Acts 2:36-3:12

What can we learn from Peter’s sermon?

• Be bold enough to speak up.

• Use scripture, not opinion.

Acts 2:38 – See also Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20.

• Some argue that “for” here means “because of.” The English word “for” can indeed mean that, but the original Greek word “eis” is never used that way. It does not have that meaning any of the 1,700 times it is used in the Bible.

Acts 2:39 – Peter said the promise extended to those “who are far off.” Paul later used the same wording to refer to Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-18. Peter was alluding to Gentiles without even realizing what he was saying.

Acts 2:38, continued: The Holy Spirit had foretold (II Peter 1:21) the coming of this gift. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32. Many were baptized, but they could not perform miracles, so it is clear that this gift was not a miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The gift was salvation!

Acts 2:47 – This refers to God adding people to the church in the universal sense.

Introduction

• Written to Theophilus, who here is referred to as a specific person.

• Luke was the writer. The Holy Spirit was the author.

Filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:15-17; 41-42)

• “Filled with” speaks, not of quantity, but of motivation. It speaks of cause and effect.

• Luke 6:11

• Acts 5:17-18

• Acts 13:45

• Acts 5:3

• Acts 9:17-18

• Ephesians 5:18-20

• Luke 1:41-42

Luke 1:38 – This was a great demonstration of faith on Mary’s part, knowing that what she had just been told would be a miraculous feat.

Luke 1:50 – God will be merciful to the faithful in the judgment. Compare II Timothy 1:18.