 NKJV

A Noteworthy Sermon from Solomon’s Portico

Just days ago the Sanhedrin, Jerusalem’s High Court, orders Peter NOT to say anything about Christ Jesus. Although Peter and John were arrested for preaching repentance, Jerusalem’s leaders released them from prison as a politically palatable concession to the crowds who had witnessed Peter healing a man lame from birth.

By what power? Political prowess by the powers that be

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. – ACTS 4:18

Arrested, yet the Apostles boldly remain in Jerusalem

ACTS of the Apostles 5:

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all together in Solomon’s portico…

And increasingly believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any of them. The people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates.. laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public prison.

Previously, the authorities brought Peter and John before the council, however on this occasion the Lord sends an angel to open their prison door!

and leading them out, he said,
“Go, stand and continue to speak to the people in the temple area all the words of the whole message of this Life.”
ACTS of an Angel of the Lord 5:19b-20

Daybreak after another night in prison

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
ACTS of the Apostles 5:21 NIV

(Of course, these same officials of Jerusalem’s political elite who had seized them believed that the Apostles were still imprisoned as before.)

Not just another day at the office

BIG political victory last evening. Those Apostles opposed to OUR LEADERSHIP of JEWISH JERUSALEM await OUR VERDICT of what to do with them.

(Or so they thought, as these religious officials arrived at work in a Jerusalem guarded by Roman centurions.)
```
ACTS 5:21b
```
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,

“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”

(REMEMBER their dilemma of JESUS’ EMPTY TOMB just a couple of months ago?) NOW what?

Who does this Galilean we arrested think he is?
```
Narrative of this private conversation is a speculative fiction behind the scenes in ACTS 5.
```
On that day when we arrested this Simon of Capernaum the first time what was it I said?

When we released him after he drew crowds to himself in the Portico of Solomon proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, he challenged our very authority to hold or release him.

So when the others asked, “What are we to do with these men?”

I insisted, DO NOT release them to cause more trouble.

But when they couldn’t find cause to keep these men in prison I said, “You had better start a dossier on them, because we will just have to arrest them again.”

For this Simon Peter had confirmed my distrust when he answered:

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts of the Apostles 4:19b-20 NASB20

Let’s punish them this time!

So I was all prepared to tell you, “I WARNED YOU about these men.”

But what’s this we hear now after having arrested these crowd-stirring Galileans again so soon? Listen to this new report as we assembled this morning:

The Captain of the Temple Guard’s Report

But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
ACTS of the Captain of the Temple Guard 5:22-23 NIV

Even though it seems impossible, these rabble-rousers must have escaped and run home to Galilee.

(Maybe not such a bad thing for us.)

NOW what do we do?

Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!”

The Apostles Now have Thousands of Disciples

And Peter, John and the others are preaching boldly as the Angel has commanded them to continue with the words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as they return to preach in the Temple.

IT IS YET ANOTHER SIGN, not to be taken lightly by those who had seized them the previous day, throwing the Apostles into Prison.

26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

(A riot against the capitol police? Roman soldiers in Jerusalem would certainly never condone such RAGE by any Jewish crowd throwing stones at Jerusalem’s politicized religious police.)

Would you, the arrested, convict US?

27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and [Caiaphas, or possibly Annas] the high priest asked,

“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?

Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

[Peter had convicted them of their complicity in Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross; however the Apostle had also stated that God the Father had allowed it AND that JESUS had been raised from the grave!]

But Peter and the apostles answered,

“We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God [theos] of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince [archēgos] and a Savior [sōtēr], to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

GUILTY!

When they heard this, they were furious [diapriō – cut to the quick] and wanted to put them to death.

It is what we should have done the first time we jailed them.

WE know that these men have escaped, but HOW? Never-the-less, WE cannot allow them to continue to sway all of Jerusalem to become disciples of this JESUS we hung on a Roman cross just two months ago.

AWAY WITH THEM!

οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες διεπρίοντο καὶ ἐβούλοντο ἀνελεῖν αὐτούς
But when they heard this, they became infuriated and nearly decided to execute them.
ACTS of the Sanhedrin 5:33

An Appeal Against Rash Reaction

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
ACTS of Gamaliel 5:34 NASB
```
To be continued...
```
December 1, 2021
Miracles, Wonders & Signs: Peter’s Amazing Answer
Peter’s Answer to the Acts of Pentecost

How does the anointed follower of Jesus Christ answer the unanswerable questions from the multitudes? Luke records not only the truly awesome events of Pentecost and bewilderment by the crowds, but also the Apostle Simon Peter’s amazing answer to thousands gathered in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind..
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts of the Apostles 2:2a,6 KJV

Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

Previously: We witnessed the Holy Ghost in a crowded upper room.

(I spoke last time how we might more appropriately [from the KJV] view the Holy Ghost and cloven tongues like as of fire lighting on each one.)

One hundred together as one in prayer in the upper room in Jerusalem receive the Holy Spirit!

We now join the Twelve as they move on into the crowds on the busy streets of Jerusalem and multitudes in the Temple.

Acts of Perplexed Jerusalem Crowds on Pentecost

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
Acts of the Apostles 2:5 NASB

(Not so different from the crowds of a single Sunday of a 21st century Christmas or Easter festival, is it?)
```
NOTE on Population of Jerusalem [~80,000, possibly swelling above 100,000 during the three festival weeks]
- Jewish historian Josephus, who would know because he had lived there during the 60s AD, estimated the number of Pharisees alone to be 6,000 (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 17.42) - * recommended source
```
Amazed and Astonished

Image an extended and formal debate between two devout religious officials (perhaps a Pharisee and and Sadducee) wondering how Simon Peter and these other lowly uneducated followers of Jesus from ‘up north’ could possibly speak to others in another language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts 2:7 KJV

Of course earlier Luke showed us debate with Jesus by perhaps some of the same ‘devout men’ who some attend these very public festivals just for the wine, prestige or public parties.

They were amazed (beside ones self to explain it, as I pointed out last time) and astonished G2296)].

This is the same reaction of Peter and others to the risen Christ, which Luke records in his first account.

And when He [Jesus] had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they [the Apostles] still could not believe it because of their joy and astonishment G2296, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
Gospel of Luke 24:40-41 NASB20 – Strong’s G2296 – thaumazō

Luke describes the reaction of these men on Pentecost with this same adjective which John employs for an earlier debate of Jesus’ with Nicodemus about the same Holy Spirit which had anointed the Apostles this day.

“Do not be G2296 amazed G2296 that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
Gospel of John 3:8 NASB20

The HOLY Spirit – The Directed WIND of ACTS

Luke uses the same word πνεῦμα that John records from the words of Jesus [John 3:8] as ‘wind‘ and ‘Spirit,’ [pneuma] 70 times in Acts of the Apostles.

As Jesus had told Nicodemus,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit G4151, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit G4151 is spirit G4151.
Gospel of John 3:5-6 – Jesus teaches Nicodemus on the Holy Spirit [G4151]

Debate about Peter & the Apostles
- “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
- —we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”
- “What does this mean?”
But others were jeering and saying, “They are full of sweet wine!”
Acts of the Apostles 2:13 NASB

14 But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven [now including Mathias], raised his voice and declared to them:

“Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour of the day [that is, 9 o’clock in the morning]..

As Luke has already told us, the crowds include hundreds of ‘devout men from every nation under heaven.’

Certainly these religious leaders had been led to the Apostles by the sound of the Spirit. Although you may not recall the words of ‘this Galilean,’ these devout Jews will know the Scriptures Peter is about to preach.

..On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Joel 2:

Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the Lord is coming;
Indeed, it is near,
2 A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness..

21 Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice,
For the Lord has done great things..

The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.
23 So shout for joy, you sons of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the early rain for your vindication..

The Promise of the Spirit

Hebrew link above is CJB & WLC only

²⁸It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all [flesh] mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
²⁹And even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days..
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
Just as the Lord has said,
Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
The Prophesy of Joel 2:28-29, 32b *2:28 begins as v.3:1 in Hebrew
Acts 2:

17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will have dreams;
18 And even on My male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
And they will prophesy.
19 And I will display wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Peter’s Amazing Answer from Scripture

Jesus’ Apostle Simon Peter speaks to his fellow faithful Jews, many men gathered to hear from the place of this loud noise some explanation for this amazing sign.

Do you recall the interchange between Judeans near Jesus’ trial and Peter? The Apostle knows first hand how they associate Galileans (and Samaritans) as lesser Israelites of David’s line.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words:

Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested [proven] to you by God [theos] with miracles [dynamis, power], and wonders [a prodigy, portent or omen] and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over [to enemies, or to the power, the will, of some one] by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

The astounded men in the crowd must have wondered:
- Do these men have this same Power [dynamis] which they have just heard?
- Will this Disciple of Jesus now addressing so many continue with his opening indictment?
Yes, and Peter continues with yet another amazing witness of these historic events:

But God raised Him [the man attested, Jesus of Nazareth] from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Acts of the Apostles 2:24 NASB

THIS SPEAKER [PETER] HAS JUST TOLD MEN WHO NAILED JESUS TO A CROSS JUST FIFTY DAYS AGO THAT THIS MAN [JESUS] COULD NOT BE HELD BY THE POWER OF DEATH!

Peter then returns to Scripture in order to present the Jews an understanding of the Lord and their Messiah, Jesus.

Son of David

Luke has already told those who have read in his Gospel account:

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Gospel of Luke 1:32-33 KJV

The Apostle Simon Peter begins here by addressing the house of Jacob by saying, “men of Israel.”

“For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Acts 2:25 NKJV
Psalm 16

Mikhtam. By David:

Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”

⁷I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
⁸I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
Acts 2:25-

Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue was overjoyed;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:27 KJV, quoting Psalm 16:10 –
[NASB]- For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
```
Tehillim 16:11 (LXX 15:11) ἐγνώρισάς μοι ὁδοὺς ζωῆς πληρώσεις με εὐφροσύνης μετὰ τοῦ προσώπου σου τερπνότητες ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ σου εἰς τέλος
```
תּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶֽצַח׃

“You have revealed the paths of life to me;
you will fill me with gladness
in your presence.
Acts 2:28 CSB, Peter, quoting David from Psalm 16:11
```
Certainly, the Apostle must have paused here..
Peter no doubt would have surveyed the eyes of those men in the crowd revealing the impact of the Spirit through these Scriptures upon their hearts.
```
Brothers

Peter, this lowly Galilean addressing multitudes of devout men (with their wives and families gathered beside them for this Jewish festival celebrated fifty days after Passover), now addresses these Judeans, Israelites and faithful pilgrims in Jerusalem endearingly as ‘brothers.’
```
ἀδελφός - Strong's G80 - adelphos
 -  From ἄλφα (G1) (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb) -  a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote i.e. a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection
```
Don’t miss the personalness of the Apostle’s appeal to those convicted by the Spirit.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Acts of the Apostles 2:29 KJV

Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne.

Seeing what was to come, he [David] spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He [the Christ] was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
```
Acts 2:30-31 CSB [also linked above with KJV & NASB]
```
Luke’s account here in the King James Version brings to mind the familiar genealogy from the opening of his Gospel.

“..that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh [that is: from David’s descendants], he [Yᵊhōvâ] would raise up Christ to sit on his [David’s] throne..”

The Apostle Peter reveals to the multitudes through Scripture they know well:

DAVID, King over a United Kingdom of Israel a thousand years ago — David who was also a PROPHET — predicted the resurrection of Israel’s Messiah.

Then Peter, with the eleven other Apostles who have also shown the crowds signs of speaking in their own native languages standing at his side, confirms their own personal witness to ALL:

We witnessed Jesus’ resurrection!

[Brethren, Peter has already addressed them]:
“It is this Jesus [iēsous] whom God [theos] raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses.
Acts of the Apostles 2:32 NASB20

Just picture what some men and women among the multitudes must have thought hearing this!

Peter has already restated David’s prophesy, in addition to quoting the prophet Joel. Now the Apostle proceeds to the logical conclusion:

Therefore, since He [Jesus] has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.
Acts of the Apostles 2:33 NASB

34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
```
Peter quotes David to affirm his conclusion from PSALM 110:1
```
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.‘

110:1 לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַֽאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִֽימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃

Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:36 NASB – Conclusion of Peter’s sermon

THIS IS THE END OF PETER’S SERMON.

“No it’s not,” you say.
```
"This can't be the end of Peter's sermon, because the Apostle has more to add."
```
While it is true that Luke adds an important interaction between Peter and someone from the crowd, allow me to ask you this:

Doesn’t your pastor END the words of his sermon without interchange or response from his church audience?

(We don’t hear Peter say, “Let us pray,” or “Amen.”

The crowds did not see Peter walk away from the pulpit as his praise band begins a song.)

NEXT:

Like some moments following contemporary sermons in the Spirit, worship continues in the hearts of some. The Apostle’s speech certainly is guided by Scripture, but primarily Peter preaches by the HOLY SPIRIT. So the question which follows from the crowd, also the work of the Spirit in the hearts of men, will bring Peter to continue with a powerful answer.

Next, we will hear Peter’s answer to pierced hearts.
```
To be continued...
```
October 13, 2021