The Refutation (Acts 2:14-15)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2017 9:43 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                        Focus:  The Refutation

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                       Reference:  Acts 2:14-15

            Message of the verses:  “14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;”

            As we were looking at the end of the gospel of John we talked about the great trial that Peter went through that is the denial of Jesus Christ three times that he knew Him.  Afterwards Peter wanted to go back to fishing even though he had been the spokesmen for the disciples when Jesus had His earthly ministry.  In every list of the disciples given in the gospels we see Peter’s name first so it was natural that he become the spokesmen after Christ returned to heaven.  My point here is that because Jesus had chosen Peter to do this task, I believe that is why Peter had to go through that awful time he went through as he denied the Lord three times.

            We see in verse 14 that Peter takes his stand along with the eleven as he faces the crowd to confront them.  In the eleven it includes Matthias who was chosen earlier to replace Judas.

            We see the word “declared” in verse 14 which is the same word used in 2:4 and this word speaks of a Spirit-inspired utterance.  Peter was saying what the Holy Spirit wanted Him to say in this exact situation.  John MacArthur writes that Peter was probably speaking in Aramaic as that was the language that the residents of Jerusalem spoke.  “The Semitic expression ‘let this be known to you, and give heed to my words’ expresses Peter’s confidence and boldness.  There is no hesitation or equivocation in his heart.  Commentator Albert Barns observes,

‘Peter did not intimate that this was a doubtful matter, or one that could not be explained.  His address was respectful, yet firm.  He proceeded calmly to show them their error.  When the enemies of religion deride us or the gospel, we should answer them kindly and respectfully, yet firmly.  We should reason with them coolly, and convince them of their error, Proverbs 15:1.  In this case Peter acted on the principle which he afterward enjoined on all, 1 Peter 3:15, ‘Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.’”

            Peter is a much different man since being filled with the Spirit of God than he was when he often put his foot in his mouth before this happened to him.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Assyria” (2 Kings 17:3).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was raised from the dead in answer to Peter’s prayer?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/20/2017 10:03 AM