Here are the Pulpit Notes for Acts 2:25-47.
Jesus people live different because of what Jesus did on the cross, and in their hearts. There is a difference, by every statistical measure, when serious minded born again christians are looked at. The famed atheist Christopher Hitchens held court when he debated weak minded folks. Hitchens posed a question to Christians that often stumbled them, his question went like this, “Name a virtue performed by a Christian and I will show you that an atheist can do the same thing.”
The blunt force truth is people do need Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to be people full of virtue, because what we know now from every field of study, is that atheists, agnostics, and many others, do not live sacrificial lives for others. And the reason is simple, they have no lasting motivation to look out for others, there is no justifiable reason in atheism or agnosticism to look out for your fellow man, selfishness is in fact greatly admired in both of those ideas.
Hitchens knew this but it was not until at the end of his life when he met a born again, spirit filled believer, every bit his academic equal, that Hitchens took notice that the gospel does in fact make a dramatic difference, a difference he spent a lifetime hoping to see, and finally did.
Peter’s First Sermon
Acts 2:25 is the middle of the Peter’s first sermon, a bible study Peter first learned from Jesus, as taught by the Savior after his resurrection.
Jesus People Love The Path Of Life
v.25-28
Peter used Psalm 16 to point out a few things about Jesus. If there is one redeeming quality about Jesus people, it’s their ability to say “Yes” to life, and Psalm 16 illustrates that fact.
Jesus People Love The Logic Of Scripture
v.29-35
Pentecost brings logic along with fire, it’s a both and thing, not an either or. Peter simply said, “King David is still dead and in his tomb, we all know where it is, but Jesus we all know got out of the grave.” It was a matter fact kind of apologetic Peter reasoned, he is in fact saying the truth is as plain as the nose on your face.
Psalm 110:1
Peter used this Psalm to communicate a mystery, King David thought God was saying certain things to him, but in fact the Lord in the passage was Jesus.
Jesus People Love Jesus As God
V.36
To Jews living in Jerusalem at that time, the phrase God has made him both Lord and Christ is a way of saying Jesus is God.
Hebrew Context saw it this way:
Lord + Christ = God
Jesus People Love Holy Spirit Invasions
v.37-41
The key words in this section are:
repent…be willing to change
baptize…allow the Holy Spirit to immerse you in Himself
Gift…welcome the Holy Spirit as a gift
10 Names Of The Holy Spirit
- Spirit of truth – John 14:17
- Spirit of faith – 2 Cor 4:13
- Spirit of grace – Heb 10:29
- Spirit of holiness – Ro 1:14
- Spirit of wisdom – Eph 1:17
- Spirit of power – 2 Tim 1:7
- Spirit of love – 2 Tim 1:7
- Spirit of sound mind – 2 Tim 1:7
- Spirit of life – Ro 8:2
- Spirit of glory – 1 Peter 4:14
…special thanks to JB Phillips Commentary
Jesus People Love Their New Family
v.42 – 47
The new church was devoted, which means in Greek, “to be continually steadfast.”
The foundation Luke outline this way in Acts:
- Teaching (doctrine)
- Fellowship
- Breaking Bread (both sharing a meal together and communion).
- Prayer
- Giving
Enjoy.
