Acts 2:1-14, 22-35

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

Peter Addresses the Crowd

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,
“I saw the Lord always before me,
   for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
   moreover, my flesh will live in hope. 
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
   or let your Holy One experience corruption. 
You have made known to me the ways of life;
   you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
“He was not abandoned to Hades,
   nor did his flesh experience corruption.” 
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand, 
   until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ” 

Peter’s first sermon is an example of proof-texting. He uses texts from the Jewish scriptures – which would have been familiar to his listeners – in order to prove the point he wants to make. His point is that Jesus, by his resurrection from the dead, now sits on the throne of his ancestor David.

Acts 2:25-28 is a quotation from Psalm 16:7-11. These verses relate the experience of someone who is brought through death to experience life again. David cannot have been speaking about himself here because he died and was buried and did not rise again. Peter therefore claims that David must have been speaking prophetically about Jesus.

In verse 34, Peter then quotes Psalm 110:1, which indicates that Jesus has been exalted into heaven. Now that he is seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus has been able to send the promised Holy Spirit.

All these proof-texts make it easy to overlook two other significant points that Peter makes. Firstly, he tells his listeners that “you yourselves know” the deeds of power, wonders and sign that God did through Jesus. Secondly, Peter mentions that he and his companions are witnesses to the resurrection.

For me, these appeals to personal experience are more convincing that the proof-texting. I am more likely to be persuaded by someone’s own testimony than by a series of quotes from Scripture. The Methodist quadrilateral – Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason – reminds us that we need to pay attention to all four elements in our journey of faith.

Peter has recognized that speaking in a language that people can understand is the first skill needed in preaching. The second one is to make your comments relevant to the context and culture and existing knowledge of your listeners.  

Blessings as we remind ourselves that Jesus really did rise physically from the dead and that changes everything.  We do not have to be afraid!  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen!  

       To Ponder:

• If you could only use one verse from Scripture to share (or prove) your faith, what would it be?
• If Peter was training as a Methodist local preacher, what feedback would you want to give him after his first sermon?