“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” (Acts 2:22–24, NKJV)
This sermon astounds me. In the light of the upcoming celebration of Christ’s resurrection, I would like to share the things that excite me the most when I look at this passage.
Peter preached these words to the people of Jerusalem. The public forum where Peter preached wasn’t hundreds of miles from the incident where it would be hard to verify the facts. It was right in the city where Jesus’ resurrection happened. Anyone could ask around to find out the truth. In Luke 24:18, it is implied that everyone in Jerusalem knew what had happened. Peter spoke of the miraculous events and appealed to eyewitnesses of the facts. When he finished speaking, 3000 people believed and were baptized. If this was a hoax, legend, or fairy tale, how did Peter convince 3000 people in Jerusalem to believe him?
He preached these words just 50 days after Jesus death. The people Peter spoke to were witnesses of the power of God. They had also experienced the power of God through Jesus’ ministry. He reminded them that they had seen Jesus do miracles. He talked about the crucifixion of Christ. He also presents the resurrection as a fact. Peter is preaching to people who knew the truth because they had been there. They confirmed the truth when they believed that day.
Peter is preaching this sermon. Something convinced Peter (and the other disciples) that Jesus was alive. Later in the same sermon, Peter says, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses”. This is an astonishing testimony of the truth of the resurrection. Less than 2 months after Jesus rose from the dead, Peter is in a public forum discussing the resurrection as a verified and witnessed event. If it had not happened, I think Peter, along with the other disciples, still would have been hiding.
Peter wasn’t brave. Remember, he denied Jesus because he was afraid. Peter and the rest knew the torture that would come from associating with Jesus, and yet something emboldened them. It filled them with enough courage to change the world. They no longer coward from the threats of mere men, but were compelled to speak out by the power of God.
This passage excites me. It excited Peter too! Here is something he wrote later on the same subject. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3–9, NKJV)
For more information on the resurrection read Josh McDowell’s book, The Resurrection Factor and The Bible