Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20080615.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Acts: The Continuing Earthly Ministry Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Part IV: The Empowering Of The Church For Ministry, Acts 2:1-47
B. The Ministry Of The Apostles' Teaching In The Holy Spirit's Power
(Acts 2:12-41)
  1. Introduction
    1. God spiritually gifts some believers to teach and/or to preach His Word to others, cf. Romans 12:6-7.
    2. For those who are thus gifted, Acts 2:12-36 in the context of Peter's life presents an encouraging and enlightening pattern on teaching and preaching effectively , for we are to "fan into flame the gift of God" which is given unto us by the Holy Spirit, to develop it through training and exercise, cf. 2 Timothy 1:6-7.
    3. For believers not thus gifted, the pattern of Peter's Acts 2:12-36 delivery is helpful in discerning those who have this equipping gift so that we might heed their ministries and support their efforts (as follows):
  2. The Ministry Of The Apostles' Teaching In The Holy Spirit's Power, Acts 2:12-41.
    1. The ministry of the disciples and Peter at the coming of the Holy Spirit was unusually bold, Acts 2:14a:
      1. Christ's crucifixion had caused the disciples to hide from the religious authorities, John 20:19.
      2. Besides, the risen Lord had recently told Peter he would be martyred by crucifixion, the very threat that had not long before led him to deny His Lord three times, cf. John 21:18-19 with John 18:24-27.
      3. Nevertheless, with the coming of the Holy Spirit came great spiritual power as Jesus had predicted in Acts 1:8, a power that erased timidity, and exhibited love and self-discipline, cf. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV.
      4. Thus, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up with the disciples, and in the presence of the religious authorities and aware that he might be crucified for doing so, he preached Christ, Acts 2:14ff!
    2. Under the Holy Spirit's influence, Peter addressed a need voiced by the crowd that saw the Spirit's effects:
      1. The onlookers at the Feast of Pentecost knew Galilean Jews were speaking of God's wonderful works in Gentile languages they normally would not have understood; thus, some of them asked how these Galileans could speak like they did, while others mocked, proposing they were drunk, Acts 2:8-12, 13.
      2. Peter explained drunkenness was not the cause of this event: the time was nine o'clock in the morning when people did not get drunk, Acts 2:14-15; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftn. to Acts 2:15.
      3. Rather, he explained this situation was a type of the Hebrew Scripture's prophecy to be fulfilled in the latter days as noted in Joel 2:28-32: at that time, God would pour out spiritual gifts with great signs in the universe, a time when people would be saved by calling on the Lord's Name, Acts 2:16-21.
    3. Having introduced the subject of salvation in addressing his hearers (Acts 2:21), Peter delivered the Gospel of Christ in the Spirit's power, backing it up with the testimony of godly believers, Acts 2:22-36:
      1. Peter stated that his listeners were guilty of the crucifixion of Jesus, but, since He had been God's Messenger, God had raised Him from the dead in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, Acts 2:22-31.
      2. Peter then testified that he along with those who were miraculously speaking in these other languages of God's wonderful works were witnesses of Christ's resurrection and thus of his credibility, Acts 2:32.
      3. Indeed, Peter added that Jesus had since been exalted at the Father's right hand, and that He had sent this miraculous display of God's power that the onlookers were witnessing, Acts 2:33-35.
      4. Accordingly, Peter drove his point home: he noted this same Jesus his listeners had crucified God had conversely made both Lord and Messiah meaning they desperately needed to repent, Acts 2:36!
    4. Clearly, this message under the Holy Spirit's enabling had a huge impact on Peter's listeners, so he directed three thousand of them to put their faith in Christ, Acts 2:37-41.
Lesson: Through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus GIFTED the apostles to TEACH and to PREACH His truth (1) in bold, loving, settled self-control, (2) to address the needs and questions of the hearers (3) and to direct them to God's truth in Christ, and (4) that by testifying of the reality of this message in their OWN lives and in the lives of fellow godly believers!

Application: (1) May we who are gifted with teaching gifts use Peter's model in reliance upon the Holy Spirit to develop our skills in that ministry. (2) If we are not thus gifted, but recognize others are gifted in how they tend to communicate like Peter did, may we support them in their God-given efforts!