The
Came With
Power
– Acts Two
The
Lord Jesus had promised, "Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not
taste of death, till they have seen the
On the day of Pentecost following our Lord's resurrection the
disciples were assembled and waiting in
On that Pentecost day the Holy Ghost came on the apostles with a
sound as a mighty rushing
wind. There appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire. The
apostles were given power to speak in languages that they had never
studied. This was to make it possible for them to preach to Jews from every
nation in their own language. The reactions were very different as to what happened on
Pentecost: (1) some of the
The apostles used the events of Pentecost to preach Jesus to these people. Peter's sermon had three points: (1) He spoke of how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, (2) He spoke of the great miracle working ministry of Jesus, and (3) He spoke of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This sermon both alarmed and convinced many that heard it.
The people inquired as to what they must do. They were told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, for the remission of sins. The gift of the Holy Ghost was promised to those that obey. About 3,000 people gladly received the word and were baptized. These saved people were added to the church. Those in the church enjoyed a wonderful fellowship.
The Holy Ghost descended – Acts 2:1-4: Jesus had promised that
the
Acts two begins "they were all with one accord in one
place." The "They" included Matthias, and the eleven with whom
he was numbered. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost came on the apostles only, not
on the hundred and twenty. There was a sound like a mighty rushing wind and
tongues parting like fire. The apostles spoke the gospel with other tongues or
languages. They were able to preach the gospel in languages they had never
learned.
The
lost are gathered – Acts 2:5-15: The sound like a rushing mighty wind
and the tongues parting asunder like fire
resulted in the multitude coming
together. "There were dwelling
at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." The apostles spoke in the
language of the people who had gathered. They taught these people the
"wonderful works of God” in their own language.
The people were especially amazed because the men that spoke were
all Galilaeans. At best they were unpolished and unlearned men. They had never
attended any school of learning nor had they learned any language but their
own. Some wondered what the events of Pentecost meant. Others accused the
apostles of being drunk. Peter stood up with the other apostles and said they were
not drunk. He said it was only the third hour of the day. No Jew would drink
before the first hour of prayer -- nine in the morning.
The sermon is preached – Acts 2:16-39: Peter
said the events of Pentecost were predicted by the prophet Joel. This is what
Joel had predicted. The "last
days" refers to the Christian dispensation that was beginning that day.
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was accompanied with great natural
wonders spoken of in this chapter.
In the midst of those amazing natural events often associated with God's judgment against nations the hope of salvation is presented. The concern of Peter's sermon was human salvation and the means of obtaining such salvation. Peter preached about the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Peter's sermon focused on, (1) the fact that Jesus fulfilled prophecy, (2) His great miracle working ministry, and (3) the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord.
The apostles made it clear that salvation comes to believers that will repent and be baptized. On this beginning day of the church about three thousand souls were baptized for remission of sins. These baptized believers were added to the church.
The result is salvation – Acts 2:40-47: Only those that gladly
receive the word can be saved. The one that gladly receives the word will be
baptized immediately. They did not eat, sleep nor drink first. Salvation was
the most important thing in the world to them. Those that are added to the
church must remain steadfast in service to God. "And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers." (Acts
All God's people must be together as one in Christ Jesus. "All that believed were together" could not refer to together in one place because the number was so large. They were of one mind and judgment as to Jesus, who He is, what He has done and what we must do to be washed in His blood. The disciples were of one heart and soul. That is why God added all the saved and only the saved to the church. Christians bless and encourage one another and also spread the salvation message to others.
Are you a child of God? "Therefore let all the house of
Now is the time to serve God faithfully. To
become a Christian hear the gospel (Romans