Peter after Pentacost...Acts 2:14-21

 Peter after Pentacost

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Listen to me, hear what I have to say.We should notice that the speaking in tongues stopped when Peter began to preach. The Holy Spirit now worked through Peter’s preaching and would not work against Himself through tongues at the same time.

There is a remarkable change in Peter. He has courage and boldness that is a complete contrast to his denials of Jesus before being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter was speaking boldly

1 Pet 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

It is too early in the day to be drunk, drunkeness is of the night.

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Peter announces the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, partial fulfillment.

This focus on God’s Word did not quench the moving of the Holy Spirit; it fulfilled what the Holy Spirit wanted to do. All the signs and wonders and speaking in tongues were preparing for this work of God’s Word. The Spirit does not call attention to himself, but to Jesus and his word.

The word of God and the Holy Spirit t are the power of God to transform a life. They work together, not apart. The word without the spirit may be dry. The Spirit without the word, may be empty emotion. We need the spirit and the word, then peoples lives are changed and new people are born into the kingdom of God.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

It was the beginning of the last days. Messiah Jesus had finished the work of redeeming a people from satan's power. Now he was expected to come at anytime to establish his millennial kingdom on earth. These are the last days in expectation of the kingdom.

The promise was the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all flesh. Male and female, boy and girl, Jew or non Jew. The spirit was no longer just to come upon them for a season, as in the Old Testament. Now, he would be poured out in ministry to others. The Holy Spirit remains with the believer.

... and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

God will speak through the spirit of prophecy to young and old male and females. Those who limit the speaking of women in church, must remember this prophecy. Men are not more spiritual than women, but men are given authority in the church to lead, as well as in the home.

Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Acts 2:19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Jew and gentile shall be saved.

The birthplace controversy

John 7:40 ... "This man surely is the Prophet."

41 Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born."

43 So the crowd was divided in their opinion about him.

44 And some wanted him arrested, but no one touched him.

45 The Temple guards who had been sent to arrest him returned to the leading priests and Pharisees. "Why didn't you bring him in?" they demanded.

46 "We have never heard anyone talk like this!" the guards responded.

47 "Have you been led astray, too?" the Pharisees mocked.

48 "Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?

49 These ignorant crowds do, but what do they know about it? A curse on them anyway!"

50 Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, then spoke up.

51 "Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?" he asked.

52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself -- no prophet ever comes from Galilee!"

53 Then the meeting broke up and everybody went home. (NLT)

The birthplace controversy was happening regarding Jesus' being a true prophet. It was a test from scriptures to prove that he was the real messiah of the Jews. The religious leaders saw his works and his words, they were wonderful, yet they did not want to believe in him, so they used his birthplace as evidence that he was not their messiah. They assumed that Jesus was from Nazareth. Mary, his birth mother was from Nazareth as was his legal father Joseph. He lived and increased in wisdom and stature, living in Nazareth.

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

The prophet Micah gave his birthplace as the city of David with another proof, that he was from everlasting. Only God is from everlasting.

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

We know from the Bible that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph went to be registered for taxation purposes, because both he and Mary were of the lineage of king David. The Messiah was to inherit an eternal kingdom and be of the house of David.

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

There are so many proofs that Jesus is the Messiah that came to save the Jews and then the Gentiles, through faith in his works. The very works of Jesus proved that he was from God. I will let the reader look for all the evidence and proofs that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the savior from our sins through our belief in him. It takes little evidence for an unbeliever to continue in unbelief. A believer should find many reasons for believing, for there are many proofs.

John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus is Lord and his life was lived in truth. There is another birthplace controversy regarding our president.  People believe because they choose to believe in him. Others do not believe him, they say that he is not a man of truth. Truth matters and we are to know a true or false ruler by their fruit. Again, it comes down to belief or unbelief and it is up to each of us to believe either the truth or the lie. I want to believe and live in truth. Truth is important to me and the children of God. We can think we know something and not know enough truth to really know. There is an abundance of proof that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal Son of God. The Bible tells us so and we are to make our salvation sure. We will be tested. Will we live and die believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior? I believe in him and my eyes are fixed on him. He is faithful and true and he is my Lord and Savior.

I come quickly

I am not going to give you a time chart of when Jesus Christ is returning, it is very soon. Be ready by being awake in the Spirit and staying close to God. He has promised that he is coming again to set up his kingdom.

Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

If we are trusting in Jesus Christ we will be with him forever. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, The word of God is true.Come out from among them, for many shall perish in their sins. Keep witnessing of Jesus Christ and His salvation until he comes. He is coming soon. Are you hearing the voice of God?