Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

MEMORY VERSE: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” —Acts 2:38

ACTS 2:22-24, 32-39

PETER’s Pentecostal sermon dealt largely with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It was the resurrected Jesus, Peter explained, who had sent the Holy Spirit upon the waiting disciples. He emphasized that Jesus of Nazareth had demonstrated that he had God’s approval “by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” Peter pointed out that despite this “ye have taken [Jesus], and by wicked hands have crucified and slain [him].” But God foreknew this. Indeed, it was part of his plan for the redemption and recovery of mankind from sin and death.

Peter emphasized the fact that God, the Father, had raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus could not restore his own life, for in death he was helpless. On the cross he had committed his life into the hands of his Heavenly Father, with the assurance that it would be restored. One of the assurances of this was the prophetic statement pertaining to him which is recorded in Psalm 16:10: “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [hades, the death condition], neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.”—Acts 2:27

Reading the 16th Psalm, one might easily suppose that David was speaking of himself, but, as Peter pointed out, this was not so. David had not been raised from the dead and had not entered into the presence of God, as this prophecy indicates. Peter said, “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.” (ch. 2:29) In verse 34 of our lesson Peter said, “David is not ascended into the heavens.”

“Being a prophet,” Peter said, “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; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Thus Peter, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, saw in the resurrection of Jesus a wonderful fulfillment of prophecy, and a preparatory step looking to the establishment of the messianic kingdom.

Peter quoted still another prophecy, the one recorded in Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” This prophecy, he explained, was also fulfilled by the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus, and he declared, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

While Jesus was highly exalted to the right hand of God at that time, the subduing of the enemies of God and of righteousness was to be accomplished later, during the thousand years of the messianic kingdom. Paul wrote concerning Christ, “He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”—I Cor. 15:25,26

Peter’s sermon had a salutary effect upon many in his audience. We read that “they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter’s reply, as recorded in our memory verse, was that they were to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. He explained that if they did this they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

These were all Israelites and were in covenant relationship with the Lord through the Law given at Sinai. But they had transgressed that Law, particularly in the crucifixion of Jesus. Through genuine repentance and a symbolic baptism for the remission of their sins, they could enjoy that lost relationship with God, and thus be in a position to be transferred into Christ as members of the house of sons. John’s baptism was for the remission of sins, and it applied only to Israelites. Later, the baptism of Gentile converts was symbolic of their burial into Christ and their rising to walk in newness of life.

Peter explained that the promise of the Holy Spirit was not only to those who heard him at Pentecost, but to their children, “and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Not all to whom the Gospel is preached are called by God, for this is not the age for the conversion of all mankind. And those who are called must make their “calling and election sure,” in order to be worthy to live and reign with Christ.—II Pet. 1:10

QUESTIONS

What was the main topic of Peter’s Pentecostal sermon?

Did Jesus raise himself from the dead?

What is meant by Jesus’ soul being in hell?

Was the messianic kingdom established at Pentecost?

When will the enemy Death be destroyed?

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