The Day of Pentecost Begins — Acts 2:37-47 Daily Word

To those who doubted the reality of the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly stood up and proclaimed to those living in Jerusalem, and especially to the Jewish people. The reason Peter directed his proclamation to the Jews was that they had been directly involved in the death of Jesus. (23) In fact, all the Jews had witnessed the miracles, wonders, and signs that the Lord had performed. Yet they forgot that such miracles came from God, and crucified Jesus. In order to crucify Him, they even enlisted the hands of “those outside the law” to carry out the deed.

Peter then quotes from the Psalms of David — well known to his Jewish audience — as he explains the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection spoken of in David’s psalm was not fulfilled in David himself, but in the one David called “Lord,” that is, the Messiah. For he is God who is eternal and whose body did not see decay, and he is the one who now sits at the right hand of God. Therefore, the whole house of Israel must know this for certain: even though they crucified Jesus, God forgave them through him, and God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

Those who heard Peter’s sermon came to recognize their own wrongdoing.

In verse 37, they were cut to the heart and cried out, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter then answered those who did not know what to do: [38] And Peter said to them, “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, ESV), telling them that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“Repentance” means turning away from the sin of crucifying Jesus and returning to God. “Baptism” is received in the name of Jesus — which ultimately emphasizes that we must live in his name. It means proclaiming the name of Jesus while at the same time living our lives within the Lord. The promise of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all whom our Lord God calls. (v. 39)

In this way, many who heard Peter’s sermon were baptized, and the Scripture records that [41] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41, ESV). And there were things that the new converts began to do: [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42, ESV). What those who had turned to faith did was begin to share in spiritual fellowship with one another, centered on God. This spiritual fellowship extended even further, as they sold their possessions to provide for those in need. Loving one’s neighbor as oneself is also part of the unity of the church.

Many signs and wonders were performed through the apostles.

The apostles continued the ministry of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. In particular, the early church community shared and sold their possessions to provide for those in need. The reason they achieved such unity was because they held a firm belief in the second coming of Christ. Because of this, they devoted themselves all the more to gathering together and to sharing the love of the Lord. The testimony of this early church — living in a way that brought glory to God — is found in [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47, ESV).

God has established a spiritual order within the church. It is an order in which He adds the power of salvation to the community that gathers wholly to offer Him glory and praise. Therefore, we pray and hope that our church today will also be used as a spiritual church in God’s hands — a church that strives eagerly to gather together.