Peter's Message

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy. ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. For David says of Him,
‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’
"Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:14-36

God is one in essence, three in personality. God the Father (unseen; spirit only) made the plan in eternity past. God the Son (became flesh to live among us and redeem us) executed the plan of creation and redemption. God the Holy Spirit (also unseen, but sometimes felt) has various functions throughout history. He participated in the creation, the Old Testament manifestations of God to His people, the prophesies of the Messiah and future things. He enabled individual believers in Old Testament times for whatever special work they were appointed to perform. That was temporary enablement in the dispensation of Israel and before, but now comes the Church Age, in which all believers are universally indwelt by God, the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is the person Who convicts us of our need for a savior. He opens our understanding for the reception of the Savior's atonement. He brings us to a comprehension of the finished Work of Christ on our behalf. Then, when we believe and receive Jesus Christ, He fills and permanently indwells us, baptizing us into Christ's Body forever. We are now Children of God, made in His likeness, positive to His teaching and useful soldiers in the Angelic Conflict.

The Day of Pentecost was the initiation into the Church of all born-again believers in Jesus Christ. It was a mass baptism in Himself of all present there who had previously believed and had been symbolically baptized in water. Peter had to explain to the thousands in attendance what was going on. No, we're not drunk at 9 am, people. What you are seeing and hearing is fulfillment of prophecy. This is a manifestation of the Spirit Who will also produce the phenomena prophesied in Joel 2:28-32 regarding the last days. You know that prophesy as a work of the Spirit, so you should recognize this as such.

Then Peter referred to the miracles and signs that many of these same people had witnessed in the ministry of Jesus, Whom the Father had sent and Who had been nailed to a cross to appease these very people. Yes, He died, but death could not hold Him. Peter quoted David's Psalm 16:8-11, citing God's promise not to abandon the Christ to the grave or allow His body to decompose. Pointing out that David's body IS dead, and still in the grave, Peter states that this promise could only be about Jesus, descendant of David and Lamb of God. He's at the Father's right hand, now, and has sent God, the Holy Spirit to continue the work of redemption in the earth. That work will be accomplished through the Body of Christ--His Church.

Know this, Israel: God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter and the other apostles had, like Abraham, left family and home to go with Jesus into the unknown, just because they believed in Him. They spent three years in close company with the Messiah as He presented Himself to Israel. They had witnessed his arrest and crucifixion. They had seen the empty tomb; had visited and shared meals with the risen Lord. Since the resurrection they had had six weeks of doctrinal training by Jesus, Himself. And now, at last, the power has descended. Now they can see what this whole experience has been about, to which they were appointed. Now they can articulate God's plan to any Jew in whatever language he speaks! They can do that now, because they are a NEW SPECIES. Not Jew, not Gentile----CHURCH. The one for whom our Lord endured the shame of the cross.

The brand-new Church would have much more to do and to teach in those intense first years of existence. They still could not know what sorrows and joys lay before them, but they were supremely equipped to evangelize, baptize, train and teach those who would be born into this new species. Those first miraculous sign gifts would phase out as the canon of Scripture was completed; during the lifetime of the apostles. The work continues, though, with perhaps quieter, but just as profound miracles in the daily lives of all who name the Name of Jesus, as we await His glorious return.