seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’
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.
The first thing I noticed was that Peter understood that women would hear the Call and received the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us that.... Jesus knew women were worth as much as men. He saw us all as humans, possible sisters and brothers in Christ. All we have to do is Believe and we will not rot with decay.
More than this, the noise coming from the house drew a crowd. This gave Peter an "open mike" opportunity. He told people that Jesus had been murdered. Peter told the people that the body of Jesus was not there after Passover.
This was really dangerous. Peter and the others were the inner circle of the man who Caiaphas knew to be the leader of a Resistance movement. On top of that, a body was missing. Would Peter be accused of taking the body? If not, would the guards lead the Believers to the body? There was a missing body!!!!
Peter told the people, more than 3,000 of them [based on the number of converts] the Holy Spirit caused all the noise in the house, not a drunken party. They could all see that Peter wasn't drunk on liquor... but he was drunk on something else.... the Spirit of God.
Peter reminded the people that God made a Covenant with David. God told David, one of his descendants would one day take his throne. Solomon did a fine job. God also told David that one of his descendants would be the Messiah.
The people said "How do we get in on this?"...... Peter said "Repent and be Baptized".
Actually.... all we have to do is accept the Call. We don't have to be Baptized with water.... we will be Baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Something happens when you accept Jesus as your Messiah. Remember it? Remember how it feels?
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Sure, I know that the majority of the people who would bother with a Religion Forum are probably Christians already. That's why I have a feeling you know what it feels like when you "Accept Him".
It was nine in the morning. It was 50 days after Passover. It was 40 days since Jesus Ascended. His body had gone "missing" from the tomb over a month before. They were not drunk.
I wonder.... what would a reporter back in the day say?
"At 9AM this morning, huge crowds amassed around a home in Jerusalem. It is reported there was such a raucous that thousands gathered. One of the men involved claimed they were not drunk at this indecent hour. He claimed "A Holy Spirit" had entered the home. He called out the Roman Government for murdering Jesus of Nazareth. He called for Repentance."
Peter called for Repentance!
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