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Scripture • World English Bible
Acts 2:22–36
22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25For David says concerning him,
26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
27because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
28You made known to me the ways of life.
29“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear.
34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
36“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
On Pentecost Peter addresses a bewildered, accusing crowd and points them back to the heart of God’s work in Jesus. He rehearses what everyone saw: a man from Nazareth who did mighty works and signs, who was handed over by human wickedness and crucified, and whom God raised from the dead. Peter then ties those facts into Israel’s story—David’s prophecy, God’s oath, the promise of the Spirit—and makes the climactic claim: God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Those two titles together carry the weight of God’s purpose. Christ (the Messiah) names the one anointed to fulfill God’s promises—the One who brings God’s saving rule. Lord names the one who now rules with authority. Peter is not merely saying that people should admire Jesus; he is declaring that God has vindicated Jesus and established his authority. The resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit are the public acts that confirm Jesus’ identity and office. God didn’t simply approve Jesus’ teaching or miracles; by raising him and exalting him, God has placed Jesus at the center of redemption and given him sovereign rule.
That truth reshapes how we live. If Jesus is both Lord and Christ, then our allegiance is not optional. His victory over death is the basis of our hope; his present reign is the basis of our obedience. Peter’s sermon moves people from accusation to conviction by showing that what happened in Jerusalem was part of God’s rescue plan and that it matters for every life.
There is also hope in the pattern Peter points to. God’s making of Jesus Lord and Christ involved suffering, seeming defeat, and then vindication. That means our present struggles do not void God’s promises—God can bring life out of death and purpose out of loss. And because the Father has poured out the Spirit through the exalted Christ, we are invited to live in the power of his reign. The same God who raised Jesus is at work in us, giving us courage to repent, to believe, and to witness.
So listen to Peter’s conclusion not as an abstract theological claim but as an active summons: recognize who Jesus is, turn from what resists his rule, and live as people empowered by the Spirit and committed to his mission. Being a witness is not only telling facts; it is living under the authority of the risen Lord and inviting others to see what God has done and is doing through Jesus.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Examine one area where you resist Jesus’ rule (time, money, relationships, career). Pray, then take a concrete step this week to submit that area—swap a habitual choice that honors your preference for a practice that honors Christ.
- Share the core message with one person: briefly tell that Jesus was crucified, God raised him, and God has made him Lord and Christ; then ask if they’d like to hear more or meet with you to read Scripture together.
- Ask for Spirit-empowered courage and act on one specific prompt: forgive someone, speak a needed apology, or serve in a place of need. Rely on the Spirit’s power rather than your own willpower.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are both Lord and Christ. By your blood and by your resurrection you have been vindicated and enthroned. Help me to bow in allegiance, to trust your victory when I face loss, and to live as your witness empowered by your Spirit. Give me one concrete step of obedience to take now, and the courage to follow. Amen.
Memory Verse
Acts 2:36 — “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (WEB)
““Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.””
Bible Context
Read all of Acts 2
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Bible Context
Read all of Acts 2
Acts 2
World English Bible • WEB
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17‘It will be in the last days, says God,
18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
19I will show wonders in the sky above,
20The sun will be turned into darkness,
21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25For David says concerning him,
26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
27because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
28You made known to me the ways of life.
29“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear.
34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
36“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
47praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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