PETER'S PENTECOST SERMON
(By Emerson Blythe)

(Acts 2:14-36 KJV) "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: {15} For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. {16} But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; {17} And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: {18} And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: {19} And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: {20} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: {21} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. {22} Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: {23} Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: {24} Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. {25} For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: {26} Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: {27} Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. {28} Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. {29} 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. {30} Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; {31} He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. {32} This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. {33} Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. {34} For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, {35} Until I make thy foes thy footstool. {36} Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When Peter and the other New Testament Apostles and Evangelists went about to preach the gospel, they got seriously to the matter at hand. There was no lengthy discourse about matters of dispute, or argument of the many facets of application. No jokes or anecdotes to capture the audience, and no touching stories to play upon the emotions. These early preachers set out to convince people of their need of salvation, bring them to see that Jesus is the answer to that need, and then bring about the conviction to lead them to respond.

The Pentecost permon recorded in Acts 2 is unique in several ways. It is unique because the apostles had just received the power of the Holy Ghost; had been endued with power from on high. It is unique in that this was the "birthday" of the church. It is unique in that it was the first full gospel sermon, preached just weeks after the ascension of Jesus. But its style is representative of the many other gospel sermons that would follow.

I BELIEVE WE WOULD PROFIT TO LOOK AT PETER'S PENTECOST SERMON A LITTLE CLOSER.

V. 14: HE CALLS FOR THEIR ATTENTION.

V. 15: HE REFUTES ERROR. Rever back to verse 13.

V's 16--21: HE APPEALS TO THE SCRIPTURES.

Joel 2:28--32. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

V's 22--36: GOES ABOUT TO CONVINCE THE AUDIENCE OF JESUS.

We have not been used to having to do this, but the need is arising!

1. Verse 22: Jesus' divinity is attested to by His Miracles

2. Verse 23: It was God's plan, but those who fulfilled it are guilty.

(Mark 14:21 KJV) "The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is

betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born."

3. Verse 23-B: a bold charge, You are guilty.

Reminiscent of Nathan in 2 Sam 12:7, "Thou art the man." Note the boldness of Peter: too afraid to own Jesus a couple of months ago;

Now this bold!

4. Verse 24: Jesus victorious over death.

5. Verses 25--28: Another appeal to the Scriptures: fulfilled prophecy. - Ps. 16:8--11.

Fulfilled prophecy is a great testimony! - 2 Pet. 1:16--21.

6. Verses 29--31: an explanation of the prophecy. (Neh 8:8 KJV) "So they read in the book in the law

of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

7. Verse 32: personal testimony. Compare Acts 1:1-3 and 1 Cor. 15:3--6.

8. Verses 32--35: The exalted Christ...an important point. (Acts 5:30-32 KJV) "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. {31} Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. {32} And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

9. Verse 36: the climax: let all the house of Israel know assuredly...

10. Verses 37--41: The Response. --An example for us today!

Are you ready to make that move and become a Christian just the way these people did? The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. That applies to YOU. Don't be deceived by some New Way! If you will accept the gospel message, Repent and be Baptized, the Lord will enroll your name in Heaven's roll-book, forgive your sin, and add you to His church, just as He did these!

If we can help you in matters relating to salvation, please contact us, or the church of Christ near you.