Once the Holy Spirit came, Peter was filled and spoke a powerful message. He starts by refuting the accusations the disciples were drunk at nine o’clock in the morning and continues by quoting from the prophet Joel, where God declared that he would pour out his Spirit on his people.
Peter then speaks about Jesus. He states that Jesus had performed miracles and used His power for many purposes. He tells them that they handed Jesus over to be crucified. But death wasn’t the end. Jesus was raised on the third day, conquering death, which could not hold Him.
Peter continues by talking about King David’s prophecy in Psalm 16 and his confidence in God. Yet, David had died they knew where his tomb was. But David spoke of the resurrection of God’s Holy One. Peter connects the dots for them, stating that Jesus is God’s Holy One and was raised from the dead.
He then tells the crowd that Jesus was exalted and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He states that it is because of Jesus that the Holy Spirit has been poured out, which is why the crowd heard the disciples speaking in languages they had not been taught. Finally, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews had been anticipating for hundreds of years.
Peter’s message cut to the heart of the crowd and they asked what they were to do. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name and they, too, would receive the Holy Spirit. He states this promise was not just for the crowd on that day but for everyone. On that day, nearly two-thousand years ago, about three thousand committed their life to Jesus.
I pray we all understand the importance of Pentecost. I pray we hear and learn from Peter’s message. I pray we take his message to everyone we know and convince them to commit their lives to Jesus. Know the importance of Pentecost. Read Peter’s message. Tell others about Jesus. Help them commit to Jesus.
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Marty Pressey 