A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:47In his account of the founding of the Christian church Luke gave background information that ties Jesus’ giving of the Great Commission to the day of Pentecost. He showed how Jesus enabled His disciples to obey His command to evangelize the nations. read more
Peter’s Pentecost sermon 2:14-41"The miraculous is not self-authenticating, nor does it inevitably and uniformly convince. There must also be the preparation of the heart and the proclamation of the message if miracles are to accomplish their full purpose. This was true even for the miracle of the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. . . . All this prepares the reader for Peter’s sermon, which is the initial proclamation of the gospel message to a prepared people." [Note: Longenecker, p. 273.] Barclay... read more
Peter’s proclamation 2:22-36In this part of his speech Peter cited three proofs that Jesus was the Messiah: His miracles (Acts 2:22), His resurrection (Acts 2:23-32), and His ascension (Acts 2:33-35). Acts 2:36 is a summary conclusion. read more
Peter next explained that it was Jesus, now at God’s right hand, who had poured forth the promised Holy Spirit from the Father (John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26-27). The evidence of this was the tongues of fire and demonstration of tongues speaking that his audience saw and heard. The right hand of God figuratively repesents supreme power and authority, and reference to it sets up the quotation of Psalms 110:1 in the next verse.Peter mentioned all three members of the Trinity in this... read more
The Day of Pentecost1-13. Pentecost. On this day the risen Lord fulfilled His promise to send another Comforter (or Advocate) ’that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive; for it be-holdeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He abideth with you, and shall be in you’ (John 14:17). Primarily, Pentecost is to be regarded as the Consecration of the Church for its work of evangelising the world. The fiery tongues which lighted upon the... read more
(33) Therefore being by the right hand of God.—The Greek has the dative case without a preposition. The English version takes it, and probably is right in taking it, as the dative of the instrument, the image that underlies the phrase being that the Eternal King stretches forth His hand to raise Him who was in form His Servant to a place beside Him on His right hand; and, on the whole, this seems the best rendering. Not a few scholars, however, render the words “exalted to the right hand of... read more
The Lesson of Pentecost Acts 2:1 We must realise what went before the record which begins with this word 'and' because it has in it a lesson that we have need to learn first, of the patience and entire confidence in the fulfilling of the promise of God, and then of 'the prayer and supplication' which penetrated that patience and helped toward the realisation of their hope. I. The lesson needs learning that while the apostolic ministry has its due part and special place, the ministry of the... read more
CHAPTER 2 1. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4 ). 2. The Immediate Effect of His Presence (Acts 2:5-13 ). 3. Peter’s Address (Acts 2:14-36 ). 4. The Result of the Witness (Acts 2:37-41 ). 5. The Gathered Company in Fellowship (Acts 2:42-47 ). This is an important chapter. The Promise of the Father was fulfilled, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity came down to earth, to be the other Comforter. He came on that blessed day. Two things are at once apparent. He came... read more
2:33 Therefore being by the {y} right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.(y) Might and power of God. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 2:1-41
5. The birth of the church 2:1-41The Holy Spirit’s descent on the day of Pentecost inaugurated a new dispensation in God’s administration of the human race. [Note: For more information about the dispensations, see Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism Today, or idem, Dispensationalism.] Luke featured the record of the events of this day to explain the changes in God’s dealings with humankind that followed in the early church and to the present day. This was the birthday of the church. Many... read more