Yesterday I invited you all to share your struggles and strategies as we move through the storm of this pandemic together. If you haven’t responded yet, remember that what you are experiencing could really help someone else and secondly, if you haven’t heard or read the post from yesterday, head over to the April 23 post titled Naming our Feelings and Sharing our Struggles. Comment on that post or this one, email [email protected] or text me at 843.271.3024.

Today I will introduce the passage that will be our focus during worship on Sunday, Acts 2:36-41. As a recap, Peter had just given a speech to a large crowd of people that had heard Peter and the followers of Jesus begin speaking in different languages as the Spirit had enabled them. This event is simply called Pentecost in the Christian church but Pentecost was the Greek name for the Jewish festival of Shavuot, and so there were many pilgrims in Jerusalem from all around who spoke a variety of languages. God was beginning the multi-cultural mission of revealing the future through these Jesus followers by pouring out the Spirit into them, enabling them to represent Jesus and his message of unity first to these Jewish pilgrims.

Peter explained that God was fulfilling prophecy through them, giving them the power of the Spirit to preach this good news about the purposes and plans of God through Jesus. He also said that even though these Jewish kindred had seen God at work through Jesus, they killed him, but God raised him from death because death had no hold on him. He talked about how even King David had spoken of Jesus, that a savior would come who would reveal God’s plans through his resurrection, as Jesus had done. And this Jesus, who is now at the right hand of God, had provided his promised Spirit as an advocate to continue God’s revelation.

He ends the speech by saying, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

So today I just want to read the verses and ask a few questions as you ponder the words. You’ll hear the verses again on Sunday in our zoom worship that will begin at 11:00 AM along with some interpretation. From the NIRV translation:

36 “So be sure of this, all you people of Israel. You nailed Jesus to the cross. But God has made him both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

40 Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

Some questions to consider until we meet again on Sunday. Has anyone ever told you to turn toward God and be changed? Has anyone ever said that you need to repent of your sins and be forgiven? What does repentance look like to you? What does forgiveness look like to you? Why did these people, who were really quite harshly criticized by Peter suddenly cut to the heart? Has anyone ever said things to you that made a lifelong impact? The people were receptive to Peter’s words that day. But why? And what would it take for us to be receptive to the message?