Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 KJV
This statement describes the end result of Peter’s first sermon on the Day of Pentecost. After the Holy Spirit filled Christ’s followers, Peter preached the fulfillment of prophecy and the gospel message of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. First, he explains the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. After that, Peter preaches Jesus as the Messiah prophesied through the line of King David. He gives a first hand eye witness account of his experience with the risen Christ. Moreover, he points to numerous other witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. In the end, Peter calls the crowd to repentance and about three thousand souls commit their lives to the Lord.
When the crowd witnessed the miracle of men speaking in foreign tongues, there was some confusion and even some mockery of the church members. Explaining the occurrence as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, Peter asserted that the event the crowd witnessed fulfilled prophecy predicting the last days. A portion of this passage from Joel 2:28 reads, “It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. WEB”
Day by Day
After explaining the pouring out of God’s Spirit, Peter presents Jesus as the Messiah promised in Old Testament scripture. Referencing Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 110:1, Peter tells the crowd that the Jesus they crucified, rose from the dead as the fulfillment of God’s will for the salvation of mankind. Plainly spoken, Peter said in 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”
Finally, Peter appealed to the large crowd saying in Acts 2:38, “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. WEB” The church added around three thousand souls to its membership that day. Beyond those three thousand souls, the message continued to spread. As we read in Acts 2:47, “The Lord added to the assembly day by day. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the faithful testimony of those who experienced Christ in the flesh. Thank you for the truth of your word. Help me to spread the gospel message to the world. Guide me to do your will. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Into the Pool
