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Peter Replied: Signs Preached from Solomon’s Porch
..all the people ran together to them at the portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people..
Acts of the Apostles 3:11b-12a NASB20

It’s MASSIVE and Magnificent!

Herod the Great left a temple to Jerusalem’s elite where MULTITUDES could enter stadium-sized courts rivaling Rome’s great temples. Jewish religious officials would continue their façade of political power in a city held captive to a tolerant Roman ‘peace.’

Signs of the Holy Spirit of God

Previously..

Miracles, Wonders & Signs: Peter’s Amazing Answer

NOW the crowds see a lame beggar walk!

Jerusalem was all abuzz. Tongues of fire, Galileans preaching about the Messiah Jesus to men in their own languages, and now a well-known beggar lame from birth STANDING beside Peter and John as they walked to worship in the Temple. The public courts seem more packed than usual and everyone looks for explanations of all this from the Apostles. So multitudes follow Peter to Solomon’s portico.

Simon Peter replies: “Men of Israel,

why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One,

and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life,

whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Do you have a question about the signs of God before your very eyes?

PETER preaches his response to the questions of the crowds who witness what has just happened. And the Apostle takes no credit for this miracle either by his personal power {dynamis} or piety, reverence or respect (eusebeia – often translated as godliness).

Amazed multitudes run to the Apostles, crowd in on them, look to them for an explanation in their response.

Peter replied to their amazement, yet with the same personal conviction AND compassion of his Lord Jesus who offered to those with ears to hear grace when He preached to the crowds.

Luke has already shown our Lord’s gracious encouragement though Jesus’ replies in his Gospel.

ἀποκρίνομαι Replies in Luke’s Gospel
- And Jesus answered^G611 and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
- And Jesus, answering^G611 them, said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
- And He answered^G611 and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.
HOW MANY SIGNS OF THE MESSIAH DO YOU NEED?

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe [literally, fear was occurring to every soul]; and many wonders and [confirming miracles ] signs were taking place through the apostles.
Acts of the Apostles 2:43 NASB20

Luke now shows the Apostles preaching to men wondering about many SIGNS of the day in ACTS of the APOSTLES. Peter replies in effect that ‘JESUS has done this through faith as a sign to you.’
- Strong’s Number G611 matches the Greek ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai),
- which occurs 21 times in 21 verses in ‘Act’ in the TR Greek.
“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Acts of the Apostles 3:16 NASB20

“And now, brothers,

He first addressed them as ‘men of Israel.’ Peter replied to their fear (or awe) more personally now as the Apostle of Jesus calls them brothers.

adelphos – brethren

I know that you acted in ignorance..

(Are any already convicted by the Holy Spirit by the signs they have just witnessed?)

Countenances diminish from amazement in their crowd curiosity to faces of men showing humility as they cling to Peter’s words:

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Acts of the Apostles 3:17-18 ESV

Like his Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, the Apostle replies with great compassion, ‘I know that you didn’t know what you were doing’ (ignorance).

John had heard such forgiveness even from the foot of the Cross. Peter had experienced it from the risen Christ forgiving his ignorance and denials.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Gospel of Luke 23:34a KJV

Yet Peter replied also inviting their response.

μετανοήσατε οὖν καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε

REPENT, THEREFORE, AND RETURN.

Repent.

What does repentance mean once we are no longer ignorant?

“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you.
Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel?
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!”
The Prophet Ezekiel 18:30-32 NASB20

Peter replied to their ignorance in familiar fashion from the preaching of the Prophets.

And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate?
No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?
“No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Gospel of Luke 13:3-5 – Jesus preaching on repentance

Peter replied much as Jesus had taught, as well as John the Baptizer had warned and others.

“Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Gospel of Matthew 3:2; 4:17 NASB20 – Repent – Strong’s G3340

AND notice how frequently in the Bible REPENT follows ‘THEREFORE’

‘Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:19 NASB20

AND Return

Peter replied also with an implied action required of those with ears to hear his call of repentance. You must now return to God.

You know the LORD God [brothers] and you are not ignorant of God’s requirements in the LAW, the Commandments Moses gave you from the Lord our God.

¹⁹“Therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from chet [sin] to G-d) and turn in order that your chatta’im, your averos (sins) may be removed, [TEHILLIM 51:1; YESHAYAH 43:25; 44:22]
Acts Gevurot 3:19 Orthodox Jewish Bible

ἐπιστρέφω
- Return
  - to the worship of the true God
  - to the love and obedience of God
  - to the love for the children (of God, your fellow brothers)
  - to love wisdom and righteousness (now that you are no longer ignorant of G-d’s Messiah, WHO IS our Savior.)
Peter then proceeds with an amazing invitation to those who not only have rejected their Messiah, but some in the crowd of the Temple gathering at Solomon’s Portico who may have been part of the shouting crowds calling for Jesus’ crucifixion at Jerusalem’s most recent festival.

Revival of the Spirit
- And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.. – Ephesians 2:1
- Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. – Psalm 51:9
- Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.. – ACTS 3:19 NASB
  - ἀνάψυξις anápsyxis, an-aps’-ook-sis; from G404; properly, a recovery of breath, i.e. (figuratively) revival:—revival.
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus..

You denied the Holy and Righteous One.. You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead..

that your sins may be blotted out,
- in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
  - NO, brothers (and tell our sisters and children as well), we know that God will not and can not have any sinner in His Presence — NO sacrifice is sufficient to blot out our many sins.
- and that He may send Jesus, the [Messiah, the anointed one] Christ appointed for you,
- whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things,
  - The Christ, the One Who came to us in body and soul, Who Is now the presence of the Lord, will cover your sins by His Perfect Sacrifice – He has blotted out your sins so that you may in your living spirit be with Him until your body dead to sin is restored with all things.
- about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
Peter replied pointing to Scripture

The Apostle includes Moses with God’s holy prophets, separated to speak the One truth of the Lord God.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts of the Apostles 3:22 KJV

Moses also a Prophet

Of course every faithful Jew not only knew the Law of Moses, but also heard the Scripture of Moses WHEN rabbis chose to preach all of the truth of Scripture.

Therefore, many standing at Solomon’s Portico listening to Simon Peter preach knew these things Simon [שִׁמְעוֹן] Peter preaches..

15 נָבִ֨יא מִקִּרְבְּךָ֤ מֵאַחֶ֙יךָ֙ כָּמֹ֔נִי יָקִ֥ים לְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ אֵלָ֖יו תִּשְׁמָעֽוּן׃
16 כְּכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ מֵעִ֨ם יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בְּחֹרֵ֔ב בְּי֥וֹם הַקָּהָ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֣א אֹסֵ֗ף לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־קוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י וְאֶת־הָאֵ֨שׁ הַגְּדֹלָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לֹֽא־אֶרְאֶ֥ה ע֖וֹד וְלֹ֥א אָמֽוּת׃
17 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י הֵיטִ֖יבוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽרוּ׃
18 נָבִ֨יא אָקִ֥ים לָהֶ֛ם מִקֶּ֥רֶב אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם כָּמ֑וֹךָ וְנָתַתִּ֤י דְבָרַי֙ בְּפִ֔יו וְדִבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוֶּֽנּוּ׃
19 וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִשְׁמַע֙ אֶל־דְּבָרַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר בִּשְׁמִ֑י אָנֹכִ֖י אֶדְרֹ֥שׁ מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

“Moshe Rabbenu indeed said, “NAVI KAMOCHA [T. N. i.e., a prophet like Moses] for you Hashem Adonoi will raise up from your achim; to him you will give heed according to everything whatever he may speak to you.” [DEVARIM 18:15,18] ..
Gevurot 3:22 Orthodox Jewish Bible
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How are you doing with 'hearing' all this in the native 'tongue' of your birth?
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Peter replied to those God chose in the Temple to hear by the Spirit.
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You will see shortly that Simon Peter's preaching truth from the Scripture of Moshe will not be received by all, in deference to the great sign Peter has just performed at the Beautiful Gate.

From the back of crowds temple officials begin to push their way to the front where Peter, the Apostles and a formerly lame beggar stand before Jerusalem's largest crowd praising God and the Messiah of Israel.
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It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘ And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Acts 3:25

.. God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Acts of the Apostles 3:26 ESV – Simon Peter Replies to the jews at Solomon’s Porch by Preaching Christ Crucified & Risen

Who will God save?
- And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” – Romans 11:26
  - “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” – Isaiah 59:20-21
    [The true sons of Israel (Jacob) know the true Word of Scripture. – Roger@TalkofJESUS.com Let’s talk.]
  - You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. – Gospel of John 4:22 – The Messiah Jesus to a woman in Samaria
And why does Peter preach also to those at the Temple who will not be saved along with those who by the Spirit have been blessed with ears to hear?

Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 3 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.. And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—

.. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads..

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Ezekiel 3:19 ESV

3:19 וְאַתָּה כִּֽי־הִזְהַרְתָּ רָשָׁע וְלֹא־שָׁב מֵֽרִשְׁעוֹ וּמִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרְשָׁעָה הוּא בַּעֲוֺנוֹ יָמוּת וְאַתָּה אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ ס

Herod’s temple authorities respond.

Simon Peter preaches repentance in Jesus Christ to Spirit-called crowds. Yet while the Apostles proclaim the Good News of the MESSIAH from Solomon’s Porch..

authorities of Herod’s religious/political bedfellows of the Sanhedrin (their ‘Congress,’ so to speak) move to oppose the Gospel.

Acts of the Apostles 4:

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed

because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Christ, who IS risen, had been arrested by some of these same officials a few weeks back while Peter and the Apostles stood helpless.

And what would these men have just heard as Peter preached from Solomon’s Porch?

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
ACTS of the Apostles 3:13 NKJV

“Repent therefore and be converted..
ACTS of the Apostles 3:19a

.. “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.‘ And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
ACTS of the Apostles 3:22-23 NKJV

Peter replied differently than in Gethsemane

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 3:8-9 ESV

The Apostle preached with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter is a rock now in the strength of the Word of the Lord. This is no cowering Disciple denying Jesus as he huddled up to a campfire within earshot of false testimonies.

ACTS 4:

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them..

And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening.
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To be continued...
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November 10, 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