ACTS: Beginning of the "Church"; Clear Message Leads to Repentance!

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” (Acts 2:4, 12-13 NLT)

As we studied in the previous lesson, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak in different tongues, or languages of the known world.  (see THE GOSPEL: Tongues and Its Purpose, Spreading the Gospel and the Church) The multitudes of people were shocked by this, that some tried to come up with excuses as to why this had happened.  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel [over 800 years earlier]: 

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’[Joel 2:28-32] (Acts 2:14-21)

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’[Psalm 16:8-11] (Acts 2:22-28)

“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ [Psalm 110:1] (Acts 2:29-35)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:36-39)

How do we ...make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,...? (Matthew 28:19) By ...rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15) Just share the Word of God, accurately and boldly, and ...He [the Helper, the Holy Spirit] will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8) Just as God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) Because of Peter's clear explanation of the Word, the people's response was overwhelming. 

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:40-47)

Over 3,000 people accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord, after a ten minute sermon by Peter!  And they were moved to share what they had with each other, as anyone had need.  Remember, many of them had traveled from other parts of the world for the Passover.  After their conversion, they probably didn't leave right away, so there were a lot of people there who needed someplace to stay and food to eat, even if temporarily, while they continued daily with one accord in the temple with the disciples and learned more about the gospel message.

We who profess to be Christians have to get back to the basics.  If we want to see a revival in our families, communities, nation and the world, we have got to do what God has commanded us to do, and then let God be God and leave the consequences to Him.  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. (II Timothy 4:2)  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (II Timothy 2:24-26)