Bible Study Acts 2: 29-47

 

Commentary of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Acts 2: 29-47

Text:

29 “Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is [y]with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit [z]of his body on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [aa]Christ, that He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted [ab]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:

‘The [ac]Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,

35 

Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and [ad]Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

About Three Thousand Souls Saved

37 Now when they heard this, they were [ae]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ [af]for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “[ag]Be saved from this crooked generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and [ah]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ai]were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. 46 And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread [aj]from house to house, they were taking their [ak]meals together with gladness and [al]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding [am]to their number daily those who were being saved.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 29: “Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.”

This is a reminder to the Jews that David’s body had never been raised, so he could not be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Psalm 16. Peter is building an evangelistic sermon to the listeners at Pentecost.

Verse 30: “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit of his body on his throne,”

Peter is quoting from Psalm 132. As God’s spokesman, David knew that God would keep His promise and Christ would come in the flesh and sit on David’s throne. 

Verse 31: “he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”

Simon Peter’s sermon is about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first sermon ever preached in the church age was a Resurrection Sunday sermon. And every sermon in the early church was a Resurrection Sunday sermon. Think about the sermons you hear today. How do they compare to Peter’s sermon on that first Pentecost for the church? Peter placed no emphasis on health, wealth or prosperity. His message was on the risen Christ.

Verse 32: “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.”

That “God raised up (the Lord Jesus Christ) again,” attests to His approval of Christ’s work on the cross. There were many witnesses to the resurrection. This was not an isolated event will few witnesses, but rather, sufficient evidence existed to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Christ rose from the dead. 

Verse 33: “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.”

God’s plan included not just the resurrection, but also the ascension to place the Son back to the position He held prior to the incarnation. This verse is a strong argument for the Trinity. The Son is exalted to the right hand of God. The Father sends the Holy Spirit to the people Who causes the attendees to speak in other languages. The people saw this miraculous event and there were a multitude of witnesses.

Verse 34: “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,”

Peter quoted Psalm 110:1 concerning the exaltation of Messiah by ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and reminds the reader that it was not fulfilled by David (as bodily resurrection had not yet occurred in the Old Testament). David was not speaking of himself, but One that would come in the future, i.e. the Messiah. Peter had been an eyewitness to that ascension and was now able to testify of the event. The “right hand” was a place of honor. 

Verse 35: “Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’

In the Old Testament, there were physical flesh and blood enemies of Israel. In the New Testament, the battle is intensified, as the Lord Jesus Christ fights against the invisible, demonic powers of evil. There is a day coming where all those that oppose the gospel will become a footstool for Christ. Come quickly, Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

In this summary statement, Peter not only stresses that Jesus is God’s Messiah and Savior of the Old Testament, but that He is the exalted Lord Jesus Christ, and the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Verse 37: “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men, brothers, what should we do?’”

The word “pierced” means something sudden and unexpected. In grief, remorse, and intense spiritual conviction, Peter’s listeners were stunned by his charge that they had killed their Messiah. Repentance always includes taking the blame for your actions. Here, Peter wants his listeners to take the blame for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 38: “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Peter gives the gospel conditions: repent, be baptized in Jesus’s name and receive the Holy Spirit. To “repent” is to take the blame for your actions and turn to God in sorrow for your sin. The command to be baptized in Jesus’ Name is not in contradiction with Matthew 28 to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Rather, this is a  summary of Matthew (i.e. baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), with only Jesus mentioned here, since Peter’s sermon had to do with the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry. To “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" was the gift of the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit, as well as the gift of forgiveness, and the power to do ministry in the name of Christ.

Verse 39: “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

This includes you and me and everyone since that first Pentecost for the church. Peter taught that salvation through God’s Messiah was promised to the Jews, to their children, and to all those far off, i.e., the Gentiles.. Here again is the message of Acts: the gospel is for all people including Jews and Gentiles.

Verse 40: “And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!”

Peter was urging his listeners to repent and be saved. This is the heart of every true ministry, i.e., the salvation of souls. After the Holy Spirit’s arrival on Pentecost, the first major event of church history was Peter’s sermon, which led to 3,000 conversions and established the church in Jerusalem.

Verse 41: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

Luke’s use of a specific number, i.e. 3000, suggests records were kept of conversions and baptisms. This is not some church count to impress others. These were genuinely born again converts to the faith. This was an accurate count.

Verse 42: “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.”

This verse is a summary of the essential elements needed in Christian discipleship: consistency, study of the Word, spending time together in fellowship, taking communion and developing a prayer life. This should be our pattern for our churches as well.

Verse 43: “And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”

In the New Testament, the power to perform miracles was limited to the apostles and their close colleagues, e.g. Philip. These miracles produced awe and respect for divine power. It validated the early message of the resurrection. The Scriptures tell us that Jews look for a sign and a sign was given them in the miracles. Yet, most still rejected Christ.

Verse 44: “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;”

This verse demonstrates the unity of the Spirit of all those that believed. “Had all things in common” means not that the early Christians lived in a commune or pooled and redistributed everything equally like communism, but rather that they held their own possessions lightly, ready to use them at any moment for someone else, as a fellow believer needed.

Verse 45: “and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need.”

The believers were unified in the Holy Spirit,and were sensitive to the physical needs of others and voluntarily  gave to meet those needs of others. This was not by force or coercion, but a free will offering from a heart that had been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 46: “And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,”

Believers went to the temple daily to praise God, observe the set hours of prayer, and to hear the gospel message.  “From house to house” meant that the Christians met in a variety of homes and they shared their possessions with those in need. The participants had “gladness and sincerity of heart” because the message and ministry was focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. That message a;ways brings joy and happiness to the heart.

Verse 47: “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Church growth is a matter of Divine Sovereignty. The church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is the one who sovereignly builds His church according to His Perfect Plan.