The Crunch
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I repent before You today. Forgive my sins and give me the gift of Your Holy Spirit.
Read ACTS 2:37–47
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Can you remember listening to a talk or reading a book which made you feel guilty? How did you respond?What a morning it had been for this crowd! First they heard the sounds of the Holy Spirit baptizing the disciples. Then they heard ordinary people from Galilee praising God in languages the disciples hadn’t learned—their own. And finally, they heard a sermon saying that they were responsible for the death of the Messiah and the Lord. I think if I’d been there I’d have been thoroughly overwhelmed!
At this point many crowds would have turned on Peter and the disciples—that certainly would happen in the future (Acts 16:19–24). But today was different. The message had gone home and they wanted to know what to do next (37).
Far from condemning them, Peter includes them. He says that all that’s happened to the disciples can happen to them. What they need to do is to repent and be baptized (38); and it’s open to everyone (39). Almost unbelievably, 3,000 join them (41), and that’s only the start (47)! Their lives are completely turned around, resulting in a transformed lifestyle that all can see (42–47).
Apply
Are there truths which the Holy Spirit is emphasizing to you today? Who might you share them with?
Closing prayer
God, use me to speak words of truth and hope to those in “this corrupt generation.”
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