Acts Chapter 2 and the Birth of the New Testament Church

Robert Pate · Feb 3, 2017

On the day of Pentecost God revealed the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ to the disciples and to many others.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues of fire and it sat upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance and there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven" Acts 2:1-5.

God had drawn people from every nation to be there at this miraculous event. What were the disciples speaking about? They were speaking about the "The wonderful works of God" Acts 2:11. And what are the wonderful works of God? The wonderful works of God is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has victoriously defeated sin, death and the devil and has thrown the gates of heaven wide open to all who do nothing more than call upon the name of the Lord can be saved, Romans 10:13.

After this, Peter stood up and preached the Gospel to the multitudes that were there for the very first time. What was the results? Thousands heard and believed the Gospel and received the promise of the Father, which was the Holy Spirit and were saved, Acts 2:38-42. This confirms what Paul said in Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Which is the Gospel.

This miraculous event that happened on the day of Pentecost is what gave birth to the New Testament church. The lowly disciples were transformed into bold preachers of the Gospel. The Pharisees tried to stop them from preaching about Jesus, but to no avail, Acts 4:18-20. They went everywhere preaching Jesus. The New Testament church grew from thousands to tens of thousands. The Gospel of Jesus Christ literally turned Jerusalem upside down. Soon after this began the persecutions of the church.

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

Robert Pate said:
God had drawn people from every nation to be there at this miraculous event. What were the disciples speaking about? They were speaking about the "The wonderful works of God" Acts 2:11. And what are the wonderful works of God? The wonderful works of God is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has victoriously defeated sin, death and the devil and has thrown the gates of heaven wide open to all who do nothing more than call upon the name of the Lord can be saved, Romans 10:13.

That gospel is not the one which was preached on the day of Pentecost. On that day Peter used facts of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus to prove the deity of Jesus and the fact that he is the promised Messiah. Peter ended his sermon with the following words:

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

Dr. Stanley D. Toussaint, Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary (Acts 2), writes the following commentary on Acts 2:36:

"Here is the conclusion to Peter's sermon. The noun 'Lord', referring to 'Christ', probably is a reference to Yahweh. The same word 'kyrios' is used of 'God' in verses 21, 34, and 39 (cf. Phil. 2:9). This is a strong affirmation of Christ's deity" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary; New Testament, ed. Walvoord & Zuck, [ChariotVictor Publishing, 1983], 359).

Indeed, that idea is supported by this translation of the same verse:

"Let therefore the whole house of Israel know truly, God has made this Yeshua, LORD JEHOVAH and The Messiah, whom you had crucified" (Acts 2:36; Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

The Jews who believed that Jesus is Christ, God come in the flesh, were "born of God". Dr. Zane Hodges, past Chairman of of the New Testament Department at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes the following in regard to Peter's words:

"Peter concludes his address with the assertion that 'God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ' (2:36). His hearers then reply, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' (2:37). But such a reaction presumes their acceptance of Peter's claim that they have crucified the one who is Lord and Christ. If this is what they now believe, then they were already regenerated on Johannine terms, since John wrote: 'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God' (1 John 5:1; cf. John 20:31)" [emphasis added] (Hodges, The Gospel Under Siege, 101).

Here are the verses to which Hodges makes reference: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 Jn.5:1,5).

On the day of Pentecost those who believed the "good news" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were "born of God" and saved. Those who believed that truth receive "life" through His name:

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (Jn.20:30-31).

Charles Ryrie, professor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary, says the following about the theme of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost"

"To us today it does not mean much to say that Jesus is Christ or Messiah. To a Jew of that day it was an assertion which required convincing proof, and it was the theme of Peter's sermon. Peter's proof is built along very simple lines. First he paints a picture of the Messiah from the Old Testament Scriptures. Then from contemporary facts he presents a picture of Jesus of Nazareth. Finally, he superimposes these two pictures on each other to prove conclusively that Jesus is Messiah" [emphasis added] (Ryrie, "The Significance of Passover," Bibliotheca Sacra, Oct. 1955, Vol.112, # 448, 335).

There can be no doubt that on the day of Pentecost Peter did not preach the "gospel of grace" but instead he preached the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And all those who believed that gospel were saved.

Robert Pate · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
That gospel is not the one which was preached on the day of Pentecost. On that day Peter used facts of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus to prove the deity of Jesus and the fact that he is the promised Messiah. Peter ended his sermon with the following words:

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

Dr. Stanley D. Toussaint, Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary (Acts 2), writes the following commentary on Acts 2:36:

"Here is the conclusion to Peter's sermon. The noun 'Lord', referring to 'Christ', probably is a reference to Yahweh. The same word 'kyrios' is used of 'God' in verses 21, 34, and 39 (cf. Phil. 2:9). This is a strong affirmation of Christ's deity" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary; New Testament, ed. Walvoord & Zuck, [ChariotVictor Publishing, 1983], 359).

Indeed, that idea is supported by this translation of the same verse:

"Let therefore the whole house of Israel know truly, God has made this Yeshua, LORD JEHOVAH and The Messiah, whom you had crucified" (Acts 2:36; Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

The Jews who believed that Jesus is Christ, God come in the flesh, were "born of God". Dr. Zane Hodges, past Chairman of of the New Testament Department at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes the following in regard to Peter's words:

"Peter concludes his address with the assertion that 'God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ' (2:36). His hearers then reply, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' (2:37). But such a reaction presumes their acceptance of Peter's claim that they have crucified the one who is Lord and Christ. If this is what they now believe, then they were already regenerated on Johannine terms, since John wrote: 'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God' (1 John 5:1; cf. John 20:31)" [emphasis added] (Hodges, The Gospel Under Siege, 101).

Here are the verses to which Hodges makes reference: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 Jn.5:1,5).

On the day of Pentecost those who believed the "good news" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were "born of God" and saved. Those who believed that truth receive "life" through His name:

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (Jn.20:30-31).

Charles Ryrie, professor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary, says the following about the theme of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost"

"To us today it does not mean much to say that Jesus is Christ or Messiah. To a Jew of that day it was an assertion which required convincing proof, and it was the theme of Peter's sermon. Peter's proof is built along very simple lines. First he paints a picture of the Messiah from the Old Testament Scriptures. Then from contemporary facts he presents a picture of Jesus of Nazareth. Finally, he superimposes these two pictures on each other to prove conclusively that Jesus is Messiah" [emphasis added] (Ryrie, "The Significance of Passover," Bibliotheca Sacra, Oct. 1955, Vol.112, # 448, 335).

There can be no doubt that on the day of Pentecost Peter did not preach the "gospel of grace" but instead he preached the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And all those who believed that gospel were saved.

We don't really know what Peter preached. One does not have to hear the full Gospel to be saved. Perhaps Peter's Gospel was not as indepth as Paul's Gospel, but it was accompanied by the Holy Spirit and people were convicted of their need for Christ, Acts 2:37.

The fact that it was accompanied by the Holy Spirit is proof that God approved of whatever it was that Peter preached. For sure Peter had some problems later on with Paul, Galatians 2:11, but nevertheless thousands and thousands of Jews heard and believed Peter's Gospel and were born again by the Holy Spirit.

All that I heard when I was saved was, "But that thy blood was shed for me" I turned on the TV and there was Billy Graham giving the alter call. That is all that I heard and the Holy Spirit fell on me like a ton of bricks. That was in 1969. I have not been the same since. No, Peter did not preach an indepth Gospel like Paul preached, but it was enough to give birth to the New Testament church. Things were not the same after that in Jerusalem.

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

Robert Pate said:
We don't really know what Peter preached.

We have an uninterrupted sermon preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost beginning at Acts 2:14 and ending at Acts 2:36. In that sermon there is not a word about God's "grace" and there is not a word about the purpose of the Lord Jesus' death on the Cross. Instead, what was preached concerned the "identity" of the Lord Jesus. And earlier the Lord Jesus said that those who not believe who He is will die in their sins:

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Jn.8:23-24).

Those who believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were given life when they were born of God (Jn.20:30-31;1 Jn.5:1-4). Those who refused to believe that truth died in their sins.

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
We have an uninterrupted sermon preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost beginning at Acts 2:14 and ending at Acts 2:36. In that sermon there is not a word about God's "grace" and there is not a word about the purpose of the Lord Jesus' death on the Cross. Instead, what was preached concerned the "identity" of the Lord Jesus. And earlier the Lord Jesus said that those who not believe who He is will die in their sins:

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Jn.8:23-24).

Those who believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were given life when they were born of God (Jn.20:30-31;1 Jn.5:1-4). Those who refused to believe that truth died in their sins.

And? How is this not the gospel? How is this without grace?

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
And? How is this not the gospel? How is this without grace?

All salvation from the beginning of time has been on the principle of grace. H.A. Ironside says the following about the "gospel" which we are to preach today:

"All through those OT dispensations, the gospel was predicted, and when Jesus came, the gospel came with Him. When He died, when He was buried, and when He rose again, the gospel could be fully told out to a poor lost world. Observe, it says, 'that Christ died for our sins.' No man preaches the gospel, no matter what nice things he may say about Jesus, if he leaves out His vicarious death on Calvary's Cross" [emphasis added] (Ironside, God's Unspeakable Gift [London: Pickering & Inglis, 1908], Chapter 2).

The gospel which was preached on the Day of Pentecost said nothing about the "grace" of God nor anything about the "vicarious death on Calvary's Cross."

Those who believed the "good news" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were saved by grace when they believed that truth.

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
All salvation from the beginning of time has been on the principle of grace. H.A. Ironside says the following about the "gospel" which we are to preach today:

"All through those OT dispensations, the gospel was predicted, and when Jesus came, the gospel came with Him. When He died, when He was buried, and when He rose again, the gospel could be fully told out to a poor lost world. Observe, it says, 'that Christ died for our sins.' No man preaches the gospel, no matter what nice things he may say about Jesus, if he leaves out His vicarious death on Calvary's Cross" [emphasis added] (Ironside, God's Unspeakable Gift [London: Pickering & Inglis, 1908], Chapter 2).

[b/The gospel which was preached on the Day of Pentecost said nothing about the "grace" of God nor anything about the "vicarious death on Calvary's Cross."[/b]

Those who believed the "good news" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, were saved by grace when they believed that truth.

Hold on, so this sermon by Peter on Pentecost was not about the gospel of grace because that word was not used by him?

And yet the foundation of Christianity is the Trinity which is also not used in that sermon or...AT ALL

What gives?

Who wishes the one gospel to be two?

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
Hold on, so this sermon by Peter on Pentecost was not about the gospel of grace because that word was not used by him?

Just because "grace" is not mentioned in the "good news" preached to the Jews does not mean that those who believed were not saved by grace. Do you deny that Abraham was saved by grace through faith here?:

"And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen.15:4-6).

What Abraham believed in order to be justified in the eyes of God said nothing about grace but according to Paul he was indeed saved on the principle of grace (Ro.4:1-4).

Evil.Eye.<(I)> · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
Hold on, so this sermon by Peter on Pentecost was not about the gospel of grace because that word was not used by him?

And yet the foundation of Christianity is the Trinity which is also not used in that sermon or...AT ALL

What gives?

Who wishes the one gospel to be two?

Galatians 2:8

The bottom line is Jesus. He is the Messiah to the world, but He is the TRUE King of Israel! He even lamented over Israel's overall failure to recognize Him. Mt. 23:37

Because of this: Jn. 19:15... Israel was "blinded" like this Acts 9:1-8

Thus this... Romans 11:25...

The 12 Apostles were a picture of this ... Zechariah 14:20-21

But... the early Jewish church resulted in this... Ephesians 3:6

The "Gentile" church age is now, and the believing Jews are part of this "now"... Galatians 3:28

However... this leaves this... Rm. 11:28-29

Jesus didn't "forsake" Israel... His Promises are Irrevocable Rm. 11:29... much of Israel Revoked Him. But don't forget this... 1 Cor. 13:8-13

Which is why when this... Rm. 11:26-27 happens

Israel will experience this... Acts 9:18-19

The division is clear and the unity will come! But only when all has been done!

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Evil.Eye.<(I)> said:
Galatians 2:8

Ummm...two peoples made together now in Him...is also the gospel...

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
Just because "grace" is not mentioned in the "good news" preached to the Jews does not mean that those who believed were not saved by grace. Do you deny that Abraham was saved by grace through faith here?:

"And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen.15:4-6).

What Abraham believed in order to be justified in the eyes of God said nothing about grace but according to Paul he was indeed saved on the principle of grace (Ro.4:1-4).

No I don't deny Abraham was saved by grace...what I deny is your claim peter did not preach the gospel of grace of Pentecost...itself a festival to which receiving the Law was attributed...

Hmmm...receiving instructions on what is expected once faith is declared...is also grace...

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
No I don't deny Abraham was saved by grace...what I deny is your claim peter did not preach the gospel of grace of Pentecost...itself a festival to which receiving the Law was attributed.

If Peter preached the "gospel of grace" then why don't we see him preaching that believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Acts 3:24)?

The "gospel of grace" cannot be preached apart from those facts.

Abraham was saved on the principle of grace even though the "gospel of grace" was not preached to him and those who believed what Peter preached to them on the day of Pentecost were saved on the same principle even though the "gospel of grace" was not preached to them.

Evil.Eye.<(I)> · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
Ummm...two peoples made together now in Him...is also the gospel...

Ummm... You didn't read it all and search the scripture I posted towards you because I want you to have the sharpest sword possible to carry with you.

Reposting in spoiler format... please respond line by line and read the scripture I posted...

Spoiler

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
If Peter preached the "gospel of grace" then why don't we see him preaching that believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Acts 3:24)?

ask Peter...obviously his audience understood it as the gospel of grace...

The "gospel of grace" cannot be preached apart from those facts.

says you evidence of those being saved by grace in hearing says otherwise than this your claim

Abraham was saved on the principle of grace even though the "gospel of grace" was not preached to him and those who believed what Peter preached to them on the day of Pentecost were saved on the same principle even though the "gospel of grace" was not preached to them.

Guess I just don't see what your "gospel of grace" is or how and why in principle its different than what saved before this...

Jerry Shugart · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
ask Peter...obviously his audience understood it as the gospel of grace...

Obviously? Please provide your evidence.

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Evil.Eye.<(I)> said:
Ummm... You didn't read it all and search the scripture I posted towards you because I want you to have the sharpest sword possible to carry with you.

Reposting in spoiler format... please respond line by line and read the scripture I posted...

Spoiler

Galatians 2:8

The bottom line is Jesus. He is the Messiah to the world, but He is the TRUE King of Israel! He even lamented over Israel's overall failure to recognize Him. Mt. 23:37

Spoiler

The division is indeed clear...Babylon vs His people

And yup only when all has been done will all who remain be unified in Him...

Again His will be done on earth as it is in heaven...as it was when earth was paradise...

before sacrifices and temples

And Jacob receiving his new name

Did you know it means striving with God...and winning...odd that

jamie · Feb 3, 2017

Jerry Shugart said:
There can be no doubt that on the day of Pentecost Peter did not preach the "gospel of grace" but instead he preached the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And all those who believed that gospel were saved.

I wonder if any of those who heard Peter speak were familiar with Isaiah 53, which was about the grace of Christ?

Nah, I guess not, since Peter didn't beat them over the head with the term they probably never would have made the association that Christ was the Christ.

I guess none of them realized Jacob's people were extricated from Egypt by grace. I mean how could Jews be expected to know anything about grace?

:idunno:

jamie · Feb 3, 2017

Okay, so the Jew crucified next to Christ knew about grace and appealed to Christ to remember him, but he was probably the only Jew in all Judea who already understood grace.

Com'on man.

Evil.Eye.<(I)> · Feb 3, 2017

clefty said:
what Israel? it was only Judah now and in killing Him their marriage was over "until death do us part" so well Jews are free to keep whoring as He looks for a new faithful bride...His people

Spoiler

Israel was "blinded" like this Acts 9:1-8

Click to expand...

Spoiler

on the cross was nailed a sign king of the Jews not Israel...and yes the Jews rejected Him freed themselves from Him forever...

being wise in their own opinion will continue to blind all not in Him where there is no Jew or Gentile...but Israel you know of "spiritualized" Jacob...

all who believed back then were and?

yes so sorry to crowd your synagogues...didn't mean to remind you that even in the OT it was one law for native and foreigner...

ummm yes because of their line to Jacob and not just to those that rejected there remains a place for them to be grafted back in...big deal...they are still there because of the faith in grace...not genealogical blood which is good because most of these Jews can't trace theirs back to Jacob...lol

yes blood Israel did reject and was destroyed...child became man...what is dim in mirror is clear in HIM...the greatest of these is LOVE...not DNA to Jacob...

yes the deliverer did come out of Zion it isn't written the deliverer will BE Zion...and delivered from what? Worldly powers as even the disciples understood it even after the BDR? The GLORY Israel as a nation state free of Rome...

No this Israel now...still His people...will be delivered from the debt of sin not taxes or banks

what? a new understanding that we are free from sin? And by we I mean the unclean goyim too...as finally both Paul and Peter understood...

don't know too many policies that allow unclean goyim settlements in Zion even now...Peter and Paul would be horrified by yours desiring the Temple rebuilt...

The division is indeed clear...Babylon vs His people

And yup only when all has been done will all who remain be unified in Him...

Again His will be done on earth as it is in heaven...as it was when earth was paradise...

before sacrifices and temples

And Jacob receiving his new name

Did you know it means striving with God...and winning...odd that

Are you calling the unbelieving Jews Babylon?

And I indeed Love what "Israel Means". God Contended

clefty · Feb 3, 2017

Evil.Eye.<(I)> said:
Are you calling the unbelieving Jews Babylon?

And I indeed Love what "Israel Means". God Contended

I am calling the unbelieving anybody Babylon...

Thought you would love the meaning...and as they do...

It's actually motivational to them...

The Jews Talmud boasts of rabbis outsmarting and out debating Him...

Acts Chapter 2 and the Birth of the New Testament Church

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