Jesus: Lord and Christ, Acts chapter 2, verses 1 to 41
Good news, bad news.
Spectacular sights and sounds Acts 2:1-13
When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers gathered in one place. Suddenly a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like fire in the shape of tongues. The flames separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.
From Acts chapter 2, NIRV
What does this mean? Acts 2:14-36
Then Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My fellow Jews,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I say. You think these people are drunk. But they aren’t. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning! No, here is what the prophet Joel meant. He said,
‘In the last days, God says,
From Acts chapter 2, NIRV
I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will have dreams.
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on my servants.
I will pour out my Spirit on both men and women.
When I do, they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above.
I will show signs on the earth below.
There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark.
The moon will turn red like blood.
This will happen before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Long ago God planned that Jesus would be handed over to you. With the help of evil people, you put Jesus to death. You nailed him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the suffering of death. It wasn’t possible for death to keep its hold on Jesus.
From Acts chapter 2, NIRV
‘I know that the Lord is always with me.
Quoted from Psalm 16, NIRV
Because he is at my right hand,
I will always be secure.
So my heart is glad and joy is on my tongue.
My whole body will be full of hope.
You will not leave me in the place of the dead.
You will not let your holy one rot away.
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Quoted from Psalm 110, NIRV
“Sit at my right hand.
35 I will put your enemies
under your control.’
What shall we do? Acts 2:1-37-41
“Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
From Acts chapter 2, NIRV
Personal Reflection
- In what ways are you recognising Jesus as Lord in your day-to-day life? In what ways are you not doing this?
- “Even the sin of murdering the one who is Lord and Christ can be forgiven”. How does this speak into some of your struggles with forgiveness?
- Do you know the gift of God’s Holy Spirit for yourself? If you do, what difference does He make to your life? If you don’t, how might you receive Him, according to Peter’s speech?