The Pentecostal Response (Acts 2:27-47) -- By: H. A. Ironside

Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 28:55 (Autumn 2015)
Article: The Pentecostal Response (Acts 2:27-47)
Author: H. A. Ironside


The Pentecostal Response (Acts 2:27-47)1

H. A. Ironside

…Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, 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 sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:37-38).

This brief portion of the book of Acts is one that requires very careful and thoughtful examination. A great deal of controversy has raged around it, and very many serious misconceptions have been drawn from it, so I ask that you fix your attention very particularly upon the text as I seek to expound it.

The Apostle Peter had just preached his wonderful sermon setting forth the life, the death, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He had particularly emphasized the fact that the Lord Jesus came to the nation of Israel in accordance with Old Testament prophecy as their Messiah, the One they had been looking for down through the cen- turies, but they failed to recognize Him when He came. They rejected Him and delivered Him over to the Gentiles to be crucified, but Peter concludes with the triumphant word. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, who ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

We need to remember that the word “Christ” means “The Anointed” and is the equivalent of the Hebrew term Mashiach or Messiah. Our Lord Jesus is God’s anointed King. Men said, His own people said, “We will not have this Man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). But God has

raised up from the dead the One whom the nation rejected and He has confirmed His Messiahship to Him in resurrection. He has declared Him to be Lord and Messiah.

Now the effect of Peter’s message was tremendous. We are told “there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men.” He was addressing him- self not to the ribald crowd that had been in front of Pilate’s judgment hall who cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him”; but addressing primarily the devout Jews who were awaiting the coming of the Messiah, also a number of proselytes from the nations who had the same sincere ex- pectations. And when these honest men heard Peter’s proclamation, we read, “They were pricked in their heart.” This was the work of the Holy Ghost. He so carried the message home to their hearts that they were deeply stirred.

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