Acts 2



Acts 2

Pentecost and the Beginning of the Church

Jesus had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father was fulfilled (), without any reference to how long they should have to wait. As it turned out they had to wait for 7 days (50(since crucifixion) – 3(in the tomb) – 40 (after the resurrection until the accession) = 7 days to wait).

I. Promise of the Spirit fulfilled (2:1-13)

2:1 Day of Pentecost followed the Feast of Firstfruits (or Feast of Weeks or 7x7 (Lev 23:15-22). “Pentecost” means 50 since it was the 50th day after the Feast of Firstfruits. Evidently they gathered together “in one place” or a “house” (2:2), though probably near the Temple (2:6).

2:2-3 Signs of the coming of the Spirit that were never repeated: sound of a “violent wind” and “tongues of fire.” The most dramatic of the three signs of Pentecost was that of the sound of a “violent wind”, perhaps like a tornado right over the house where the disciples were. Everyone came running from the Temple area.

• The “tongues of fire” were literal, since God often manifested Himself (Gen 15;17; Ex 3:2-6; 13:21-22; 19:18; 40:38). Notable was the statement that the fire rested on “each one of them” without exception.

2:4 Likewise they were all “filled with the Spirit.” The filling is distinct from the baptism of the Spirit which occurs only once for each believer at the moment of salvation (Rom 6;3; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:12), but the filling is repeated or constant (Acts 4:8; 31; 6;3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9, 52).

• Though the text does not mention the baptism of the Spirit we know it occurred because Peter refers back to this moment ten years later when Peter preached to the first gentiles (10:15) referring back to this moment as the “beginning.” Thus

• Pentecost refers to the initial giving of the Spirit and the filling of the disciples as they spoke sharing their new faith and relationship with Christ through the Spirit: the beginning of the Church.

2:5-13 Jews of the diaspora or “dispersion” living all over the Roman Empire were in Jerusalem for the required Feasts. They were bilingual Jews speaking Greek and their native language, which they never heard anyone speak in Jerusalem. How could Jews from Galilee speak foreign dialects they had never heard before? Did all the 120 disciples or just the 12 speak in tongues?

• They were called “Galileans” which may refer mostly to the 12, but the number of languages spoken were at least sixteen (2:9-11), though it is possible that one apostle may have spoke more than one language, it is not likely. Some or all of the 120 probably spoke in these foreign dialects mentioned in the text.

• The topic of the tongues was “the wonders of God” as praise to God, which was not really the gospel, but it pointed to the miraculous and divine truth that God was now revealing.

• The non-Hellenist Jews or Hebrews of Jerusalem did not understand anything since they only spoke Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They probably were the ones accusing the disciples of “drinking too much wine.”

• The “wine” (gleukous) means new sweet wine, which would take a large amount to inebriate.

• The number of languages is uncertain since that areas mentioned could have more than one language spoken: Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome (could have been any number of languages), Cretans and Arabs.

II. Peter’s Sermon (2:14-40)

Peter’s response to the question, “What does this mean?” answers the questions then proves that Jesus is the looked-for Messiah and Lord (v. 36). There are four parts: (1) Prophecy fulfilled (vv. 15-21); (2) Proof that Jesus was the Messiah (vv. 22-32); (3) Promise of the Spirit fulfilled (vv. 33-36); (4) Application.

2:14-15 “The third hour” means 9 AM which would be impossible to have drunk enough sweet wine to be drunk.

2:16-21 The description of Joel 2 was experienced by 120 disciples, though all of the remaining prophecies (2:19-20) which were to accompany this outpouring of the Spirit did not. Either it was contingent on Israel’s response (would happen shortly if Israel repented) or was used to explain that God’s plan was to pour out His Spirit on all believers.

• “In the last days” translates “After these days” in Joel, which means that the literal fulfillment of this passage will occur after the signs described in the NT in the description of the Tribulation in the Book of Revelation.

• Looking back it is apparent that God’s plan was to give the world the option of receiving the Spirit, then fulfill all the literal meaning of Joel 2 during the beginning of the millennium.

• Joel 2 uses the expression of the “former rains and the latter rains” that have nothing to do with the outpouring of the Spirit, but rather refer to an abundance of rain that will fall in Israel to make it unusually productive agriculturally. Misinterpreting this passage has led to many errors.

2:22 Jesus’ miracles were evidence especially for the Jews.

• NET 1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom,

• NET 1 Corinthians 14:22 So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers.

2:23 The “predetermined purpose and foreknowledge of God” make it clear that Christ’s death, however unjust, was planned from the beginning.

• “predetermined” (horizon), “mark off boundaries,” or “appointed” (Acts 10:42). This is a reference to the crucifixion.

• “purpose” (boule), “plan or intention.”

• “foreknowledge” (proginosis), “to know about something prior to the ocurrance”

• The “you” in the verse refers to the Jews and the “wicked” men (anomon, “lawless”) refer to gentiles, so both are implicated in Christ’s death. The Jews are accused of crucifying Jesus (2:23, 36; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:28), but gentiles as well (2:23; 4:27; Luke 23:24-25).

2:24 Death could not hold the Lord God (John 20:9) so the resurrection proved He was Messiah.

2:25-35 Four proofs of the Lord’s resurrection:

1. 2:25-31 Prophecy of Psa 16:8-11 of David describing the “Holy One” who would not remain in Hades (the grave or place of departed spirits) nor experience decay in the grave.

2. 2:32 All the 120 were witnesses of the resurrection

3. 2:33 Supernatural events of the day prove that He has sent His Holy Spirit to all believers – they saw (“tongue of fire”- 2:3) and heard (“violent wind”- 2:2 and other languages—2:4,6, 8, 11).

4. 2:34-35 The ascension of David’s greater Son (Ps 110:1) to the right hand of God (see Acts 5:30-31; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22). This is why Jesus had the authority to send the Spirit (Acts 1:5, 8; Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The Lord translates Yahweh God, who is Christ, God’s Son.

• On five occasion in Acts some of the apostles stated they were witnesses to the resurrection (2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39-41; 13:30-31), and no one ever refuted them.

2:36 Peter declares Jesus (Christ) to be Lord (kyrios, refers to God in 2:21, 34, 39; Phil 2:9).

2:37 The Response of the message: The Spirit’s conviction evident by being “pierced to or “cut the heart” (katenygesan means “to strike or prick violently, to stun”). The work of the Spirit: When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin (NIV John 16:8). Until this happens the gospel is meaningless.

• “What shall we do?” The same questions was posed by gentiles (Acts 16:30).

2:38-39 Peter’s answer:

• Must “repent” (metanoesate means to “change your outlook,” “change of heart,” “reverse the direction of your life.”) This results in change of behavior, but the emphasis is on the mind or outlook, the belief in what is true. The Jews had rejected Jesus as Messiah, now had to trust as their only hope for forgiveness in the One they just crucified!

• Repentance was a consistent part of the gospel message (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 13:24; 17:30; 19:4; 20:21; 26:20).

• “Be baptized” as a part of the gospel message has several views:

1. Combined requirement view: Both repentance and baptism result in remission of sins, thus baptism becomes essential for salvation – Problem: forgiveness of sin is based on faith alone in the Bible (Jn 3:16, 36; Rom 4:1-17; 11:6; Gal 3:8-9; Eph 2:8-9). Even Peter later promised forgiveness based on faith alone (Acts 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 26:18)

2. Definition of preposition view: “Be baptized …on the basis of the remission of your sins.” The preposition “for” (eis with the accusative) has a fuller meaning “on the basis of or on account of.” This is used in Mat 3:11; 12:41; Mark 1:4. This preposition usually means purpose or direction, though the “on the basis of” view is possible.

3. Parenthetical view:

o The verb make a distinction between singular and plural verbs and nouns: “repent” and “your” in the clause “so that your sins may be forgiven” are both plural, thus “repent” must be associated with the purpose of forgiveness of sins. However, “be baptized” is singular, setting it apart from the sentence.

o This fits with Peter’s message in Acts 10:43 to Cornelius where he used the same expression “sins may be forgiven.” Here it is granted on the basis of faith alone.

o In Luke 24:47 and Acts 5:31, the author of Acts, Luke, indicates that repentance alone results in remission of sins.

• The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s promise (1:5, 8; 2:33) to all those who accept the Lord, Jews and those “who are far off,” i.e. gentiles (Eph 2:13, 17, 19). The human side of salvation (repentance) and the divine side (call: Rom 8:28-30)

2:40 Individual Jews could be spared from the judgment on this generation (Mt 21:41-44; 22:7; 23:34-24:2). If they were willing to disassociate with Israel and set apart to Christ and His church they would be spared.

III. Description of the Early Church (2:41-47)

2:41 Three thousand believed Peter’s message and willingly identified themselves with Christ and His followers. It still was not clear that this meant you were not a Jew any longer.

2:42 Four-fold activity of the Early Church (2:42).

1) “devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine” (proskartereo, “adhere to , steadfastly attentive to, persevere and not to faint”).

2) “fellowship” (koinonia, “participation, sharing”) – they were an intimate part of each other’s lives.

3) “breaking of bread” – the way they celebrated the Lord’s supper was during the sharing of a meal.

4) “prayer” (proseuche, Prayer in the open air)

2:43 Miracles manifested through Apostles.

• Wonders (terata, “miracles provoking awe”)

• Signs (semela, “miracles pointing to a divine truth”)

• These were authenticating the authority and credibility of the apostles (2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:3-4). Signs and wonders were characteristics of the Apostles’ ministries (Acts 4;30; 5;12; 6:8; 8:6; 14:3; 15:12). Christ had also performed many “wonders” and “signs”

2:44-45 Part of the “fellowship” was voluntarily (4:32, 34-35; 5:4) holding everything in common. Perhaps this was motivated by the belief that Christ was returning soon, so ownership meant little. This was not socialism, since it was voluntary and distributed by need, not equally.

2:46-47 Jewish Christians remain active in Temple courts. The beginning of the Early Church was very Jewish. They shared everything “with glad and humble hearts” (aphelotes, “simplicity, singleness” of other focus).

• “praising” (ainountes, “recommend, tell or speak of”) is used only 9 x in NT, 7 of them by Luke (Luke 2;13, 20; 19:37; 24:53; Acts 2:47; 3:8-9; Rom 15;11; Rev 19:5).

• First of seven progress reports (Acts 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31). Everyday people were being saved!

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