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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 2:14-41

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move and we are working our way through the first part of the book of Acts. So far, we’ve learned how we are supposed to be a church on the move with the gospel, and we have seen how God has empowered us through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Christ.

Okay, so I have power through the Holy Spirit to witness. But what am I supposed to say? And after I say it, how do I know if people have responded in a way that brings them salvation? Only God knows the heart, but there are some clear indications from our passage this morning as to what constitutes a believing response to the gospel message.

So, that’s what we are looking at today: message and response. What is the gospel message, and what does a believing response to the gospel look like? (Read Acts 2:37-39 and pray.)

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As a quick recap, God had just poured out the Spirit on the believers at Pentecost. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. The Jews who had traveled to Jerusalem from other countries were amazed to hear the believers declaring the wonders of God in their own languages. Some, however, made fun of them and accused them of drinking.

Now Peter stands up and addresses the crowd. Luke records for us both Peter’s message and the people’s response.

I. The gospel message (14-36)

We begin by looking at the gospel message itself. Like any good preacher, Peter’s message comes straight from the Bible. His message revolves around three Old Testament texts: one from the book of Joel and two from the book of Psalms (Joel 2:28-32, Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1).

   A. These are the last days – “this is that” (14-21)
      – Joel 2:28-32

There are various ways to share the gospel with people, but there are certain things that we should always include. Peter begins with something we do not always include but perhaps we should. He begins by proclaiming that these are the last days. But first he has to deal with the accusation that he and the others are drunk. Look at verses 14-16:

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:14-16)

Notice how Peter pivots off the accusation of being drunk. He takes something from the current conversation and uses that to transition to the gospel. This is something we can do too. We can look for opportunities in our conversations with others to turn the conversation to the gospel. If someone asks you, “What did you do this weekend?” you can talk about church. If someone is sharing something challenging in their life, you can offer to pray for them. When you are intentional about sharing the gospel, you will find all sorts of ways to bring Jesus into the conversation.

Peter sees the opportunity here, and so he pivots off the accusation of being drunk to talk about the Holy Spirit and what God is doing. Notice he raises his voice—this is a large crowd! Luke tells us he addressed the crowd. This is a word that is often used in the Bible for Spirit-inspired speech.

And he basically tells them, “This is that!” These men are not drunk; it’s only nine in the morning! No, this is that which was spoken of in the Scriptures. (Note: Compare 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, especially the phrase “according to the Scriptures.”) Look at verses 17-21:

“No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Acts 2:17-21)

“This is that.” This which they are seeing right now is that which Joel prophesied about hundreds of years earlier (Joel 2:28-32). Joel prophesied what would take place in the last days. We often think of the last days as future, but the Bible refers to the whole period between Jesus’ resurrection and return as the last days.

In the last days, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit.” Notice it is God who pours out the Spirit. This is very important for what Peter explains in just a moment. The word translated “pour out” here means a downpour. This shows the generosity of God. He holds nothing back! Notice the Spirit is poured out on all people irrespective of gender (both sons and daughters), irrespective of age (both young old), irrespective of class (even on servants). This was a new thing that God would do. In the Old Testament the Spirit was given to specific people at specific times for specific purposes. But in the last days the Spirit is given to all who believe.

Joel also spoke about wonders and signs—blood, fire, smoke, the sun darkened and the moon red. These are all signs of final judgment, what the Old Testament calls the Day of the Lord. Some of these signs took place as Jesus experienced God’s judgment on the cross, but the Scriptures tell us the final day of judgment is yet to come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10-13). And yet there is a word of comfort even in the midst of these frightening words, because verse 21 says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).

So, what do Peter’s hearers understand so far? The Spirit has been poured out as Joel prophesied. Therefore, the last days have begun, and judgment is coming. Their only hope to be saved is to call on the name of the Lord.

Now Peter needs to teach them the name of the Lord. They think God’s name is Yahweh from the Old Testament, and it is. But they need to know another name now. They need to know that Jesus is Yahweh. They need to know that Jesus is Lord, and they must call on his name to be saved.

   B. Jesus is the Messiah – his life, death and resurrection (22-32)
      – Psalm 16:11-18

But first Peter proceeds to show them that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Look at verses 22-24:

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:22-24)

Peter reviews Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with them, emphasizing their responsibility in Jesus’ death. Jesus was accredited by God to them by miracles, wonders and signs. Therefore, they are responsible, because they should have known he was the Messiah. Peter speaks of both divine sovereignty and human responsibility here. Jesus was handed over by God’s set purpose, but we are the ones who put him to death. In this way God is sovereign, but we are still responsible.

The word “agony” here is the same word for birth pains. So, Peter is comparing Jesus’ death either to the agony of birth pains or perhaps the promise of new life through his death. Peter says it was impossible for death to hold him, just as it is impossible for a woman not to give birth when her time has come.

He then turns their attention to another Old Testament passage, this time Psalm 16. Look at verses 25-28:

“David said about him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’” (Acts 2:25-28)

Here Peter quotes from Psalm 16:8-11. This is a psalm of David where David speaks with confidence in the face of death and also of bodily resurrection. Peter now applies this Psalm directly to Jesus:

“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” (Acts 2:29-32)

Peter says that David could not possibly have been talking about himself. Why? Because David’s body is still in grave, and he did suffer decay. No, David was speaking of one of his descendants, that is, the Messiah. He was saying that God would raise the Messiah from the grave—not just at the end of time, but soon after his death, that no decay would even take place.

Peter says this is what David said, and then he says this is exactly what happened to Jesus, and we are eyewitnesses. Therefore, Jesus really is the Messiah. His resurrection from the dead is all the evidence you need.

   C. Jesus is Lord – his ascension and the Holy Spirit (33-36)
      – Psalm 110:1

Peter has shown them that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Next, he shows them that Jesus is Lord. Look at verses 33-36:

“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:33-36)

Peter used Jesus’ life, death and resurrection to show that he is the Messiah. Now he uses Jesus’ ascension and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit to show that he is Lord. Here he directs their attention to yet another psalm of David, this time Psalm 110, where David calls the Messiah “Lord.” David did not ascend to heaven; rather, he spoke of the Messiah ascending to heaven where he is called Lord. Peter has already shown that Jesus is the Messiah; therefore Jesus must also be the Lord spoken of here in Psalm 110.

Now let’s connect all this back to the Joel prophecy. Who poured out the Holy Spirit in the book of Joel? God did! God pours out the Spirit. Who poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost? Jesus did! Why? Because he is God, which means he is Lord!

Peter then draws the inescapable conclusion: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” The resurrection shows that Jesus is the Messiah. The pouring out of the Spirit shows that he is Lord. Note once again how Peter emphasizes their role in Jesus’ crucifixion. “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

II. A believing response (37-41)

Peter has faithfully delivered the gospel message. Now we get to see what a believing response to the gospel looks like. We see this in the people’s response in verses 37-39:

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39)

   A. Conviction of sin (37)

Here we see that a believing response begins with conviction of sin. The people are cut to the heart. Jesus is Messiah and Lord, and they didn’t believe him. Not only that, but they crucified him! Not only that, but the last days are here as evidenced by the Spirit, and judgment is coming. So, they cry out, “What shall we do?”

Do you believe that Jesus is Messiah and Lord? Do you recognize that you also are responsible for his death, that he died on the cross for your sins? Then you also will be cut to the heart. A believing response to the gospel always begins with conviction of sin. No one comes to the Savior without first knowing that they need to be saved.

   B. Repentance and faith (38)

Next, a believing response to the gospel will proceed to repentance and faith. When the people ask, “What shall we do?” Peter instructs them to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, that is to repent of their sin and to put their faith and trust in Jesus as Lord. Baptism is simply the sign that you have repented and believed. This is another way of saying as in the prophecy from Joel, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” They just need to understand that “the name of the Lord” in Joel means the name of Jesus.

Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. True repentance is always a believing repentance. True faith is always a repentant faith. A believing response to the gospel begins with conviction of sin and always proceeds to repentance and faith.

   C. Forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit (38-39)

Thirdly, a believing response to the gospel receives forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit. That’s what Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)

When you put your faith in Jesus, two things happen immediately: your sins are forgiven, and the Holy Spirit comes to live in your life. This promise is for all who believe, or as Peter puts it: “for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39).

Once again, there is a mystery here between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. God is the one who calls us to salvation. We respond to his call with repentance and faith, receiving forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit.

   D. Baptism and the local church (40-41)

A believing response to the gospel begins with conviction of sin. It proceeds to repentance and faith. It receives forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Finally, a believing response to the gospel results in baptism and the local church. We read in verses 40-41:

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:40-41)

Peter warned them. He pleaded with them. And what was the result? Those who believed were baptized, and the church grew by three thousand people that day! When you believe in Jesus, you also should be baptized as a witness of your faith to the world, and you should join with a local church to grow in your faith and to grow God’s church in this world. (Note: baptism class this month, and new members class next month.)

This was a church on the move! They just went from 120 believers to 3,120 believers! That’s multiplying by over twenty-six times in one day! The church was growing by the power of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of Christ and the gospel. The church growing and multiplying through the gospel is a major theme we will see again and again in the book of Acts.

CONCLUSION: Some people go to church, but they’ve never trusted Jesus. Some people have prayed a prayer, but they didn’t really mean it. Some people have trusted Jesus, but they’ve never given witness to their faith through baptism and belonging to a church.

Acts 2 shows us what a true believing response to the gospel looks like. A believing response to the gospel begins with conviction of sin, proceeds to repentance and faith in Jesus, receives forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, and then gives witness through baptism and active membership in the local church.

That’s what a true believing response to the gospel looks like. What does your response to the gospel look like?

© Ray Fowler

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