Chapter Two – Coming of Power and the First Gospel Sermon
ACTS 2:22-23:
In our last lesson, we looked at the completion of fulfillment in the prophecy of Joel, which is beginning now! Peter and the eleven would render this prophecy as an explanation of the miraculous sound and languages that have drawn the attention of the Jews assembled in the temple complex.
Having established that it was this day that the pouring out of the Spirit of God was taking place, the Apostles would now pour that Spirit out, via the first Gospel sermon (good-news discourse).
We have spoken in great detail in the previous lessons concerning the chain of inspiration (God giving Christ Jesus all authority and the Spirit without measure; Jesus promising the Holy Spirit of God to the Apostles of Jesus; and the Apostles of Jesus revealing the Gospel to mankind); so, this is not the Apostles sermon, it is literally God's sermon!
This first Gospel sermon has a title and four basic points. We will lay this text out by the points given.
Title: Jesus of Nazareth (vs.22).
The use of the location of Jesus' home in this title is given to distinguish Jesus from others who bore this common name and to familiarize these Jews with Him as they specifically knew Him and looked for Him to be from (a descendant or seed from David):
Matthew 2:23 “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
The name of Nazareth has its roots in the same word that means [root] or [branch] (‘Ne-tser', branch - Ne·tser is not the common Hebrew word for "branch", but one understood as a Messianic title); as found in Isaiah 11:1 (see also: Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16; Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-28; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12-13).
John 1:45-46
“Philip found Nathanael and said
to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the
prophets, wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46
And Nathanael said to him, “Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
See these passages for the importance and use of this name – Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24; 14:67; 16:6; Luke 18:37; 24:19; John 18:5; 19:19; Acts 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 10:38; 22:8; 26:9.
Point #1: A Man Attested by God to You!
Text #1:
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know”
Universally, the Jews being addressed by Peter knew of the miracles of Jesus; many of them being among the throngs that followed Him in order to witness these wonder causing signs. Yet, at the point when Pilate offered Jesus or Barabbas to the crowds, these multitudes were silent to ask for Him. This was largely in part, due to the leadership of the people (not to excuse them), note:
John 11:45-48 “Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
In addition, it was also prophesied that even though the Lord would perform these signs of confirmation, they would not be enough to cause belief in Him, note:
John 12:37-41
“But although He had done so many
signs before them, they did not believe in Him,
38
that the word of Isaiah the
prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD
been revealed?”
(Isaiah
53:1)
39
Therefore they could not believe,
because Isaiah said again:
40
“He has blinded their eyes and
hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they
should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
(Isaiah
6:10)
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
It is here acknowledged by Peter that:
- They were aware of these signs through the miracles of Jesus that caused them to wonder.
- These miracles were in fact, direct signs from God concerning Jesus of Nazareth being sent from Him. This was something that those among them, that were honest, knew!
John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
- All of this was done and prophecy was fulfilled that they would still not believe even though these signs were given.
Point #2: You have Crucified Him and put Him to Death!
Text #2:
Acts 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death”
The “lawless hands” is not referring to those who break the law or violators of law, but are referring to those who are not under law, as to the Law of Moses; here specifically speaking of Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 9:20-21 “and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law”
Although we know that the Jews did not physically crucify the Lord, there can no doubt after our study of the Gospel of Luke, that they were as guilty of His death as those who actually drove the nails through His flesh. Here the Apostles through the strength of the Spirit are standing before the same people who became that mob that shouted “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21; John 19:6); and are placing the guilt of the death of the Son of God squarely on their shoulders!!!
The “foreknowledge of God”; demands our attention. When Judas and the soldiers of the high priests came to illegally arrest Him, remember that His disciples were going to try to prevent this. Here are the words of the Lord as a reminder of this event:
Matthew 26:52-54 “But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
John 18:11 “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
God's foreknowledge of these events were not things that God kept to Himself, but made known in advance as evidence that this was something He selected to take place. These things had been revealed in advance in great detail to show that the death of Jesus was not a failure by God to establish the kingdom, but was the very tool used by God to bring about this event (See: Psalms 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
Next: “The Resurrection and Reign”