Acts 2:36-41 – “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Peter had preached from scripture. He did not speak to the people solely from his own experience, but from the Word of God, their Word of God. He had shown them, through their own scriptures, how Jesus was indeed the Messiah whom the scriptures had prophesied was coming. He had tied the scriptures to Jesus. He had shown and led them to the inescapable truth that the Messiah they had been waiting for was Jesus the Messiah. Some, if not many of those present, were likely present when the crucifixion of Jesus was demanded. Certainly, all those present were aware of who Jesus was and that He was crucified because of His claim to be the Son of God (Luke 22:67-71). They had judged that He was lying and blaspheming because He said He was the Son of God, which meant that He was saying He was God (John 10:33). Some of the crowd at Pentecost may have been those who made the decision to crucify Jesus and others may been guilty of being complicit in the death of Jesus.
Peter had preached the Word to them, as he was led by the Holy Spirit. How and why Peter had preached should always be the “how” and the “why” when preachers of today preach. Peter used the Word of God and his own personal testimony. He said that the things he was saying are verified by the Word of God and that he has been a witness to the truth and power of God. It is what all legitimate preachers and teachers attempt to do. Preachers release the living Word of God and it will pierce to the core of a person dividing even to the soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). When the soul and spirit have been pierced by the Word, and the one who is preaching bears witness to the Word by one’s own belief and testimony, people are enabled by God to be able to repent so that their hearts are humbled and they come to Jesus for salvation (Romans 10:14). The principle of leading with the Word and witnessing one’s personal belief as Peter did is still foundational. Of course the “why” is because all who love the Lord will obey the Lord (John 14:15) and He has called us to share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?’” God gave His Word to reveal Himself to us, to reveal to us who we are, and to guide us on the pathway He has for people as a whole and also for people as individuals. We see Peter used the scripture to reveal God the Son as the Messiah. He also showed the Jews that although they were physical sons of Abraham, they were in need of their Messiah and that the One they had been waiting for they (collectively) had crucified. Now He is about to tell them how to get back on the right path that God has for them.
Family and Friends, should we condemn the Jews. No! By no means! For our sins are what Jesus came to pay the price for as much as for the Jews. We are as guilty as any other. We cannot read the Bible in full without knowing God’s great love for the Jewish people. God’s promise to Abraham is not gone because of their sin, for even the sin of killing Jesus is forgivable through the blood of Jesus. Such is the love of God. God remains faithful to the descendants of Abraham because God is faithful even when humankind is not (2 Timothy 2:13). If that were not so, if the grace of God through Jesus does not also cover the sins of the Jews, then it also does not cover any of the rest of us. Praise God that He brings salvation to everyone, including, as His Word states, “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16) People read the Word, God still has great plans for the Jews! Praise God! The loyalty of God to the Jew is encouragement to all of us!
The Jews present heard the truth that Peter preached. Three thousand were saved that day (Acts 2:41). These three thousand heard the truth and God saved them. It happened to them as it does for all. We hear the Word of God and the Holy Spirit brings us alive through it. God uses still uses men to continue the work of Jesus just as He used Peter. So let us, like Peter, share the life that God has place in us and the Holy Spirit will call all that belong to God. Praise God for all of us whom the Spirit has called. Let us continue to do what Jesus has called us to do that all the Brothers and Sisters who are called by God may come. Let us be faithful as the reborn Peter was faithful. Praise our God who allows us to work for Him. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.