Acts 2:21

And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

'WHOSOEVER'- John 3:16. No predestination here.

'SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD'-Which involves much more than merely claiming to believe in Jesus (Matthew 7:21). In this very context, Peter will tell us what is involved in "calling on the name of the Lord", repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). See also- Acts 22:16. Reese notes, 'He who would be saved must "call" in the appointed time and in the appointed way..' (p. 62) For it will be vain to attempt to call on the name of the Lord-after He has come (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

'SHALL BE SAVED'-'Saved from what?' (Reese p. 63). passage that infers the existence of hell--a place that everyone needs to be saved from.

FINAL NOTE:

To call on the name of the Lord means that one realizes that Jesus is the only hope for salvation that they have. That all other supposed places of refuge are vain. It also infers that. person has accepted the fact, that they can't save themselves or atone for their own sins--through good works, their own moral goodness or acts of tremendous self-sacrifice. It also involves being completely prepared to accept God's plan of saving us. Hence, the person who rejects baptism or thinks they can be saved without being baptized, has yet to reach the point at where they realize that calling upon the name of the Lord means that you completely trust His way of saving you (Acts 2:38).

THE BOOK OF ACTS. chapter Acts 2:22-47

OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN

I. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:

Bruce divides up Peter's sermon into the following points: (a) the announcement that the age of fulfillment has arrived (Acts 2:16-21); (b). rehearsal of the ministry, death and triumph of Jesus (Acts 2:22-24). (c) citation of O.T. scriptures whose fulfillment in these events prove Jesus to be the Messiah (Acts 2:25-36). (d). call to repentance (and baptism). (p. 69)

Stott notes, 'No fewer than nineteen significant Christian speeches occur in his (Luke's) second volume...There are eight by Peter (in Chapter s 1,2,3,4,5,10,11,15), one each by Stephen and James (in Chapter s. and 15), nine by Paul (five sermons in Chapter s 13,14,17,20, and 28, and four defence speeches in Chapter s 22 and 26). Approximately 20% of Luke's text is devoted to addresses by Peter and Paul.' (p. 69)

Thus the book of Acts also becomes. book of gospel sermons, the original sermon outline book or 'sermons that convict'. We need to be impressed that in these sermons, an abundance of Scripture is usually cited. For example, Erdman notes concerning the sermon found in this chapter, 'The purpose of his address was to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the divine Savior of the world; in demonstrating this theme he used as his proofs Old Testament quotations which indeed comprised nearly half of his sermon.' (p. 38)

Point to Note:

This proves: (a) The apostles believed that the O.T. was the inspired Word of God. (b) That one could "prove" from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 17:2). (c) That the Scriptures were within the understanding of the common man.

II. COMMENTARY ON chapter Acts 2:22-47: