Grace Baptist Church, Port Erin, 28 May 2023. The day of Pentecost.
Hidden away in an upper room, a group of Jesus' disciples had met for prayer. And what a group. At the cross, they had deserted him, Peter had vehemently denied he had ever known Jesus, and one of their number had been a traitor. How is it possible that these disciples turned the world upside down? How is it possible that we can be witnesses for Jesus today?
1. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. The promise given was miraculously fulfilled. With the sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire above each of them they were suddenly empowered to witness. The Holy Spirit came upon them and opened their mouths. Not only did they speak the wonderful works of God, but they did so in other languages and dialects as if they were native speakers. Jerusalem was full of people for the feast, there were people not only from different parts of the Roman Empire but also from modern day Iran and from near the Caspian Sea. These were v5 devout men; they were devout Jews, probably a mix of visitors and people from the scattered Jewish communities who had moved to Judea. Each of them had their own local languages. How astonishing it must have been to hear these Galileans suddenly testifying of the wonderful works of God in distant languages. They spoke about the wonderful things of God. I hope that makes you think, can I ask you, do you ever talk of the wonderful things of God? What are the wonderful things of God? We can see some of these in creation all around us, for Ps 19:1 “the heavens declare the glory of God.” Scripture is a record of the Lord's dealings with people like us. Think of God's grace to Adam after he sinned. A Covering was provided for him and the promise given that the seed of the woman would be victorious. There are many things we could think of, but what about your own personal testimony? Do you have a personal testimony of God's wonderful things in your life? Do you ever speak of them?
2. The miracle needed explaining. It is easy to think that such a powerful miracle would transform the lives of those who witnessed it. It didn't. Look at the text, the people's attention was grabbed, but they did not understand what was happening and more importantly, what it meant. v12 "and they were all amazed and were in doubt, saying one to another, what meanest this?" Miracles do not make converts. Look for a moment at the time when Jesus multiplied the bread and fish when he had compassion upon the multitude John 6. The people were blessed by that miracle, they even wanted to make Jesus King, but they only thought of the free bread. They missed the point. As Jesus made clear Jn 6:26 "verily, verily, I say unto you, you seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled." What did Jesus mean? They had seen the miracle, but did not understand what it meant; they did not appreciate who Jesus is. It was not about food for the body, but life giving food for their souls. Jn 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” So it was on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:12 “And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?” Indeed, some went even further v13 "others mocking said, these men are full of new wine. The miracle was amazing but it needed explanation." Most were puzzled, some were filled with mockery, suggesting that drunkenness enables the speaking of foreign languages. This was rejected in a moment by Peter v15 "for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." This would have been about 9 o'clock in the morning. Peter did not dignify the ridiculous suggestion with any further comment, instead moving on to fully explain what the miracle meant by pointing the crowd to Scripture. v16-21. "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 17and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh." On the day of Pentecost the disciples of Jesus were empowered by the Holy Spirit for witnessing. Moses had desired that God would put his spirit on all people Num 11:29. “Would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” This was a pouring out of the Holy Spirit. It was like a dry desert receiving a downpour, an abundance, but a pouring out of which did not diminish the supply. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jewish believers, but it would not be long before Jesus injunction to begin at Jerusalem and Samaria and onto the uttermost parts of the earth would see the gospel brought to Gentiles like us, and they too would be baptised in the Holy Spirit. The promise was to people of all classes and ages V17-18 “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: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." These people were given special revelation from God to speak directly to the people of God's wonderful works. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this miracle was also a warning. v17 "and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh." With the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ the last days began, we live in those last days. These verses go on to speak of wonders in the heavens above and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great notable day of the Lord come." The day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit warns us that God’s judgement is coming.
3. Preaching is essential. The people had witnessed the miracle and had it explained to them, now Peter takes the essential step of preaching the Lord Jesus Christ to them. This is the purpose of Pentecost. His message takes up versus 22-40.
Take a moment and consider what Peter had to say to them. Throughout his main focus is on v22 "Jesus of Nazareth." The miracles and wonders and signs were the mark of God's approval on him, and v23 "him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." Peter was clear with them that Jesus is God's anointed and that he was delivered to be crucified according to God's definite plan. His death was no accident, nor was it an afterthought. As a lad, Jesus had said Lk 4:29 "I must be about my father's business." In the garden of Gethsemane, he had prayed Lk 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” However, there is no other way; his death on the cross is the only way of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. He had indeed come Jn 1:29, as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
We are used to hearing preaching about the death of Christ. It doesn't surprise us. But these religious people were not used to it. The expectation was for God's anointed to be a conquering king who would restore the glory to Israel and bring peace and justice. Even his closest disciples were looking for this.
Peter went further, see v23 "him, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." That is a powerful charge. We're not to assume that everyone in that crowd was in the multitude which cried "crucify him," rather, they were part of the nation whose leaders had been jealous of Jesus, and who had arrested him and handed him over to the gentile Roman governor to be crucified. Jesus was made a curse on that cross; he who knew no sin was made sin for us.
Then Peter boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus v24, the grave could not hold him. Why? Because he did not die for his own sin. He brought Ps 16 before the people, pointing out that the Psalmist had prophesied the good news of Christ’s resurrection, that the holy one of God would not see corruption. Verses 25-28 are from Ps 16. This Jesus was approved of God, had been wickedly crucified, but now God had raised him up, and Peter adds v32 “whereof we all are witnesses.” Not only had Jesus risen, he is now v33 exalted.
So Peter has preached doctrine to them; remember that doctrine simply means facts, the facts about the Lord Jesus Christ. How did the hearers respond? We read v37 "they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles what shall we do?" Peter called on them to “repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Getting right with God is a personal matter, each of us is a sinner before God, not only in Adam when he sinned but also every day we think, we say, we do things which in God's sight are wrong. Sin is the transgression of the law. We can be forgiven, confess your sin, v21 “and shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." We must give up on any thought of self-righteousness and instead turn to Jesus see that he died on that cross to save his people from their sins. Ep 1:13 "in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, onto the praise of his glory.” It is the Holy Spirit who gives us a hunger and thirst for righteousness, who lifts up our eyes onto the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is an outward demonstration of repentance and faith, a dying onto self, being buried with Christ and then rising in newness of life in Christ. Friends, have you seen yourself as a sinner before the holy God? Have you turned with godly sorrow which worketh repentance onto salvation? Do you know what it is to be pricked in your heart, to know that Jesus died for you on the cross, that he rose triumphantly from the grave? Rm 10:9 “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 "For with the heart man believes in the righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made onto salvation. 11for the Scripture says, whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed.” It is the Holy Spirit who brings new life and gives power for witnessing.
