Sermon Notes:

THE DAY OF PENTECOST
V.  EXPOSITIONS OF THE BOOK OF ACTS
Acts 2:1-21                     November 11, 2006

Introduction
Acts 2 is a turning point in the history of redemption.  The Church, which has existed since the Garden as a national church, becomes multi-national.

Acts 1  Apostles wait for the Holy Spirit  Apostles are equipped  Christ ascends Apostles are prepared Christ’s promises are spoken

Acts 2 Holy Spirit arrives Apostles are empowered Holy Spirit descends Apostles are sent as witnesses Christ’s promises are fulfilled

I.  The arrival of the Holy Spirit (Vss. 1-4)
Wind in Scripture = an image of the Spirit of God.
Fire = the Divine Presence.

II.  The people were bewildered  (Vss. 5-13)
“Are not all these who speak Galileans?”  They are speaking “the mighty acts of God” to people from 15 different countries and languages.  But there are always those scoffers, unbelievers, who search for a “natural” explanation for the miracle, no matter how illogical or irrational.

III.  Peter Explains the Situation (Vss. 14-21)
This event is the fulfillment of the Scripture, prophesied by Joel 500 years earlier, marking the beginning of the new covenant era by the Holy Spirit.

1) The beginning of the last days before the Second Coming.
2) The era of the Holy Spirit; the universality of the gift of the Spirit.  No longer restricted to prophets, priests and kings.
3) The creation of the Community of the New Covenant.
4) The proclamation of the Gospel message.

 Some of the sources used for this study:
Sermons from ACTS by Terry L. Johnson.  Sermons from ACTS by Derek W.H. Thomas.  ACTS by John R.W. Stott.  ACTS by James Montgomery Boice.  ACTS by R. Kent Hughes.  ACTS by John MacArthur.  YOU ARE MY WITNESSES by Gordon J. Keddie.  John Calvin on Acts.  Matthew Henry on Acts.  New Testament Commentary series by Hendricksen.  LET’S STUDY ACTS by Dennis E. Johnson.  Tyndale Commentaries.  HIS WITNESSES TO THE WORLD by Carol Ruvolo.