A.      Previously, we considered the events of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.  Presently, let us consider the message that was revealed, for the events simply created a platform for the message to be presented.

B.      As we study this, notice that the Jews already knew most of the things that Peter would preach to them.  Peter simply put the pieces of the puzzle together for them so they could see the fulfillment of God’s plan.

                                                             1.      They knew all about the events of Jesus’ miracles and crucifixion, and they had probably heard about His resurrection (although they may not have believed it).

                                                             2.      They knew the Scriptures written by David, which Peter quoted to them.

                                                             3.      What they did not know was that Jesus had ascended to the right hand of God, and what they did not understand is how the events involving Jesus related to David’s inspired words.  This what Peter revealed to them.

C.      As we proceed through the text of Acts 2:22-40, notice Peter’s careful use the name of Jesus and the title of Christ (Messiah).  He progressed logically through his sermon to show that the man these Jews had known as Jesus the Nazarene was indeed the Christ of prophecy.

II.      EVIDENCE

A.      After Peter declared that Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled, He recalled the evidence of Jesus’ miracles (Acts 2:22).

                                                             1.      Peter had just announced the coming of wonders and signs upon mankind according to Joel’s prophecy, so he made a connection to the wonders and signs previously performed by Jesus the Nazarene.

                                                             2.      Jesus had been attested by God through His miracles.  This means that the miracles of Jesus were God’s testimony of who Jesus was (see John 5:36-38).

                                                             3.      The Jews to whom Peter spoke knew about Jesus’ miracles, for these signs (miraculous symbolic acts) were performed in their midst.  The evidence of God’s endorsement of Jesus was undeniable.

B.      Peter then declared that Jesus’ crucifixion was according to God’s plan (Acts 2:23).

                                                             1.      Perhaps Peter by the Holy Spirit anticipated that the Jews would ask, “If God was with Jesus, then why did He allow Jesus to be crucified?” (compare to the mockery of Jesus on the cross in Matt. 27:39-44; see Ps. 22:8; Isa. 53:4).  The truth was that it was all according to God’s eternal plan.

                                                             2.      Notice that even though Jesus’ crucifixion was according to God’s plan and was carried out by the Romans, these Jews still bore the guilt for having put Him to death.

C.      Also according to God’s plan, Jesus was raised up from the dead (Acts 2:24).

                                                             1.      The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead was another testimony by God.  Paul later wrote that Jesus was “declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4).

                                                             2.      Peter said that it was impossible for Jesus to be held in the power of death.  This is because Jesus is greater than Satan, who had the power of death but has been rendered powerless (Heb. 2:14).

III.   DAVID’S TESTIMONY

A.      Peter quoted David’s inspired words from Psalm 16:8-11 (Acts 2:25-28).

                                                             1.      These words are written in the first person, but David did not write Psalm 16 entirely about himself (there was a twofold application).  He wrote them from the vantage point of the Christ.

                                                             2.      The speaker of these words expresses his trust in God to rescue him from the grave (Sheol or Hades).  This element will be the key to Peter’s explanation of this passage.

B.      Peter explained that these words were not fulfilled in David, but rather they are fulfilled through the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:29-32).

                                                             1.      David wrote Psalm 16 by inspiration, but the words could not have applied completely to him.  David’s soul was still in Hades and his flesh suffered decay, for he had died and was buried, and his tomb was with the Jews even as Peter spoke.

                                                             2.      Peter explained that David had insight based on God’s promise to seat David’s descendant on his throne (Ps. 132:11; see 2Sam. 7:12).  Because David was a prophet, he “looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,” which would facilitate the fulfillment of God’s promise.

                                                             3.      Notice how Peter was logically proving to the Jews that Jesus the Nazarene was the Christ.

a.       Peter declared that he and the other apostles were witnesses of that which David had foreseen.  David foresaw the resurrection of the Christ, and the apostles witnessed the resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene.

b.       By proving that what David prophesied and what the apostles’ witnessed were actually the same event, Peter proved that Jesus was the Christ.

C.      Peter then declared the ascension of Jesus to heaven, and he proved it through David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:1 (Acts 2:33-35).

                                                             1.      David’s words in Psalm 110:1 foretold that the Christ would sit at the right hand of God until His enemies were all conquered.

a.       When David wrote, “The LORD said to my Lord,” he was quoting a dialogue between Jehovah (“the LORD”) and David’s Lord or Master, who was the Christ.  Therefore, Jehovah said to Christ, “Sit at My right hand until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”

b.       Jesus once quoted this same passage to expose the Pharisees’ ignorance regarding the spiritual nature of the Christ (Matt. 22:41-46).  They could not explain how the Christ could be both David’s son and David’s Lord.

                                                             2.      Peter and the other apostles had witnessed Jesus’ ascension back into heaven, and Peter now declared that Jesus was at the right hand of God according to David’s inspired words.

a.       Jesus had been proven as the Christ by the resurrection, so anything prophesied about the Christ must have been true of Jesus.

b.       Because Psalm 110:1 revealed that the Christ would sit at the right hand of God, it was true that Jesus, who is the Christ, had taken that position of power and authority.

IV.    THE MESSAGE – JESUS IS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST

A.      All that Peter had said led to this final conclusion – “God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).

                                                             1.      In just a brief sermon, Peter had proved to this audience that Jesus was both Lord and Christ.

a.       That Jesus was Lord meant that He was seated at the right hand of God upon the throne of David and endowed with power and authority as Master of all.

b.       That He was Christ or Messiah (literally “the anointed one”) meant that He was chosen by God as the supreme Prophet, Priest, and King.

                                                             2.      Notice that Peter reminded the Jews that they had crucified this Jesus whom God had made both Lord and Christ.

B.      This truth provoked some of the hearers to ask, “What shall we do?”  Peter gave them the answer (Acts 2:37-39).

                                                             1.      They were “pierced to the heart,” which means that they were smitten in conscience.  Peter’s words had convicted them of their guilt toward the Christ.

                                                             2.      Peter told them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

a.       To repent is to turn away from one’s old ways and change to new ways.

b.       To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is to be immersed in water in conjunction with the person and power of Jesus Christ.

c.        This combination of repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ would result in the forgiveness of sins, including the unthinkable sin committed by these Jews who had crucified the Christ.

d.       Notice that this instruction is the first time that Peter put these names “Jesus” and “Christ” together.  Peter had proven that these two names were synonymous with the same person, Jesus Christ.

e.        The gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise to those who are called by God is the fulfillment of all the blessings in Christ foretold and delivered by the Holy Spirit.

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      Let us close by noticing Acts 2:40 – “And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’”

B.      Peter’s words form the message of Pentecost, and that message continues in our perverse generation to implore us to be saved through Jesus, who is and always will be Lord and Christ.  Heed the message!