Day 914: Conclusive evidence - Acts 2 vs 22 - 33

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know, 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25-28 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’“

29-32 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” Acts 2:22-33 English Standard Version

We have here the first 'sermon' about Jesus Christ preached by an apostle (Peter) to a crowd of people from many nations. What is the important point Peter makes at the start in vs 23?

He points out that the Jews at that time were guilty of having Jesus executed by the Romans, despite knowing that He had given so much remarkable evidence that He had come from God. But he also pointed out that God hadn't been taken by surprise by their actions. God not only knew what they would do, but what happened to Jesus was part of His wonderful plan for the world.

What was the next important point Peter made, perhaps the main point of his message? Vs 24

He proclaimed to them that God had raised from death the man they had crucified. While the death of Jesus on the cross for sinners is the heart of the gospel – His resurrection is surely the crown! For if Christ had not been raised, our faith would be futile, and we would not know if His sacrifice had been accepted and our sins blotted out.

In vs 25-28 we read how Peter, knowing that he was preaching to a crowd of Jews who were well acquainted with the Old Testament, shows them that the resurrection which he and the other apostles were testifying to had been prophesied by King David in Psalm 16 vs 8-11. In that Psalm King David had rejoiced in a promised victory over the grave, and of joyful life in the presence of God. But what was the distinction Peter drew from that Psalm between King David and Jesus Christ? (vs 29-32)

In the case of King David, his tomb was still occupied! His decaying bones still remained. In the case of Jesus Christ, his tomb was empty. He wasn't abandoned to Hades, His flesh did not experience corruption. As Peter explained “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”

Peter presented strong evidence that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God. The fact of His many miracles, the fact of His resurrection from the dead, and the many witnesses who could testify to that. What was a third strong evidence he presented in vs 33?

The events which the crowd experienced on that Day of Pentecost was further evidence that Jesus had been exalted by God to the highest authority of all. The strong rushing wind, the fire like flames over the disciples, hearing the message in their own dialects and languages, all pointed to an act of God. The title of a well known book by Josh McDowell sums it up well. He said that these things are all “Evidence that Demands a Verdict.” And those who believe on Jesus can say like King David: “You will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Christ’s ressurection has opened the way for us to be raised as well.