1) Listen to Podcast
2)GG Questions
10/11/2020
Fulfilling God’s Dream: Witnessing
Acts 2:14-41
1. Sermon Skimming : One of the unique features of the book of Acts is that it is filled with speeches: of Peter
(2:14-36; 3:12-26), of Stephen (7:2-53), of Paul (13:16-41; 17:22-31; 20:17-36), and others. The speech in
Acts 2 is the first of these speeches, and it’s a long one. Skim through this sermon in its entirety. What do you
notice about it? (its use of OT, targeted audience, call to respond, etc.)
2. What does this mean (2:12)? : Jerusalem’s response to the events of Pentecost can be summarized in two
questions: One, What does this mean (v. 12)? and, two, Brothers, what shall we do (v. 37)? Let’s tackle that
first question here:
Peter’s fundamental answer to this question is that 120 Christ followers are not drunk, but rather filled with the
Spirit (2:13, 15). What OT passage does he cite to prove his point (2:16-21)?
Next, Peter seeks to clarify one line from that OT passage: “I will pour out my Spirit.” Who does Peter insist is
the “I” who pours out the Spirit (Acts 2:33)? And what gives this “I” the authority to bestow the Spirit (2:36)?
Some people joke that if you doze off in Sunday school and the teacher wakes you with a question, you’re
safe, because 95% of the time the correct answer will be “Jesus.” There’s some truth to that. Every part of the
life of Christ is so important to us Christians – his life (v. 22), death (v. 23), resurrection (vv. 24, 30-31), and
even ascension (vv. 33-34). However, how can we avoid the “sleepy Sunday school approach” to Jesus and
truly recognize the centrality of this God-man to our daily life and eternal destiny?
3. Brothers, what should we do (2:37)? : After Peter drops the mic in Acts 2:36, following his sermon, the
desperate Jerusalem crowd demands from him an application: What shall we do?
Peter doesn’t mince his words. Find the two places in this sermon where Peter directly accuses these
Jerusalem Jews: “You crucified Jesus.” He’s going to use this tact later in Acts as well (3:13-15; 4:10; 5:30; cf.
13:27-28). My knee-jerk reaction to verses like these is to think, “Gosh… that’s kind of harsh…” Why do you
think these statements were both necessary and effective?
Peter’s answer to the crowd’s desperate question is: Repent and be baptized (2:38). While baptism is an
important and imperative sign of salvation, the more common conversion formula is “repent and believe” (see
3:16, 19; 11:17-18; 17:30, 34; 20:21). What do the words “repent” and “believe/faith” mean? Give them a
non-churchy sounding definition, if you can. How would you explain them to an unbeliever and how do you
personally live them out as a believer?
