Acts 2

Acts 2:1

Pentecost was a celebration. Taking place in the early spring, fifty days after Passover, it celebrated the completion of the winter harvest. Pentecost was a commemoration. As outlined in Leviticus 23, the Jews were to bring two loaves of bread as an offering representing the two stone tablets on which the Law was written. Pentecost was an illustration. Three thousand people died the day the law was given (Exo_32:28). But on the day the Spirit was given, three thousand were saved (Act_2:41). Thus, the two loaves commemorating the tablets of stone came to illustrate Jew and Gentile coming together in one new organization called the church. Unlike most other sacrifices, these loaves had leaven in them, a picture of the sin that would exist in a church made up of sinners saved by grace.

Acts 2:2

The disciples were seated. They weren’t rolling around, lying on the floor, or even kneeling in prayer. Sixty-dollar seminars teaching people how to hold their hands in order to experience the power of God, thereby merchandising the gospel. This ought not be! Are you waiting on the Lord? Are you hungering and thirsting for Him? You don’t have to do something weird to get His attention, just be open to Him.

Acts 2:3

The audio came before the visual, the sound of the wind before the sight of the fire because the Word of the Lord always precedes the work of the Lord. Man says, “If I can see it, I’ll believe it.” God says, “Believe it, and then you’ll see it.”

Acts 2:4

While the wind and the fire are never seen again in the New Testament, speaking in tongues is seen repeatedly. In 1Co_14:18, Paul wrote, “I speak in tongues more than you all.” In Acts 10, when Peter was in the house of Cornelius preaching the Word, he didn’t even finish his message before the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and they started speaking in tongues (Act_10:44). In Acts 19, Paul led the Ephesians into a knowledge of Jesus Christ, laid hands on them for the power of the Spirit, and they spoke in tongues (Act_19:1-6). Although the word “tongues” conjures up wild images of a big tongue flapping up and down, all it means is “languages” or “dialects.” The direction of tongues is to God (1Co_14:2). The purpose of tongues is to strengthen the inner man (1Co_14:4). The effect of tongues is to build our faith (Jud_1:20). Praying in the Spirit is an invaluable weapon in the spiritual arsenal God has given us. However, I’ll tell you the truth: Almost everyone I’ve ever talked with has discovered that when they began to pray in the Spirit with words they had never learned and sounds they had never uttered, they were immediately challenged by Satan’s voice in their ears, saying, “That’s bogus. That’s gibberish. That’s dumb.” But this should not be surprising, for in every area of spiritual life, God declares, Satan denies, and we decide. God declared to Adam and Eve, “Eat of the fruit and you will die” (see Gen_2:16-17). “Did God really say that?” the serpent asked (see Gen_3:1). And Eve decided to listen to Satan rather than to believe God. I came to a point in my early twenties when I said, “I see in the Word, Lord, that You encourage the private devotional use of praying in the Spirit for faith to be edified. It’s a tool available for me, and, Lord, I choose right now to move into that.” Satan immediately challenged my decision, yet thirty years later, praying in the Spirit is still a wonderful part of my spiritual life. Is it the key? No. Am I on a tongues kick? Absolutely not. “Let all things be done decently and in order,” Paul wrote in 1Co_14:40. The Pentecostal churches have the first part of that verse down pat: Let all things be done! The Baptist churches are experts on the second part: Decently and in order. I believe that the Lord wants us to experience both portions. Let all things be done, yes, but decently and in order.

Acts 2:5

Dispersed Jews from all nations had gathered together in the Holy City for the Feast of Pentecost. When they heard about what was happening in the Upper Room, they gathered together to see for themselves what was going on. As they heard praise, adoration, and worship in their native tongues, they were amazed.

Acts 2:8

Are tongues always in a known language? In 1Co_13:1, Paul refers to the tongues of men and of angels. Because 1 Corinthians 12-14 deals specifically with the manifestations of the Spirit, I believe the implication is clear: When people praise and worship the Lord in tongues, it may very well be in a language unknown on earth but known in heaven, the dialect of angels. Thus, tongues can be known, or unknown; the language of men, or the language of angels. I’ll never forget a meeting I attended at the Lake Arrowhead Hilton in California where about one hundred believers had gathered together for a time of waiting upon the Lord. Since hotel rules dictated that the bar remain open whenever the conference room was in use, the bartender stood in the back of the room polishing glasses while we studied, worshiped, and prayed. Toward the end of the meeting, a fellow stood up and gave a beautiful utterance in tongues. Because there was no interpretation, the brother overseeing the meeting wisely said, “We thank the Lord for that utterance, but since there is not interpretation flowing here tonight, that will be our only public utterance of tongues.” When the meeting concluded, the bartender approached us, and with tears running down his cheeks, said, “I must talk to that man who stood up and prayed. How does he know my tongue? I’m Iranian, and he worshiped the True and Living God in perfect Farsi.” Needless to say, the bartender got saved that night.

Acts 2:12

Whenever people start experiencing the dynamic of the Holy Spirit, there are those who say, “What meaneth this?” Others mockingly say, “They’re full of new wine.” While David worshiped the Lord and danced before God with all his might in his underwear, his wife, Michal, watched from her window. When David walked in, she sarcastically said, “Didn’t you look wonderful out there? That was real kingly.” “What I have done I have done as unto the Lord,” David replied. “But, Michal, because you have mocked this, you will be barren all the days of your life” (see 2Sa_6:20-23). So, too, the Michal in you and me will forever mock. “You’re lifting your hands, isn’t that great? You’re praying in gibberish. Isn’t that wonderful? Come on, now. Get real.” There are born-again believers with the mentality of Michal who mock the things of the Spirit and call them demonic. I’m not saying they don’t love the Lord. I’m not saying they’re not born again. I am saying there’s a “barren-ness” about them.

Acts 2:14

Peter, the giant of a fisherman who had cowered before a servant girl, now towers above the crowd. Why? One reason: He was empowered with the Spirit. “These are not drunk as you suppose,” can have a couple of implications. It can mean, “These men are not drunk, as you’re suggesting.” Or it can mean, “These men are not drunk in the way that you think. They’re drunk with a different wine, the new wine of the Holy Ghost, not distilled spirits, but the dynamic Spirit.”

Acts 2:16

When people have questions about things they see happening in ministry, in the Spirit, or in worship, like Peter, we should be able to answer, “This is that which is spoken of scripturally.” I believe this is where many in the Pentecostal movement have greatly erred. When I ask about the scriptural basis for some of the things they do, I hear answers like this one given by a Pentecostal “superstar”: “You have to realize more can be cooked up in the kitchen than appears on the menu. God is bigger than the Bible.” Not so. What makes for solid doctrine and good church practice are those occurrences or precedents we see in the Gospels which continue in Acts and are taught in the Epistles. Anything else throws the door wide open to New Age author and actress Shirley MacLaine and anyone else who claims to have had his or her own special encounter with God. Peter was an incredible expositor, quoting from the Psalms in Acts I and from Joel in Acts 2. The fisherman became a scholar by hanging out with Jesus. If you want to be one whom the Lord uses, be like Peter. Hang out with Jesus, and inevitably, you will get a firm grasp of the Word.

Acts 2:17

Joel prophesied that in the Last Days the Spirit would be poured out upon the young men and the old men, the young men seeing visions, the old men dreaming dreams (Joe_2:28).

Acts 2:18

Who will prophesy? Servants and handmaidens. I have found that women often possess an especially blessed ministry of prophecy because of their sensitivity to the still, small voice of the Spirit.

Acts 2:19

Joel 2 speaks about the Day of the Lord, the day when the church is raptured and judgment comes down. Pentecost was not the fulfillment of Joel 2, but only a sneak preview of coming attractions. In many ways, what happened at Pentecost is being experienced to a much greater degree today in countries other than America. Why? Because who needs the gift of healing when we have Blue Cross and Excedrin PM? Who needs a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge when we have computers? I believe many of the blessings our society enjoys medicinally and technologically have shut us off from what the Lord does elsewhere miraculously as a picture of what’s to come prophetically.

Acts 2:21

People are being exposed today to the name of the Lord in more ways than ever beforethrough billboards, T-shirts, books, bumper stickers, and Christian music. I believe this is because the Lord is already preparing the hearts of a whole bunch of our friends, relatives, and neighbors who, although they are presently closed to the gospel, will open their hearts in the incredible revival that will take place during the Tribulation period.

Acts 2:22

Following Peter’s quotation of Scripture, he explains Scripture. In verse Act_2:22, Peter summed up the life of Jesus. In verse Act_2:23, he talked about the death of Jesus. In verse Act_2:24, he spoke of the Resurrection of Jesus. Thus, in less than thirty seconds, Peter encompassed Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection. That’s good preaching! In verse Act_2:23, we see the tension between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man when Peter said, “You crucified Him. But it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” “Wait a minute,” you say. “If it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, it was God’s will that it happened. How then could the Jews be indicted for the death of Jesus?” It beats me. It’s an endless argument we pea brains cannot figure out. All I know is this: God is sovereign, yet man is responsible. God’s will is worked out, yet man is held accountable. In the words of J. B. Phillips: If God was small enough for us to figure out, He wouldn’t be big enough for us to worship. Rom_3:23 says the wages of sin is death. Since Jesus never sinned, death could not hold Him. He died in place of you and me, He died for us personally, but death could not hold Him permanently. He rose again.

Acts 2:25

Here, Peter quotes yet another psalm, as he says, “David speaks concerning Him,” or “in place of Him” (see Psa_16:8-11). Put quotation marks around these verses, because although David is speaking prophetically, it’s actually Jesus speaking personally, who, following His crucifixion, descended into hell (Eph_4:9-10).

Acts 2:29

Although we always think of David as a king, he was also a prophet. Since David’s body did indeed see corruption when it became dust, he couldn’t have been speaking about himself, but about the One who would succeed himthe Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ.

Acts 2:33

David called his descendant his Lord. In Jewish culture, one would never call his offspring “Lord.” “What is Peter implying?” his audience must have wondered. Peter’s implication was simply this: Jesus, the Son of David, is more than merely a descendant of David. He is the Son of God.

Acts 2:36

The Jews had heard amazing things through the utterance of tongues. They had seen Peter stand up boldly to preach powerfully and persuasively. They heard him use Scripture accurately and irrefutably. As a result, they were pricked in their hearts. “What shall we do?” they asked. The same question had been asked of John in Luke 3, to which the Baptist had replied, “If you have two coats, give one away. If you collect taxes, do not collect more than his due. If you’re a soldier, do no man unnecessary violence.” “Do, do, do” was John’s message of preparationbut it’s not the message of salvation. The message of salvation is not: “Do.” It’s: “Done!”

Acts 2:38

To repent simply means to change direction. “You once thought Jesus was a blasphemer, a heretic, a dangerous individual,” said Peter. “Change your mind about who He is.” Gang, the gospel is not based upon people cleaning up their lives or getting their acts together. The gospel is simply based upon a change of mind concerning Jesus Christ. For many of you, Jesus was no more than a curse word. To others, He was a political revolutionary, a good teacher, or a wise man. But then you heard the Word, you saw the power, and you were pricked in your heart. You had no other recourse but to repent, no other choice but to admit He is the Christ, and you were saved.

Acts 2:39

There are those today who say the gift of the Holy Ghost is no longer available. I disagree. The promise of the Father is to you, your children, and to those who are afar off in coming generations and in other regions. Precious people, don’t let anyone deny you the gift and empowering of the Holy Ghost. Don’t let them say it’s no longer applicable or no longer available. The promise of the Father experienced on the Day of Pentecost is available to you, to your children, and to those who are afar off, regardless of how far spiritually or geographically we might be.

Acts 2:40

I like that word “gladly.” On one of my walks, I was reading the Scriptures and found myself placing a kiss upon my Bible as I felt my heart overflow with the goodness, the truth, the practicality, the encouragement, and the reality of the Word. When the law came down, three thousand men died (Exo_32:28). When the Spirit came down, three thousand souls were saved. The law kills. Move into a legalistic Christianity, and you will reek of death. But allow the Spirit to come upon you, and life will flow from you.

Acts 2:42

The early church taught the Word, shared in fellowship, broke bread in Communion, and prayed. The Church: Keeping It Simple A Topical Study of Act_2:42 Some things are hard for me to understandlike the recent case of a mugger who won a court settlement of nearly twenty-five thousand dollars for injuries suffered when a cab driver chased him down and pinned him against a wall until police arrived. The criminal took the hero to court, and the criminal won. Fifty years ago, such a judgment would never have been rendered. As a society, we seem to have set aside our moral compass, if we have not put it away all together. Consequently, many people long for simpler days and simpler ways, not only judicially, but technologically. If you were in high school or college during the ’70s, you may remember reading Alvin Toffler’s book, Future Shock, which predicted that by the early ’90s, technology would be so advanced that the average American would work less than twenty hours per week, yet make twice as much as he did in the ’70s. Toffler was wrong, for the truth is, although we are more technologically advanced than ever, we are also more frazzled and frayed. Economically, things don’t look much better. As of September 25, 2002, our country was over $6.2 trillion in debt. “That may be so,” you say, “but I’m doing okay. I’m living as well as my parents did when I grew up.” If you’re living as well as your parents did, it’s probably because both you and your wife work. And, should the Lord tarry, by the time our fourteen-year-olds reach twenty-one, it will take five incomes to live as well as you do now. No wonder we long for simpler days and simpler ways judicially, technologically, economically, and even ecclesiastically. Acts tells us that the early church turned the world upside down (Act_17:6). Our text tells us they did so by steadfastly continuing in four simple pursuits…

1. The Apostles’ Doctrine The early church didn’t just dabble in the Word, folks. They devoured it. Jos_1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” How can you be successful and prosperous? By being steadfastly committed to the Word of God. A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn’t. If you’re wearing out your Bible because you’re continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, you will be prosperous and successful. That’s a promise.
2. Fellowship The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinonia, which means “communion,” or “communication.” Koinonia is people sharing with one another the things of the kingdom and the things of God. Unfortunately, the richness of koinonia has been reduced to a lightweight frivolity in so many churches today, where a time of fellowship is usually synonymous with nothing more than a time of cookies and punch. “I don’t need koinonia,” you say. “I’ve been a Christian for fourteen years. I’m as strong and tall as a redwood tree.” Really? Think about the redwood tree: Redwood trees appear invincible, but in reality, a relatively mild wind can topple one. You see, above the surface, redwoods seem strong, but their root systems are very, very shallow. That is why they always grow in groves. Their strength comes from interlocking their roots with other redwoods. Exodus 36 paints a wonderful picture of this principle. As the tabernacle, which speaks of the body of Christ, was being constructed, God gave these instructions: The length of a board was to be ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half (Exo_36:21). Now, if you study Biblical numerology, you know that one and a half is an imbalanced number. Only when the boards were joined together would they form the perfect number of balance and stability, the number of the Trinitythe number three. Thus, through the picture of the tabernacle, the Lord declared, “There needs to be a linkage, a bonding within My people, without which they will be imbalanced.” The picture continues: “And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the other side…” (Exo_36:31-32). Individual boards were paired together. The pairs were then held in congruency and kept straight by five bars. What are the five bars? I believe Eph_4:11 tells us: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” You see, it’s not enough for you and me to be linked individually. We need the following “five bars” to bind us together in congruency and harmony. A. ApostlesApostles have a governing ministry. As seen in Rom_16:7, the Holy Spirit appoints apostles, “sent out ones,” to establish and oversee ministry within the Church. B. ProphetsProphets have a guiding ministry. They speak the heart of God and reveal the mind of God. We see them throughout the Book of Acts, as they guide the church, saying, “You need to move in this direction,” or “Watch out as you head off in that direction.” C. EvangelistsEvangelists have a gathering ministry as they invite people to follow Jesus. I’ll never forget the first time I heard one of my colleagues preach. As I listened to him, I thought, Oh, no! He’s butchering the text. But it was when he gave an invitation and over three hundred college students came forward that I understood the gift of evangelism. D. PastorsPastors have a guarding ministry. Although some pastors are teachers, a pastor isn’t by definition a teacher. A pastor is one who cares for people, watches out for people, and prays on behalf of people. E. TeachersTeachers have a grounding ministry. They love to explain the Scriptures and set folks on a firm foundation in the Word of God. We need the entire church, saints. It’s not enough to have a special brother or an intimate little group, for it is through apostles governing, prophets guiding, evangelists gathering, pastors guarding, and teachers grounding that there is stability in the church.
3. Breaking of Bread The breaking of bread speaks of Communion. Communion is vital to the health of the church corporately and to believers individually. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that, because they took Communion lightly, many of them were weak, sick, and even dying unnecessarily (1Co_11:30). Whenever we fail to give worth to the Lord’s table, I believe we jeopardize not only our spiritual life, but our physical, marital, and emotional life as well (see 1Co_11:29-30 notes for further commentary).
4. Prayer “Prayer?” you say. “I don’t need to go to church to pray. I can pray by myself.” Yes, you can pray by yourself. In fact, Scripture commands us to do so (Mat_6:6). However, Jesus also spoke of a dynamic that takes place uniquely when we pray corporately (Mat_18:19-20). Years ago, my four-year-old son, Benjamin, came to me, saying, “Daddy, can you please take me to the park?” “I’d like to, son,” I said, “but I’m kind of busy.” Two minutes later, Mary, then five years old, appeared on the scene. “Daddy, please can we go to the park?” There we were: Mary was batting her eyes, Benny was hopping up and down, the two were in agreementand my resistance was breaking down rapidly when Tammy, my bride, walked in, saying, “Let’s go to the park, honey.” We went to the park. So, too, when we as God’s children come to Him together, saying, “Father, this is our desire, this is our prayer,” He delights in our request. I’m not suggesting that we can manipulate or pressure God by “ganging up” on Him. I am saying that He enjoys and responds to our corporate requests in a unique way. The early church devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, Communion, and prayer. And they did so steadfastly. Unfortunately, steadfastness is not characteristic of much of the church today. Many believers reflect the attitude of the following letter, purportedly written by a faithful church member… Dear Pastor, You often stress the importance of attendance at worship. But I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated: Christmas (1) Death in the family (3) Anniversary (1) New Years (1) Easter (1) Last day of school (1) July 4th (1) Labor Day (1) First day of school (1) Sleeping late (4) Memorial Day (1) Family reunions (2) Anniversary (1) Sickness (5) Vacation (3) Business trips (3) Unexpected company (4) Bad weather (6) Time changes (2) TV specials (3) Ball games (5). But you can count on us to be in church on the fourth Sunday of February and the third Sunday in Augustunless it’s Leap Year, or we’re otherwise providentially hindered. Why should we steadfastly continue in the Word, Communion, fellowship, and prayer? Look at three other places Luke uses the word “steadfastly.”
5. Steadfast Because of the People We’re With In Acts 6, Stephen was about to be stoned. After the elders had challenged him and were ready to sentence him to death, “All that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” (Act_6:15). How can you, like Stephen, have the face of an angel? Ask Moses… Moses was in the presence of God for forty days on the mountain. So blessed was he, so full and satisfied, he forgot to eat (Exo_34:28). And when he came down, his face glowed. Steadfastly spend time with God, and like Moses and Stephen, your face will glow with the peace and joy of His presence.
6. Steadfast Because of the Place We’re Going In Acts 7, we read that before Stephen died, “He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Act_7:55). Stephen saw heaven, and that was all that mattered. Gang, in heaven it won’t matter how shiny my car was or how many hobbies I had. The only thing that will matter will be what I did for Christ. Therefore, I am a fool of immense proportion if I prioritize anything but the kingdom.
7. Steadfast Because of the Price that Was Paid “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luk_9:51). Jesus set His face steadfastly to die with me on His mind. What if Jesus had done what I so often do? If He had said, “I think I’m going to Jerusalem,” or “I’d like to go to Jerusalem,” or “I hope to go to Jerusalem,” I would fry in hell. Instead, Jesus said, “I have a job to do, and nothing is going to stop Me. I steadfastly set My face to Jerusalem"and our salvation was the result. May the Lord keep our ministry simple as we steadfastly continue in the Word, Communion, fellowship, and prayer. “But what about our singles?” you ask. “We have to have ice cream socials and singles’ activities.” Do we? “Yeah. How else will they meet one another?” Listen gang, the church was never intended to figure out peoples’ social activities. Ask Isaac… And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.Gen_24:63 Did Isaac meet Rebekah through a Christian dating service? No. Through an ice cream social? No. Isaac was simply meditating in his fieldenjoying God, thinking about the Word, walking with the Lordwhen at the perfect moment, he saw camels in the distance. “Well, what about our youth? We have to have something for our high-schoolers.” Do we? If we try to entertain our kids into Christianity, we’re missing New Testament church life. The world can out-fun us, out-entertain us, and out-slick us every time because whenever Christians try to copy what the world does, they never do it as well. But I’ll tell you what we can do with our kids: We can love them and give them truth like the world never can. And so we have two hundred high-schoolers gathering together at the youth center to study the Scriptures, sing praise, offer prayer, and share in koinonia. It’s so simple. Precious people, we must continue steadfastly to keep a simple perspective, because the tendency of ministry, just like government, is to get bigger and more complicated. And it ought never to be. May our churches be oases where we come together to continue steadfastly in the power and simplicity of the Word, Communion, fellowship, and prayer. In Jesus’ Name.

Acts 2:43

College professors in the ’60s and ’70s who used this verse to say that the early church was Communist missed the “Marx” completely. The early believers were not Communists. They were “commonists.” And there’s a big difference. Communism says: What’s yours is mine. “Commonism” says: What’s mine is yours. The story is told that a number of years ago in London’s Hyde Park, where free speech is the order of the day, a Communist took the podium, pointed to an impoverished elderly gentleman in the crowd, and said, “When the Communists are in charge, they will put a new suit on that old man!” A pastor in the audience responded, “When Christ is in charge, He’ll put a new man in that old suit.” Political systems claim to have the ability to put a new suit on an old man. But Jesus Christ truly puts a new man in the old suit by changing people from the inside out. If you were around in the ’60s and ’70s, you might remember the many communal-type ministries that sprang up on the West Coast. Where are they now? Why didn’t they work? I suggest they failed in their attempt to duplicate what happened in Acts 2 because there was no inherent reason for them to do so. On the Day of Pentecost, three thousand folks were saved in one daythree thousand people who had come from all over the world to celebrate Pentecost. Following their conversion, they sensed the need to remain in Jerusalem in order that they might be grounded in their newfound faith. But what were they to do? Jump on a 747, fly home, get their stuff, and come back? You see, the early church didn’t arbitrarily say, “Wow! Here’s a groovy idea: Let’s live communally!” No, the believers in Jerusalem pooled whatever resources they had for the express purpose of allowing the new believers to remain in Jerusalem rather than having to return to the lands from which they came. I suggest to you that we may very well see Christians living communally again, but it won’t happen because someone says, “Here’s a neat idea…” If persecution were to fall upon this country, which it may; if the economy were to collapse, which it might; if things really get tough, which they could, you’ll be amazed how quickly and how beautifully the church will come together communally. But until then, it’s artificial.

Acts 2:46

They met together daily in the temple and spontaneously in one another’s homes.

Acts 2:47

Programs and evangelistic techniques didn’t add to the church. The Lord added to the church.