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2. The Ascension of Christ and the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – Part 4 Peter’s Pentecost Sermon in the Light of Christ’s Ascension – Part 2 Acts 2:12-37
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37 (NIV84) 2 2

3. The Ascension and Pentecost are a unit.3

4. This is the Big Picture Story of the New Testament!
Christ’s Ascension = The Final Exodus of Jesus
This is the Big Picture Story
of the New Testament! 4

5. Outline of Acts 2
A. 2: The event (Pentecost) that generated three questions among the people in Jerusalem.
B. 2: The sermon (by Peter) that answered those questions.
C. 2:37 - The question that the sermon provoked.
D. 2: The answer that enlarged the kingdom of God locally. 5

6. Acts 2 – An Amazing Chapter
Christ ascended in order to send us the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
“It is the ascension that provides the necessary reminder of where Jesus is and of what Jesus does for us now.” Augustine 6

7. Acts 2 – An Amazing Chapter
Christ’s ascension to heaven to sit on the throne is the “scoring point” of all that He did while here on earth. 7

8. Acts 2:6-8 (NIV84) 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Acts 2:12 (NIV84) 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 8

9. Peter’s Pentecost sermon
Peter reviews the high points of Jesus’ life.
“This is My Son!”
His resurrection from the dead.
The fulfillment of Jesus’ own prophecy about Himself.
Pentecost. 9

10. The Fulfillment of Psalm 110
The Ascension Story
Acts 2:34-36 (NIV84) For David did not ascend to heaven (but Jesus did), and yet he said, “‘The LORD (God the Father) said to my LORD (Jesus, God the Son): “Sit at my (the Father’s) right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ.”
Jesus ascended to heaven to be exalted as Lord and Christ, to rule and reign on earth from His throne in heaven by means of His Holy Spirit powerfully living in and among God’s people! 10

11. The question that the sermon provoked.
Acts 2:37 (NIV84) 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 11

12. D. The answer that enlarged the kingdom of God locally.
What accounts for why these new believers are now doing what they are doing immediately after Peter’s Pentecost sermon? 12

13. D. The answer that enlarged the kingdom of God locally.
Acts 2:37 (NIV84) 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 13

14. To be convicted of ones need to repent …
“cut to the heart”
To be convicted of ones need to repent …
To be convicted to change direction … 14

15. It is not enough to simply know that something must change in our lives.
It should lead us through this teachable moment into a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 15

16. Acts 2:38-41 (NIV84) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 16

17. Our response to the Holy Spirit ... Be baptized!
x Repent
x Die
x Be born into our new life in Christ
Be baptized! 17

18. Our salvation from the wages of sin requires a total regime change!
Cf. Matthew 6:24 18

19. There is something very significant and important about the role of genuine conviction by the Holy Spirit that leads to genuine repentance and true conversion into our new life in Christ. 19

20. Your picture of baptism:
1. picture of the cross
2. picture of the grave
3. picture of an empty grave
4. picture of Pentecost 20

21. What accounts for why these new believers are now doing what they are doing immediately after Peter’s Pentecost sermon? 21

22. Acts 2:38-41 (NIV84) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 22

23. These people said “yes” to Peter’s call to repent and to die to their old master, sin, and be born anew in Christ and to walk with Him and in Him as their new Master. 23

24. inspired by their new relationship with Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Four Activities
inspired by their new relationship with Jesus Christ. 24

25. Being devoted
to faithfully, continually, pursue an activity even in the face of resistance. 25

26. Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV84) 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 26

27. 1. Their faithful pursuit of the apostles’ teaching.
Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
1. Their faithful pursuit of the apostles’ teaching.
2. Their faithful pursuit of “the fellowship.”
Koinonia: sharing life in common as in participating together in the common pursuit of life with Christ. 27

28. 3. Their faithful pursuit of the breaking of bread.
Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
3. Their faithful pursuit of the breaking of bread.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NIV84) 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation (koinonia) in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.) 28

29. “the breaking of bread” as what we do at the Lord’s Table.
Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
“the fellowship” as our common life together in pursing Christ and together going out into the world with the Good New about Jesus.
“the breaking of bread” as what we do at the Lord’s Table. 29

30. Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Let the phrases “the fellowship” and “the breaking of bread” comingle in meaning as together they serve to elevate our worship of our Lord Jesus Christ and bind us together as we participate together in His mission. 30

31. 4. Their faithful pursuit of prayer.
Acts 2:42 (NIV84) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
4. Their faithful pursuit of prayer. 31

32. Acts 2:43-47 (NIV84) 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 32

33. What accounts for why these new believers are now doing what they are doing immediately after Peter’s Pentecost sermon?
Because they are now living in Christ through the presence and gift of the Holy Spirit. 33

34. The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was an explosive event that propelled the birth of Christ’s church to carry out their God appointed mission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world while living in the wilderness. 34

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