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Tag: holy spirit

Speaking the Word of God with Boldness
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness
Acts of the Apostles 4:29 NIV

The Believers Pray for Boldness
- DO YOU?
- How do YOU ACT Confidently in Christ Jesus?
παρρησία – parrēsia

Now as they observed the confidence^G3954 of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
Acts of the Apostles 4:13 NASB20 – Reaction of the rulers and elders of the people to Peter preaching at Solomon’s Portico, filled with the Holy Spirit

Luke’s account of events in Jerusalem has already revealed boldness in the Apostles not seen before Pentecost.

(Of course if YOU had seen the RISEN Crucified Christ Jesus in His flesh and received the HOLY SPIRIT in Jerusalem’s upper room, YOU would have had some added confidence as well.)
- Invite the Holy Spirit of God and Christ Jesus into your life; and then boldly ACT for Him.
By what power? Political prowess by the powers that be

After having been arrested, imprisoned overnight and then released, Peter, John and the Apostles will continue to preach with boldness.

ACTS of Confidence and Boldness

ACTS of Jerusalem’s First Century Believers 4:
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The believers continue to lift their voices together with the Apostles to God:
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30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
ACTS of the Believers in Jerusalem 4:31 NIV

Where will 21st. Century Christians find such BOLDNESS?

Christian confidence seems hard to come by in this world opposed to GOD and Jesus Christ, doesn’t it?

The Apostles and many first century saints who became their disciples gained such boldness because they knew Jesus Christ personally.

And like us, first century believers receiving the Holy Spirit came to know Christ through the Holy Spirit. New believers met the Apostles as living witnesses, God’s anointed shepherds of Christ’s living Church.

ALL feared God and basked in the light of Christ’s grace and unfailing eternal love.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

παρρησία – Strong’s G3954 parrēsia
- all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance:—bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, × freely, × openly, × plainly(-ness).
1. freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech
  1. openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment
  2. without ambiguity or circumlocution
  3. without the use of figures and comparisons
2. free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance
3. the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity
Conspicuous Confidence of Christian Witness

The fear of their Messiah in the flesh and blood always infected the multitudes who surrounded Jesus, along with recognition of God’s love in His Person.

The Apostle John tells us in his Gospel:

And there was a great deal of talk about Him in secret among the crowds: some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He is misleading the people.”
However, no one was speaking openly [G3954] about Him, for fear of the Jews.
So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this man not the one whom they are seeking to kill? And yet look, He is speaking publicly [G3954] , and they are saying nothing to Him.
Gospel of John 7:12-13, 25-26a NASB + talk of JESUS at the Feast of the Booths in Jerusalem

And just two months earlier in Jerusalem, at Jesus’ trial (when Peter cowered secretly beyond the gaze of official witness by the powers that be who cross-examined Jesus):

The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.
Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly G3954 to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple area, where all the Jews congregate; and I said nothing in secret.
Gospel of John 18:19-20 NASB + True testimony of Jesus before the Jewish High Court prior to the Passover Sacrifice

This is Annas, the same High Priest who now recognizes Peter and John as Jesus’s Disciples.

More Miracles and Boldness
- ACTS 2:2 And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- 2:3 And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them.
- 3:8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them..
- 4:4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
- 4:13b-14 ..they [Annas, the High Priests and ruling Council] were amazed, and began to recognize them [Peter and John] as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
  - 22 for the man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
- 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken,
- and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
- 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
  - and abundant grace was upon them all.
  - 34-35 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each to the extent that any had need.
A Witness of Grace by the saints

Five thousand disciples of the Apostles of Christ SPEAK the word of God with much BOLDNESS!

These confident new Christians share Christ’s love as a community of faith in Jerusalem SHARING all blessings of the Lord God as if their money is not their own, but solely the LORD’S. And the saints, disciples learning of Christ JESUS from the APOSTLES trusted them completely with EVERYTHING.

From his introduction to the church in Jerusalem in second account, next Luke will insert a caution to believers about NOT being ‘ALL IN.’ But for our conclusion noting these ACTS of BOLDNESS we will proceed just a little ahead in Luke’s list of signs and boldness of ALL.

Returning to Solomon’s Portico

Preaching from Herod’s Porch

We’ve been there before; but Peter & John, who had stirred the crowds with a healed lame man at their sides, were NOT supposed to come back.

Acts 5:

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

ACTS of the Apostles 5:12 NIV

Why does the NIV translate this in the past tense?

5:12 διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα πολλὰ ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ Στοᾷ Σολομῶντος

Luke wrote ACTS of the Apostles about three decades after these signs in the Temple.

AD 44 Judaea is annexed as a Roman province after the death of Herod Agrippa.

Luke’s readers may not have seen the temple prior to it’s destruction.

Opposition to our Boldness

Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them.
Acts 5:12-13 CSB

The NASB states:

But none of the rest dared to associate with them
Acts 5:13A NASB20

‘WHY NOT,’ Luke’s readers must have wondered?

Do you ever feel like the crowds do NOT want to associate with you once you boldly claim faith in Jesus Christ?

14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
ACTS 5:14-15 CSB

Luke tells us that these accompanying signs of miracles from God also occurred in towns surrounding Jerusalem as well. But of course, ALL of this had taken place prior to Rome completely eliminating any threat of these Judean Jews.

Luke then makes the opposition to Christian boldness in Jerusalem apparent to any now persecuted by Rome. Once again, the powers that be in JERUSALEM meet to reign in the boldness of these ‘Galileans.’

Their persecution of these BOLD opponents begins

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
ACTS of the Apostles 5:17-18 NIV

Arrested AGAIN!
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To be continued...
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November 29, 2021
The Heart-piercing POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT!
The POWER of the Holy Spirit in ACTS

What have we observed most in Luke’s early accounts of Acts?

Clearly, the further power of the Holy Spirit, which Luke also notes in his Gospel as having descended on Jesus.

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased… And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil.
Gospel of Luke on the Holy Ghost 3:33, 4:1-2b KJV
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"Holy" AND "Spirit"
occurs 111 times in 53 verses in your custom selection ' in 'Luke-Acts'' in the NASB20.
Source: BlueLetterBible.org
READ ALL fifty-three verses recorded by Luke and you will be convinced not only of the Trinity, but also of the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT of the Lord God.
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https://talkofjesus.com/acts-of-the-holy-spirit/

ACTS 1 opens with Jesus’ Promise of the Holy Spirit.

Acts of ALL with one accord

Before Jesus ascends to the Father, He commands the Apostles to WAIT for the power of the Holy Spirit

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

On the day of Pentecost the crowds in Jerusalem witness with wonder the AWESOME power of the Holy Spirit!

Although the HEADING for ACTS 2 in one of my Bibles refers to The Coming of the Holy Spirit, from the next HEADING, Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost, we learn of the convicting POWER of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s words.

Miracles, Wonders & Signs: Peter’s Amazing Answer

NOW, we will look to the POWER of the Holy Spirit to pierce the hearts of Peter’s audience.

‘I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND‘

“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
ACTS 2:32 NKJV

ACTS 2 – Peter’s Sermon continues

Lord and Christ

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:36 NKJV

A pall of silence most likely falls upon many in the massive crowd listening to Peter as he stands with all the Apostles and preaches Christ crucified and risen from the power of death.

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Brothers, what are we to do?”
Acts 2:37 NASB

J.B. Phillips paraphrases this passage following Luke’s account of Peter’s sermon:

When they heard this they were cut to the quick, and they cried to Peter and the other apostles, “Men and fellow-Jews, what shall we do now?”

They were ‘cut to the quick,’ ‘pierced to the heart.’

Sounds painful, reminding us of reference to Jesus’ gruesome crucifixion on a Cross preceding the previous Passover ‘festival’ of the Jews.

Yet one of the soldiers pierced His [Jesus‘] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Gospel of John 19:34

Perhaps some of these Jews hearing Peter’s sermon were sadly present during the storm of Jesus’ death and the piercing of His side with a Roman spear.

The Prophet Isaiah had said (as the Jews well knew):

But He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֹנֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלֹומֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתֹו נִרְפָּא־לָֽנוּ׃
Yeshaiya (Isaiah) 53:5 NASB20 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

Luke uses a word for ‘pierced‘ which implies ‘wounded in conscience,’ a conviction of the power of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s preaching from the word of God which the crowds in Jerusalem knew well. Later, the letter written to the Hebrews reminds the faithful:

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB20

YES, Peter’s sermon pierces their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT POWER

Because the HOLY SPIRIT is so important to Luke’s continuing account in Acts of the Apostles, before we proceed with Peter’s brief answer I would like to quote the powerful nineteenth century English preacher, Charles Spurgeon.

The Power of the Holy Ghost

Charles Haddon Spurgeon June 17, 1855 Scripture: Romans 15:13 From: New Park Street Pulpit Volume 1

Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Please note Spurgeon’s brief outline about the Third Person of the Trinity.

One. Comforter

When Christ was on earth, He must have been the consolation of all those who were privileged to be His companions.
Spurgeon – Holy Spirit Power opening paragraph

This certainly would include Peter and the eleven now at his side on Pentecost – RH

In speaking of the Resurrection, from John 16 & 14, Spurgeon relates:

He would not leave those few poor sheep alone in the wilderness. He would not desert His children and leave them fatherless. Before He left, He gave soothing words of comfort.
Spurgeon then goes on to introduce the paraclete or comforter

Jesus had told them that the Father would give them ‘another comforter‘ [helper or advocate] to be with them forever.

Peter, our Pentecost preacher today, certainly felt this comfort once Jesus asked him if he loved Him AFTER the Lord once again appeared to them. Jesus commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, with His Power to convict.

First, God the Holy Spirit is our very loving Comforter.
C.S. Spurgeon

Two: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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Our focus for Peter's Pentecost Sermon response
Quoting Spurgeon Chapter 2, pg. 27
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All power is the special and peculiar prerogative of God and God alone.

(Quoting Psalm 62:11 KJV)

God is God, and power belongs to Him alone.

He delegates a portion of His power to His creatures, yet it is still His. (Quoting Psalm 19:4-5)
C.S. Spurgeon – Holy Spirit Power
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Just take this in for a moment .. before we return to the crowds converted by Peter's Pentecost Sermon. - RH
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Spurgeon goes on to explain three ways he will look at the Power of the Holy Spirit.
1. The outward and visible displays of it,
2. the inward and spiritual manifestations of it,
3. and the future and expected works of it.
Three: THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE GREAT TEACHER
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We will not get there today as we observe the crowds of Pentecost, but the teaching of the Apostles will become immediately evident as the church grows throughout Acts.

To READ HOLY SPIRIT POWER click here to order.
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Repent!

“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37b NKJV

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.
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.”
Acts 2:38-39 CSB

IT’S AN AMAZING PROMISE!

But this is not the promise of Peter, nor is it an appeal to those who have NOT ASKED ‘What shall we do?’

Peter’s promise of the Holy Spirit is from the Holy Spirit Himself.

Next: We will see evidence of the Spirit growing the Church from the moment of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost.
October 15, 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?)
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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
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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.
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Tehillim 16:11 (LXX 15:11) ἐγνώρισάς μοι ὁδοὺς ζωῆς πληρώσεις με εὐφροσύνης μετὰ τοῦ προσώπου σου τερπνότητες ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ σου εἰς τέλος
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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
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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.
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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.’
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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
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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.
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Acts 2:30-31 CSB [also linked above with KJV & NASB]
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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:
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Peter quotes David to affirm his conclusion from PSALM 110:1
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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.
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"This can't be the end of Peter's sermon, because the Apostle has more to add."
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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.
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To be continued...
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October 13, 2021