36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Greek Word Study:
(v.36) Word: ἀσφαλῶς / asphalos
“assured, certainty, beyond a doubt”. I chose this because Peter ends his
sermon with this word in the last clause. Furthermore it is the very first word
in the clause is ἀσφαλῶς / asphalos, therefore Luke is bringing emphasis to it
locating it in the beginning of the clause since it didn’t need to be there (Rienecker et al 267). Assured or certain of
what? Peter/Luke tells us right in the passage: “God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” There is no doubt about
this fact. There is little need for faith here. They all bore witness to
Christ’s death and crucifixion, it is indeed a fact for them and Peter/Luke are
drawing intense focus to this fact. The truth of sin they are subsequently
convicted by causes them to repent. This is in harmony with Luke’s overall modus
operandi to show the certainty (ἀσφάλειαν / asphaleian [same cognate as Acts
2:36] ) of the things Theophilus had been taught (Luke 1:4), since what
Theophilus had been taught is exactly what Peter preached in Acts 2 at
Pentecost. Peter’s sermon therefore ties together in parallel the promise from Jesus
of the Holy Spirit/and command to baptize (Acts 1:4-5) which itself is a jump
back to the Great Commission of Matthew 28 which was to carry on all the things
Jesus had taught the Disciples (Matthew 28:20). Peter also shows the
manifestation of what Luke wrote in Luke 24:47-49 that “(v.47) and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” they were
to wait for what was promised which was…, “ (v.49) power from on high [the
Spirit]”.
(v.37) Phrase: κατενύγησαν
τὴν καρδίαν / katenugesan ten kardian / “cut to the heart” or
more literally “their hearts were down-punctured”, kata meaning "down" and nýssō meaning "pierce" to
pierce all the way down, deeply (thoroughly) pained; "emotionally pierced through";
psychologically pricked, these people were thoroughly emotionally stunned (Rienecker et al 267).
The
fact in verse 36, that “the One that they were guilty of crucifying was the
Messiah”…was excruciating to them and they sought the only relief from the
convicting guilt of their sin. When they ask, “Brothers, what shall we do?” It
is clear their hearts are already turning towards repentance.
They
are appropriately convicted to the core of their being (heart) and it literally
physically paining them which seems evident from the word κατενύγησαν /
katenugesan. What in reality is paining them psychologically/physically is
their own sin and guilt…and the answer from Peter to remedy this was to repent
(turn from or change their minds from sin) and be baptized…which many did (at
least 3000 that day).
Peter’s
response and subsequent actions are reminiscent of speak Jesus’ Great
Commission and also of John the Baptist’s words in Luke 3, “I baptize you with
water. But One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose
sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
with fire.”
Summary of Meaning
The people
(both Christians and non) are gathered together at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit comes
on them and they begin speaking in tongues. Many are perplexed and want to know
what’s going on. Some speaking in tongues are even accused of drinking. Peter
responds to the question first with an apologetic (v. 14-22) to defend the
speaking in tongues. He does so from Joel of the Old Testament (v.16). Second
he quite literally gives the Kerygma or preaches the Gospel after defending the
believer’s behavior. This /Kerygma/Gospel Peter preaches contains the death
burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures (Old
Testament). Unlike David mentioned herein, Jesus’ body did not decay (v.31).
The proof of what Peter says about Jesus was evidenced by the miracles he
worked and the fact that God resurrected Him from the grave, all of these facts
were known by the people Peter preaches
to. The remainder of this passage shows the sum / end result of Peter’s
preaching: People convicted of their transgression (sin, putting Jesus to
death) subsequently repent and are baptized which is the proper response or outward manifestation (repentance)
to the Gospel for one that is repentant and seeks forgiveness.
Implications
of the Text: What it Always Means
The same
implications to the Jews that Peter speaks to (1st century) apply to us today
also. The universal application from this passage can be stated with
cross-referenced Scripture alone as I will do in just a moment. If you want a formal
stated implication of text…here it is. The general underlying principle of
Peter’s apologetic and preaching still apply today. The culture may change but the means of God’s
mercy, grace and salvation remain the same as it was planned and foreknown
since time immemorial (Acts 2:24) and will be so until the return of Jesus. Peter’s pattern, is the basic pattern for
calling people to repentance and forgiveness through conviction caused by the
preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The result of those that are to be
saved will be conviction of sin and a turn towards the Cross of Jesus Christ!
Because of
this I will combine the next two sections of the exegetical process: Implications
of the Text and Summarizing of the passage into a thesis/synopsis. It is
wordy but I am dealing with a periscope of 27 verses and it is hard to
encapsulate in on a limited scale. We are dealing with the truth of God’s word
and eternal life here folks.
Thesis or
Main Idea of Acts 2:14-41
By
preaching the Gospel as Peter did, he/we obey God and fulfill the Great
Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. It’s in Acts 2:14-41 that they/we see why Jesus
commanded teaching what He taught and baptizing in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. It is by hearing the message of Christ that faith comes
(Romans 10:17). Those that accept the Gospel will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit (1st Century Jews or 21st Century Americans). The Gospel
being: His Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus in agreement with
Scripture/Prophecy (ex: 1 Cor 15:3-4) as Peter did here. All this being God’s plan
and foreknown by Him (Acts 2:23) which is evidenced through Old Testament
prophecy from God in advance (Acts 2:17-21, 25-28, 34-35). Prophecies that told
people that if they repented and believed…they will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit promised (Acts 2:4, 33, 38).
Stated
another way…
We are to love
Jesus, obey His commands and Jesus Himself will ask the Father, and he will
give us another Counselor to be with us forever -the Holy Spirit (John
14:15-17). The Holy Spirit, who is in reality a down-payment of salvation for
believers that He indwells (Ephesians 1:14). The signs of this down-payment are
the Fruits produced by the Spirit in a believer (Galatians 5:22-23). But as we
see with the incredulous Jews that are gathered (Acts 2:13), the message of the
cross is sometimes foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are
being saved it is the power [δύναμις] of God! (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is the dunamis/power
that can and did resurrect Jesus from the dead…therefore it can resurrect believers
too since we are in Him (and He in us) (1 Cor 1:30). Christ was the first
fruits of the Resurrection so when He returns, those who belong to him will be
resurrected also (1 Cor 15:23). This is because the same exact power that
raised Jesus resides within believers in the form of the Holy Spirit (Romans
8:11).
Scope of Truth
Although Peter
addresses Jews in this passage the implication of needing to repent and seek forgiveness
from God is universal for all. One must be saved to have eternal life. That
salvation is exclusivist. It is only possible through believing and trusting in
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This
applies to me or anyone else that would desire to seek entry into Heaven or
into the eternal kingdom of God. That is the plan Peter refers to here: That
Christ would be crucified by sinners for sinners to save sinners from there fate
of eternal judgment in Hell because of their sin.
The Proper
Response to This Indictment
The proper
response for me or anyone else in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is
what Peter preached here in Acts 2:14-41 is to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Period. There is no other away to eternal life.
This response or
repentance appears to be a work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that
does the convicting that leads to repentance (John 16:8, 1 Corinthians 3:6)
“I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Significance of the Text: What It
Means to Audience
The significance
to the audience both Peter’s, Luke’s and mine would be the same as stated
above. We are to defend our faith, preach it and the response should be
conviction of sin and a turning of heart (repentance) towards God seeking
forgiveness. The stipulation for salvation is universal and holds sway until
“The Great Day of the Lord” or until the judgment in the Eschaton (End Times).
What is the
Call to Arms or The Takeaway?
So where do we
go from here? Well…that’s part of my sermon…you’ll need to read my sermon for
that. :P
[Completed in Part III: The Sermon]
[Completed in Part III: The Sermon]
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