INTRODUCTION

Characteristic of human depravity in sinful perversion of divine gifts is the modern "charismatic" movement with its cheap counterfeiting of supposed "Pentecostal power."

Without questioning the sincerity of many people swept along in these unscriptural phenomena, it is surely reasonable to insist that genuine demonstrations of the power of God must be in accord with the doctrine of God as plainly set forth in His Word.

Let us be careful to remember, therefore, that the purpose of Pentecostal power, the purpose for which the church was baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, was not that the church should boast about the power of the Spirit, but rather that in that power it should bear faithful testimony to God's saving grace in Jesus Christ.

So the message of Pentecost is the message of Christ. Honest reading of the record makes this emphasis evident enough.

Verses included in this lesson may be outlined as follows:

1.Preamble, Acts 1:1-3.
a. Christ continuing, 1.
b. Christ commanding, 2.
c. Christ convincing, 3.

2.Presentation, Acts 2:22-24.
a. Acknowledged acts, 22.
b. Accurate accusation, 23.
c. Abrupt announcement, 24.

3.Prophecy, Acts 2:25-31.
a. Instrumental insight, 25-28.
b. Ideal interpretation, 29-31.

4.Proclamation, Acts 2:32-33.
a. Resurrection reality, 32.
b. Regent received, 33. 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

PREAMBLE, Acts 1:1-3.

Comparing Luke 1:1-4, it is apparent that the book of Acts is a sequel to the gospel of Luke, resuming the orderly and inspired history to connect with the last chapter of that gospel. Some commentators have unwisely suggested that this book should be titled "Acts of the Holy Spirit," but the inspired text makes it evident that Luke wrote of the continuing acts of Jesus through the ministry of the apostles and others under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.

Christ Continuing, 1.

"Jesus began both to do and teach" -- the implication is clear that now we have an account of what He continued to do and teach.

Christ Commanding, 2.

Evident as it was before His crucifixion that Christ was always led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, this fact was much more evident after His resurrection. To the commandments given His disciples during some three years of teaching, the Lord added other commandments during the time between His resurrection and His ascension.

Christ Convincing, 3.

Moreover, there was no possibility of mistaken identity. His most intimate companions for over three years were convinced "by many infallible proofs" during a period of forty days that their crucified Lord had indeed risen from the dead. The most stubborn doubts must finally give way to demonstrated truth, and the apostles were finally convinced beyond any possible doubt.

PRESENTATION, Acts 2:22-24.

Omitting the rest of chapter 1 and a large part of chapter 2, the lesson jumps forward into the middle of Peter's sermon at Pentecost. "Filled with the Holy Ghost" [verse 4], the apostle "lifted up his voice" [verse 14] for a presentation of the claims of Christ.

Acknowledged Acts, 22.

Notice the appeal to acknowledged facts: "as ye yourselves also know." Additional facts and interpretation of facts would follow, but the facts stated in this verse, the miraculous acts of Jesus, were beyond dispute.

Accurate Accusation, 23.

God's "determinate counsel and foreknowledge" is undeniable, but this fact does not in the least diminish human responsibility. "Men of Israel" had taken Jesus and demanded His crucifixion, but the "wicked hands" which worked their will included those of the Roman governor and soldiers.

Abrupt Announcement, 24.

But the man they hated and crucified did not stay dead: God raised Him up: it was not possible that HE should be held by death. Notice: the abrupt announcement of the resurrection is preliminary to the clear statement [verse 36] that Jesus is "both Lord and Christ."

PROPHECY, Acts 2:25-31.

Read II Peter 1:16-21 for the apostolic view of divine prophecy in the written Word. So here the Spirit-filled preacher rises from personal testimony to the "more sure word of prophecy."

Instrumental Insight, 25-28.

Writers of inspired Scripture, including David, were mere instruments of God recording His Word. They were generally given some insight into the meaning of what they wrote, but God's Word is true and perfect even when the understanding of the human instrument was limited. See I Peter 1:10-12.

Ideal Interpretation, 29-31.

Honest interpretation of Scripture must be in accord with context and with the facts of life. The written Word points us to the incarnate Word. See John 5:39.

During the three days and three nights that Jesus' flesh lay in the sepulcher, His soul was in hades [see Greek]. This was not in the part of hades where the wicked are tormented, but in the part where the Old Testament saints were held until Christ opened the way to heaven.

PROCLAMATION, Acts 2:32-33.

Again Peter proclaimed the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Make no mistake about it: the literal and bodily resurrection of our Lord is vital to our faith: without it there would be no Savior [I Corinthians 15:12-19].

Resurrection Reality, 32.

"Jehovah's [false] Witnesses" deny the bodily resurrection, but that resurrection is reality, and true Christians prefer to believe the witness of the apostles.

Regent Received, 33.

Meanwhile, our risen Lord is in heaven, not on earth; His Regent, the Holy Spirit, is here to direct us in His will. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church at Pentecost was marked by visible and audible signs never repeated at any other time or place. But His presence and power are still manifested whenever and wherever His people bear faithful witness to their risen and glorified Savior.

CONCLUSION [Matthew 16:18]

The rock is Christ Himself [I Corinthians 3:11]. "I will build" should be translated "I will keep on building": He had already organized His church. "Gates of hell" [hades] seems to be a figurative expression for the powers of evil, or perhaps for tbe powers of death. At least we have here a promise of victory and perpetuity, as opposed to defeat and extinction. As everywhere in the New Testament, Christ's church, of course, is an organized body of baptized believers. This kind of church will still be here when He comes again.
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[From Ashland Avenue Baptist paper, June 4, 1976, pp. 2-3. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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