Read:
Reflect:
Pentecost is as much about Jesus as it is about the Holy Spirit. It is right, of course, that we
celebrate the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost, but that would never have happened were it not for Jesus and all that he accomplished. As Peter explained the outpouring of the Spirit his focus was on Jesus in a very particular way. This may appear somewhat surprising at first, but it is worth exploring the important connection between Jesus and the events of Pentecost.
Peter pointed out that Jesus’ awful death, though committed by lawless men, was also part of God’s eternal redemptive plan (vv 22-23). But death could not hold him, for God raised him from the dead in fulfillment of the Scriptures. A thousand years earlier God had promised king David (cf. Psalm 16:8-11) to one day put one of his descendants on the throne; a descendant who would die but not experience abandonment nor corruption (vv 25-30), because God would raise him up. Peter promptly drew the conclusion that:
31 he (David) foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (vv 31-32)
God’s definite plan and foreknowledge (v 23) included not only Jesus’ execution but also his resurrection to new embodied life, a clear sign of the ultimate defeat of death itself for all his followers (1 Corinthians 15:50-57).
Not only did God raise Jesus from the clutches of death, but also exalted him to ultimate dignity and authority at his right hand (v 33), of which the ascension is a clear sign. King David also wrote of this in Psalm 110:1, as Peter notes:
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ (vv 34-35)
It is from this exalted status that the gloriously enthroned Jesus:
33…having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (v 33)
So it is out of the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus that the pentecostal gift of the Holy Spirit is lavished on his people. Without the work and accomplishment of Jesus the outpouring of the Spirit would never have happened. Peter emphasizes this with a big exclamation point:
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (v 36)
For those who were convicted by the explanation, Peter issued a clear challenge to repent with a wonderful promise of forgiveness and receipt of the Spirit:
38 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. (v 38)
In fact, this amazing promise is extended to one and all, whether far or near, who wish to receive it, and that includes us too (v 39). Peter kept on urging people to save themselves from this crooked generation (v 40), and remarkably about 3,000 people responded and were added to the initial group of believers (v 41). May the Spirit given at Pentecost continue to draw multitudes to faith in Jesus and the filling of the Spirit.
Respond:
If you are already a follower of Jesus perhaps one of best responses you could make is to reaffirm your faith and trust in Jesus, and to seek baptism if that is lacking in your life. If you have never trusted Christ for forgiveness of your sins and received his salvation, I urge you to follow the advice of Paul and Silas when the jailor asked how to be saved:
31… Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16: 31)