Acts 2:33-40
33 Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.
34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
Peter’s Sermon (5)
Jesus, the ascended Messiah, has poured out the Holy Spirit (v 33-36)
“Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.” (1) Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God. The Jews of that time understood “the right hand of God” as a position of authority. (a) Jesus Himself applied these words to Himself (Mark 14:61-62). (b) This phrase also appears in Stephen’s message (Acts 7:55-56), Paul’s teachings (Rom. 8:34), in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:12-13), and in Petrine epistles (1 Peter 3:22). (2) The ascended Jesus has poured out the Holy Spirit, which was promised by the Father. Now, people are witnessing the evidence of the Holy Spirit having descended. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’” (1) This is a quote from Psalm 110:1, which is the most frequently cited messianic prophecy in the New Testament (Matt. 22:42-45, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42-43, 1 Cor. 15:25, Eph. 1:22, Heb. 1:13). Within Jewish tradition, Psalm 110 has been interpreted as a messianic psalm. Peter’s point is that Psalm 110:1 was fulfilled by Jesus’ ascension. (2) Most major rendition of the psalm is “The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” (a) “My” refers to the author, David. (b) “The Lord” refers to Yahweh, and (c) “my Lord” (Adonai) refers to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus has been seated at the right hand of God the Father. (3) Psalm 110:1 was an incomprehensible scripture for the Pharisees. They were unable to provide a clear answer to Jesus’ question regarding this scripture (ref. Matt. 22:42-46). (4) Peter answers the question that the Pharisees could not answer: “…God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” The resurrection and ascension have made it clear that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. The sin of crucifying this Jesus is grave. Peter strongly rebuked the sins of the Jews, but it was to lead them to salvation. We, too, must not delay repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon me. Please help me repent promptly when the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.