Proclamations and Conversions Discussed Only in Acts: Jerusalem, Near the Upper Room
This is the first account of preaching and conversion in the book of Acts and in the history of the church, begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit early one Sunday morning, on the day of Pentecost. Among other things, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. This commotion drew people (already in Jerusalem from all parts of the world for the feast of Pentecost) to their location with a question and request for explanation, setting the stage for the proclamation of the gospel.
 
Text  Observations
AC 2:5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. [6] And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. [7] And they were amazed and marveled, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? [9] "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabs--we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." [12] And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" [13] But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine." The immediate circumstance: the outburst of the apostles speaking in other languages draws a crowd of people from among those visiting Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.
AC 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words. [15] "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; [16] but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: [17] `AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says,
  `THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND;
  AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
  AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
  AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; [18] EVEN UPON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
  I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
  And they shall prophesy. [19] `AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE,
  AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BENEATH,
  BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. [20] `THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS,
  AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
  BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. [21] `AND IT SHALL BE, THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'		 Peter answers the question about the present event as a fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel.
AC 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- [23] this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. [24] "And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.  Peter summarizes the most crucial events in the life of Jesus: accredited by signs and wonders, delivered up by God's foreknowledge, crucified by the Jews and Romans, but raised from the dead.
AC 2:25 "For David says of Him,
  `I WAS ALWAYS BEHOLDING THE LORD IN MY PRESENCE;
  FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. [26] `THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
  MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL ABIDE IN HOPE; [27] BECAUSE THOU WILT NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
  NOR ALLOW THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. [28] `THOU HAST MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
  THOU WILT MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH THY PRESENCE.'		 Peter cites the Psalms to illustrate God's foreknowledge of the resurrection of the Messiah.
AC 2:29 "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] "And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS UPON HIS THRONE, [31] he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. Peter makes the claim that Jesus is the true heir of David's throne.
AC 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. [33] "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. [34] "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
  `THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
  "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, [35] UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET."'		 The apostles are witnesses to Jesus' resurrection, and Jesus is responsible for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which caused all of the commotion in the first place. 
AC 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." Now, as the Messiah, he is also Lord.
AC 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"  The hearers were receptive to the message and wanted to know what to do about it.
AC 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." [40] And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"  Peter offers the command to repent and be baptized, that their sins would be forgiven and that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(note; for the children and for all who are far off-- designed to be comprehensive in scope)
(causal eis-- a true quagmire, v 40 says be saved-- not yet saved!)
AC 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. The end result of receiving the word: being baptized and thus added to their number.

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Comments Copyright © 2002 John Engler. All rights reserved.