Emboldened and showing no fear, Peter stood up and preached his first public sermon. This was the man who at the time of Christ’s arrest had fled and been too frightened to admit, when questioned, to even knowing Him. But, this was also the man who had later repented and affirmed his love, to whom Jesus said: ‘Feed My sheep’ (John 21:17). The miracle had caused a large crowd to gather and they were ready to listen, earnestly wanting to know what it meant. (Part One)
Some in the crowd began to question whether it was really a miracle and not the result of drinking too much wine. Knowing this, Peter began to speak.
First he countered these doubts by appealing to natural reason – it was only 9 O’clock in the morning – too early for wine! Then, Peter’s clarity of speech and sharpness of mind soon dispelled any uncertainties. A miracle of God had occurred; but for what good reason?
It had happened as predicted by the prophet Joel, Peter continued: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy …’ (Joel 2:28-32, NKJ). What had occurred had been predicted in the holy writings. It had scriptural support. He spoke of the predicted signs to occur in heaven and on earth before the coming of ‘the day of the Lord’. - What had happened was a clear sign that ‘the last days’ were now upon them. The ‘day of the Lord’ referred to the time of God’s imminent judgement on the world. Lastly, at the end of this quotation, Peter stated the prophetic means of salvation: ‘And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Acts 2:21, NKJ).
This last statement provided the means of escape. To be saved: One had to call on the name of ‘the Lord’.
Without hesitation, Peter then went on to explain that Jesus is that Lord of the prophecy. The One whom they had crucified, God had made ‘both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36). Jesus of Nazareth, he told them, was a man attested to by God through miracles, wonders and signs – as they also knew. He, by God’s foreknowledge, had been taken by ‘lawless hands’, crucified and put to death; but God had raised Him up – just as foretold by David: God would not allow His ‘Holy One to see corruption’ (Ps.16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28). Peter then explained that because David was still buried in his grave, he, being a prophet, had not spoken of himself, but of the Christ – that His soul would not be left with the dead, nor His flesh see decay (Acts 2:31).
Boldly, Peter asserted that Jesus had not only been raised from the dead, of which the disciples were witnesses, but also that He had been exalted to the right hand of God and had received the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring had inspired the miraculous words of praise that the crowd had heard in their own languages.
Confirmation was given from Scripture: ‘The Lord said unto my Lord. Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool’ (Ps.110:1). The One called Lord by David would ascend into the heavens and would sit at God’s right hand.
Then came the convicting truth: ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36).
The sudden realization of all that had transpired had an immediate impact.
‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ came the response. - No more evidence was required. Those drawn to hear, convicted in the heart, wanted to know what had to be done. There was a genuine awareness that Peter had spoken God’s truth.
Peter replied: ‘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’ (Acts 2:38, NKJ). ‘For the promise is to you,’ he continued, ‘and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord God will call’ (v39).
Peter provided a convincing message that led people to repent with faith in Christ. - So, what is required for salvation?
We need to accept Jesus as Lord and repent. When we do, we are given the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that.
Notice, Peter went to great lengths to convince those listening that Jesus is the Lord of whom the prophets spoke. We need to know the name of the Lord – we need to know the One through whom is salvation. When witnessing before the Sanhedrin, Peter said: ‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12, NKJ).
Why did Peter also mention baptism? As an outward sign and witness of inner faith, baptism can signify the washing away of sins to live life anew. It can mark the transition from the kingdom of darkness to the Lordship and kingdom of Christ. It can signify death and resurrection as the old self dies and we are raised up in the righteousness of Jesus. Baptism allows us to demonstrate our faith in Christ, but we need only to repent in that faith to be saved.