THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM
Opening Prayer
Father, I come to you today, thanking you for all you provide; most of all, thank you for your loving presence that is always with me.
Read ACTS 2:14–21
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[a]
Footnotes
- Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
May we have open hearts to the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.
Think Further
Peter’s message at Pentecost plays a similar role in Acts to the preaching of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth.1 In both events the speeches announce the central themes which will pervade the following narratives. After dismissing the charge of drunkenness against the disciples, Peter relates the events that the crowd have just witnessed to the prophetic promises of the coming of a time when the Spirit of God would indwell all his worshippers. This – the miracle just witnessed – is that – the long-promised day of the arrival of the reign of God on earth, bringing the liberation of Israel and the turning point of the ages.
The word ‘sensational’ is often misused, but in this instance it is entirely justified. Peter connects these events to the promise of Joel and, by implication, to all the biblical texts which pointed to the messianic age and the coming of God’s longed-for shalom. Notice two aspects of this announcement: first, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is no longer experienced only by people possessing a special calling, but is given without distinction to all the people of God – sons and daughters, young and old, men and women. Henceforth, all may contribute to the knowledge and well-being of the new community.
Second, this is the beginning of something that will reach all nations and will eventually result in the renewal of the created world. This is implicit in Peter’s promise that ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (v. 21). At this point, Peter may not have fully understood the implications of his own words, but the story which follows will show how he came to recognize their universal significance.
Apply
May we never cease to marvel that the kingdom of God is among us.
Closing prayer
Lord God, fill me afresh with your Spirit so that I can share your plan of salvation and your provision in Jesus.
1 Luke 4:14–21
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