Acts 2:36-47

You know that Peter had been preaching a plain, simple, straightforward sermon upon the death, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He, who was once such a coward that he trembled before a little maid, now that he is filled with the Spirit, boldly charges this crowd with being murderers and deicides because their kind put to death the Lord of life and glory. If you turn to the 36 th verse, you will see the effect of Peter's plain preaching through the power of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,

A little later in this same Book, we read of those who listened to Stephen's sharp, sword-like sentences, «When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart,» and soon they stoned Stephen to death. To be «cut to the heart» is not enough, but to be pricked in the heart is to receive a mortal wound. Happy is the man who has had his sin killed through having received a deadly wound from the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. These people who heard Peter preach «were pricked in their heart, «and, first, they were in doubt as to what they should do but, secondly, they were resolved that, whatever they should be told to do they would do at once.

Acts 2:37. And said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Nobody but a Baptist minister could have preached that sermon, at least, we shall have to wait a long while before we hear any other saying to a whole congregation, «Repent, and be baptized every one of you.» This is indeed the full proclamation of the gospel, and we have no more right to leave out the baptism than we have to leave out the repentance. «Repent, and be baptized every one of you.» Peter was not like those hyper-Calvinists who are afraid to give an exhortation to a sinner because he is spiritually dead, but he spoke out boldly to those who had asked «What shall we do?» and said to them, «Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.»

Acts 2:39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

This is a most blessed verse. The promise is to us, and to our descendants; not merely to our children, but also to our grandchildren, ay, and to our race as far as it yet may run; and the next clause, «and to all that are afar off» proves that the promise is made to the far-off ones as well as to our children, with only this limitation, «even as many as the Lord our God shall call.»

Acts 2:40. And with many other works did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Not, «save yourselves from hell;» that Christ alone can do for you, but «save yourselves from this generation» by coming boldly out from among the ungodly, taking upon you the distinctive mark of the Christian, and so separating yourselves from those upon whom the sentence of death shall fall.

Acts 2:41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

What a notable instance this was of the power of divine grace! We should not usually suppose that the Jewish race would be given to any excess of making common property; but where grace came in the first flush of its dawn, see to what prodigies of liberality it excited the early believers.

Would that we had more of this generous spirit nowadays!

Acts 2:46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

I believe that wherever two or three disciples of Christ meet together it is competent for them to celebrate the Lord's supper. That ordinance is not, as some think it to be a church ordinance, to be confined to the official assembling of all believers; but wherever two or three are met in Christ's name, there he is; and where he is, there may the emblems of his broken body and shed blood be partaken of in memory of him.

Acts 2:47. Praising God, and having favor with all his people. And the lord added to the church daily such as should be saved

May he do the like unto all our churches, and he shall have the glory world without end! Amen.