Acts 2:25-33 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT)

vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I see the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, I celebrate and rejoice inside and out and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.” V. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you fill me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.” V. 29 People, let me speak very freely with you about this. You know that David, our founding ancestor, died and was buried. His burial monument is here and  you can see it even today. V. 30 Since he was a prophet, he understood that God promised on his word that he would set one of his descendants on His throne.” V. 31 He saw this coming and talked about the resurrection of the Messiah, that he would neither be left helpless and alone in the grave nor would his body experience decay. V. 32 This same Jesus is the one whom God has raised from the dead! We all saw this! V. 33 By God’s strong hand, Jesus is lifted up to the place of honor and received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. Now He is pouring out what you are both seeing and hearing today.

vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I see the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, I celebrate and rejoice inside and out and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.”

Psalm 16. This was and is even now moreso a Messianic psalm. Live on hope means to set up the tent but also that the foundation of the tent site is hope. Live on hope, not a sustenance but as foundation.

I will rejoice with my heart and celebrate with my tongue.

v. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you fill me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.”

The path toward real life, as opposed to the death that held him for three days. Psalm 16. It could be “the joy of your Presence.”

v. 29 People, let me speak very freely with you about this. You know that David, our founding ancestor, died and was buried. His burial monument is here and  you can see it even today.

Not to be macabre, but Peter is making it clear. This King David that has been such a central part of Jewish history is still in the tomb. People stop by and visit and remember David at this grave memorial. But this Jesus left this grave. You can’t visit his body somewhere. He is risen.

v. 30 Since he was a prophet, he understood that God promised on his word that he would set one of his descendants on His throne.”

The child is the fruit of his loins.  Someone from the line of his seed. David perceived this promise given with surety (like an oath or vow) to him by God. His throne would see his child, or his son.

v. 31 He saw this coming and talked about the resurrection of the Messiah, that he would neither be left helpless and alone in the grave nor would his body experience decay.

He foresaw and announced the Messiah’s resurrection. Christ would not be abandoned and the corruption and decomposition that comes with death would not touch him.

v. 32 This same Jesus is the one whom God has raised from the dead! We all saw this!

Peter is making a clear parallel of David the King of Israel and Jesus King of Kings. David died and his body decomposed; Jesus never saw decomposition touch him. It’s all because God the Father raised God the Son from the grave. We are the witnesses. We saw Him alive. The word for witness is the same as martyr, ironic in that nearly all who stood with Peter would be martyred for their witness. The word can also mean: to go on record. These followers of Jesus had a record – they saw Jesus alive.

V. 33 By God’s strong hand, Jesus is lifted up to the place of honor and received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. Now He is pouring out what you are both seeing and hearing today.

The right hand of God. Jesus is exalted. The parallel of Jesus being lifted up from the dead and lifted up above all people for honor is clear. He received it without measure; he is pouring it out without measure. This is the invitation of the Good News: you no longer have to be separated from the Father in death. His invitation to you is to trust who He is and that what He has done can remove the death sentence of sin from  your life. Because He died on the Cross, you can be forgiven. Because He conquered death, you can enjoy eternity with Him in heaven. Because He ascended to the Father after his resurrection, you can know the power of the Holy Spirit living inside you.

Acts 2:13-25 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

Acts 2:13-28

(PRT)

v. 13 Others, though, mocked in derision: “They are drunk on new, sweet wine!” v. 14 Then Peter stepped up along with the Eleven and in a loud voice spoke to the people above the clamor: “Judeans and those living in Jerusalem, you know well all that has happened here. So, listen to what I’m saying!” v. 15 “For these people are not drunk as you assume! Really! It’s only nine in the morning!” vv. 16-17 “But this is what the prophet Joel has declared: ‘God says that this is what it will be like in the last days – I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ v. 18 ‘Yes, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my bondservants, men and women, and they will prophesy.’  vv. 19-20 ‘In the last days, I will show you miraculous signs when you look up in the heavens and supernatural wonders on the earth below. Blood – Fire – Billows of smoke! The sun of the day will become dark as night and the moon will turn blood-red! All this before that great and glorious day the Lord arrives!’ v. 21 ‘Here’s how it will be: when anyone calls on the Lord’s name, they will be saved.’” v. 22 People of Israel, pay attention to what I say next: You know personally that this man, this Jesus the Nazarene was approved by God through powerful works, miraculous signs, and supernatural wonders that God did by him right where you live. v. 23 By God’s firm and deliberate plan and knowledge he was handed over by unbridled lawless power; he was violently taken away and you crucified him. v. 24 This same man, God raised up and destroyed the agonizing chains of death, as if those chains could really hold him in the grave. vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I envisioned the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, my heart celebrates and tongue rejoices and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.” v. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you have filled me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.”

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

v. 13 Others, though, mocked in derision: “They are drunk on new, sweet wine!”

This is the new wine, sweet and powerful. But, as Peter says, 9 am is too early for a wine-drenched street party. Some in the throng were chalking this experience and this declaring in different languages to tanked-up celebrants.

v. 14 Then Peter stepped up along with the Eleven and in a loud voice spoke to the people above the clamor: “Judeans and those living in Jerusalem, you know well all that has happened here. So, listen to what I’m saying!”

He is addressing those who live here among the larger throng because they live here and saw who Jesus is and what He does right in their back yard. He is calling on their affirmative testimony to show the crowd in the presence of many witnesses, Jesus is the Messiah.

The word for “saying to you” is the same as “gift” that they were given just before. His intent is to give them a gift in this proclamation just like the Father gave them the gift.

v. 15 “For these people are not drunk as you assume! Really! It’s only nine in the morning!”

See notes above. And Peter in a reasoned short rebuttal shuts down the scoffers.

vv. 16-17 “But this is what the prophet Joel has declared: ‘God says that this is what it will be like in the last days – I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’

Note how Peter’s mind has a greater grasp of the Movement and how the prophets (like Joel) declare the Good News of the Kingdom. This passage fits the day when God’s people celebrate His goodness for today and worship Him for what He will do in the future. It’s an annual focus with a last days meaning.

Pour out alludes to the rain from heaven that pours out on all.  This passage asserts that God will pour His Spirit out on all people.

God has acted throughout history up till this moment through the work of His Spirit among His people. Now, He acts through the work of His Spirit within His people

v. 18 ‘Yes, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my bondservants, men and women, and they will prophesy.’

Here, Luke uses a double word that means something like “and even more.” If you think God is generous with His gifts with your sons and daughters and you who are young and you who are older, He will be generous to the lowest among you, the bondservants, the slaves. At least, this is how it can be interpreted. Later, in Paul’s theology, a bondservant could be anyone who swore allegiance to follow Jesus. Here, this wasn’t a common image to use, and Peter’s intent is to communicate at their level.

vv. 19-20 ‘In the last days, I will show you miraculous signs when you look up in the heavens and supernatural wonders on the earth below. Blood – Fire – Billows of smoke! The sun of the day will become dark as night and the moon will turn blood-red! All this before that great and glorious day the Lord arrives!’

Joel says “great and terrible day of the Lord.” Terrible as in fearful. Blood, fire, billowing smoke, the sun covered over with darkness, all these images suggest the conflicts of the last days. This separates these verses, though. How are these miraculous signs and supernatural wonders?

v. 21 ‘Here’s how it will be: when anyone calls on the Lord’s name, they will be saved.’”

Mark 4:35-36 “Look the fields are white and ready to harvest.” The first-fruits are here in this passage and this is the invitation to say yes to Jesus. And he explains what Jesus requires in this yes in the coming verses.

v. 22 People of Israel, pay attention to what I say next: You know personally that this man, this Jesus the Nazarene was approved by God through powerful works, miraculous signs, and supernatural wonders that God did by him right where you live.

Peter appeals to what they already know. Jesus is approved by the Father. He has the mark of the Father throughout his ministry.

v. 23 By God’s firm and deliberate plan and knowledge he was handed over by unbridled lawless power; he was violently taken away and you crucified him.

This could also be he was handed up violently by lawless men or men of power who disregarded the law of Moses. The unbridled lawless power was the collusion of a greedy servant (Judas) who was influenced by Satan with a bunch of Pharisees with the money and influence to make it happen.

v. 24 This same man, God raised up and destroyed the agonizing chains of death, as if those chains could really hold him in the grave.

The word agony applies more often to the laboring mother as she is in agony. The work for destroy applies to cords and shackles that bind and are loosened or destroyed.

vv. 25-27 Even David said this about him: “I envisioned the Lord before me continually; because he is always right beside me, I will not be shaken. Because of this, my heart celebrates and tongue rejoices and I will always live in hope. For you will not leave my soul helpless in the grave or let your holy one experience decay and decomposition.”

Psalm 16. This was and is even now moreso a Messianic psalm. Live on hope means to set up the tent but also that the foundation of the tent site is hope. Live on hope, not a sustenance but as foundation.

v. 28 “For you have shown me the way of full life; you have filled me to overflowing with joy in your Presence.”

The path toward real life, as opposed to the death that held him for three days.

Small Group Questions:

Acts 2:13-28

1. What word describes how you feel about speaking in front of people? Have you ever been nudged by God’s Spirit to speak up in front of others? What happened?
2. In these verses, Peter reminds everyone of what they have seen. What does he say they have seen in relation to Jesus?
3. Have you ever “seen” evidence of God’s working visibly? What happened and how did it impact you?
4. Peter uses a passage from the prophet Joel. Read these verses again out loud. Where in these different kinds of people on whom the Spirit is poured out are you?
5. How important is v. 21 to the rest of this passage?
6. How can we pray for you today?

Acts 2:1-13 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT)

v. 1 And when the Day of Pentecost arrived, everyone was together in the same place.

v. 2 Then suddenly the roar of a rushing, forceful wind came from heaven and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

v. 3 And tongues of fire appeared and spread among them and stayed on every person there.

v. 4 Then everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak with different tongues as the Spirit empowered them to speak.

v. 5 Now there were godly Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

v. 6 And with this noisy happening, the throngs merged together and they were bewildered because each person heard them speaking in their own language.

vv. 7-8 They were beside themselves and stood in awe and said: “Look at this! All these who are speaking are Galileans! And we hear what they say in our own native language!”

vv. 9-10 Parthians, Medes, Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia; Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, both Phrygia and Pamphylia; Egypt and  areas of Libya around Cyrene; also those visiting from Rome;

v. 11 These were both Jews and newcomers to the Jewish faith, along with Cretans and Arabians, and they said: “We hear them declaring the  mighty works God has done, but in our own language!”

v. 12 They were beside themselves totally at a loss for explanation, saying to each other: “What does it mean?”

v. 13 Others, though, mocked in derision: “They are drunk on new, sweet wine!”

Study Notes:

v. 1 And when the Day of Pentecost arrived, everyone was together in the same place.

This is fifty days after the Passover Sabbath. This is the First Fruits harvest feast and one of the three Great Feasts. One celebration element is two loaves baked from the first wheat harvested (perhaps thanks for the Law and the Mercy?) and was a thanks for provision in the past and expectation for the future. This was the party feast and attracted a wide range of international Jews and God-fearers. If they were in the upper story of Mark’s home beside the Temple mount, their street would have already been busy with pilgrims.

v. 2 Then suddenly the roar of a rushing, forceful wind came from heaven and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

It’s the sound that drowns out all others for those who have been in a hurricane. This “sound” or roar is used in other places when the Father speaks from heaven. It was the sound coming from heaven’s wind. The sound of the Spirit moving in power. No one could escape this sound inside this home. And that was the main sound that those in the streets were drawn to – a ready-made congregation for the first Spirit-filled message to the church.

The word for wind here is not the usual one that could be either wind or spirit. This is the wind that comes forcefully like a hurricane.

v. 3 And tongues of fire appeared and spread among them and stayed on every person there.

If the tongues of fire separated (spread), then a fire came and then separated. The Holy Spirit physically appeared and spread through the room to everyone. Not just apostles. Not just those “voted in.” Not just leaders. Not just men. Everyone. This is one of the big declarations at the first that God has not discarded or limited anyone from His gift and His calling because of race, gender, class, or heritage. All of these were the grid by which relationships happened. No more. The Spirit has come and all were filled.  And He stayed or rested on each person.

The tongues of fire distributed itself (just like the Holy Spirit is given and distributed.) John the Baptist reminded us of this – that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

These are the proofs of the giving of the promise of the Father. The wind, the fire, the words of the Good News in every language.

v. 4 Then everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak with different tongues as the Spirit empowered them to speak.

Mark calls this “new tongues.” The word can mean different or other. Note that the Spirit enabled them or empowered them to speak in different tongues or languages; he did not “disable” their intellect like what happened to Saul and the prophets in their wild ecstatic experience in the OT. He did not “disable” their awareness around them or their ability to reason. He enabled them spiritually to speak in other tongues.

v. 5 Now there were godly Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

The word can mean both staying and living. It would be common that many Jews from all over would want to live in this city. But additionally, there were many here and staying for the festival. These who live and these who were staying would be out in the streets for this festival. And they heard the noise (demonstration) and then the message (proclamation). That they were devout and godly meant they were looking for the Kingdom expression that the prophecies declared.

v. 6 And with this noisy happening, the throngs merged together and they were bewildered because each person heard them speaking in their own language.

Anyone who has visited ancient cities know that the streets are often narrow and crowded but typically spill out into a plaza or square that serves as a sort of “round-about” for all the traffic, foot and otherwise. These different streets were jammed. And they spilled out to the place the noise happened. And when they got there, the Jesus-followers (remember, it was 120 just a week and a half ago) were out in the square speaking in new languages. Each drew a crowd who understood the language they spoke. I can imagine that Philip attracted a crowd of Arabs because he was speaking Arabic. Or perhaps Mary was speaking Latin and the Romans were surrounding her.

vv. 7-8 They were beside themselves and stood in awe and said: “Look at this! All these who are speaking are Galileans! And we hear what they say in our own native language!”

Two words that mean perplexed, astounded, awe-struck are used here. They heard their own native languages in a redneck Galilean backwater accent. They understood that they “weren’t from around here.”

This passage would affirm that the miracle was in the speaking and not the hearing. The pouring out of the Spirit was on those who spoke, not yet on those who were in the audience.

vv. 9-10 Parthians, Medes, Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia; Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, both Phrygia and Pamphylia; Egypt and  areas of Libya around Cyrene; also those visiting from Rome;

Each of these cities and regions had larger populations of Jews and God-fearers. In addition, many of these areas had people who for the past three-plus years visited Judea and Galilee and heard Jesus and experienced His miracles. Some perhaps (like the Cyrenean who helped Jesus carry his cross) even saw the crucifixion and heard the stories of the resurrection.

v. 11 These were both Jews and newcomers to the Jewish faith, along with Cretans and Arabians, and they said: “We hear them declaring the  mighty works God has done, but in our own language!”

This list is not exhaustive but an indication of the wide sweep of people and languages God had called together this day through the Feast of Pentecost. It was virtually the full Mediterranean and beyond. The Parthians, for instance, stretched all the way to India. Many were hungry for the things of God and were eagerly awaiting news of the Messiah’s coming.  And the powerful works of Jesus pointed them to faith in Him.

v. 12 They were beside themselves totally at a loss for explanation, saying to each other: “What could this possibly be? And what does it mean?”

Yes, they saw and heard what was happening but couldn’t connect the dots until Peter declared the Good News of the Kingdom. It’s like that today. Our lives, our peace, our generosity, our kindness, and the miracles of answered prayers all need the words of the Gospel to connect people to eternity. That’s the answer to “What could this possibly be?”

v. 13 Others, though, mocked in derision: “They are drunk on new, sweet wine!”

New wine was sweet and powerfully intoxicating, like the Holy Spirit. The scoffers didn’t miss it by much.

Small Group Questions – Acts 2:1-4

1. How are you at waiting? What is something that you had to wait a long time (or at least it seemed like a long time?
2. What do you think it would be like to be one of the Acts Jesus-followers in v. 1 after waiting ten days for the Promise of the Father?
3. How does “wind” represent God?
4. How does “fire” represent God?
5. Read vv. 4-5. When the Spirit filled everyone and not just the leaders, what do you think God was indicating?
6. Is different tongues in this passage different from what you expected? How does this point to God’s plan in Acts 1:8
7. How can we pray for you tonight?

Small Group Questions – Acts 2:5-13

1. What is the noisiest party or celebration you’ve ever been in? Was it inside or outside? Was it scary or did it draw you in?
2. The noisy of the wind and the noise of the worship in different tongues at Pentecost drew people in and they asked questions. What do you think the Father says when so many different nations were involved in this “street party?”
3. When you became a Christ-follower how did your identity change? What became different? (If you are still searching, what about your identity do you value that God is involved in?)
4. If you were there in the streets of Jerusalem, in the shadows of the Temple Mount, would you be one of the 120 or one of the throng? How would you answer the question in v. 12? How would you answer the comment in v. 13?
5. What would you like to ask the Father for today?