David's son

Good morning friends,
In today's reading Peter continues his Pentecost sermon to the waiting crowd. Notice, Peter is consciously addressing Israelites here; Christianity is still very much a movement within Judaism at this point. So Peter tells the story of Jesus for a Jewish audience. In this sermon the main reference point is David, because most of Israel's hope for a Messiah was based on David's descendants. Peter argues that David spoke prophetically of his future son as the Messiah and that son is Jesus.

Peter bases his argument on the miracles Jesus did during his life as signs of God's power in him. More than that God showed that Jesus is the Messiah by raising him from the dead, "because it was impossible for him to be held in its power." Peter also puts the responsibility for Jesus death squarely on the crowd's shoulders, after all the crowd clamored for Jesus' death. One of the things that I like about Acts is that here and several other places we see early leaders of the church preach the basic message of good news. We get to watch how these Jewish men and women studied scripture to figure out what Jesus' life and ministry meant and how to explain the good news to others.

Blessings on your reading and the new week,
Sam


Acts 2:22-36

22“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

25For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.

31Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”