The first sermon of the Christian Church
In this blog, we are going to look at the first ever sermon in the Christian Church. The book of Acts and more specifically, Acts chapter 2 is where the New Testament begins. The Gospels, while recorded in our Bible as “New Testament” are still under the Old Testament law. It wasn’t until God poured out His Spirit in which the New Testament was initiated.
In knowing this, let’s look at the 2nd chapter of Acts and read what was first preached.
Acts 2:1-47
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
In Luke 24:49, we find Jesus telling the Disciples they are to wait in Jerusalem until they receive “power from on high.” We find in Acts 1 this power is the infilling of God’s Spirit. As they are in Jerusalem they were in an upper room where they continued in prayer (Acts 1:13-14). It was at the Jewish feast of Pentecost that we pick up in this first verse.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
What we find is the Spirit of God is poured out on all those who are in this upper room in Jerusalem praying which appears to be about 120 people (Acts 1:15). When they received God’s Spirit the Word says they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit guided them.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
As there were Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost this act of God did not go unnoticed. In fact, when news of the phenomenon was spread, people began to wonder what was going on as they heard every person speaking in their native tongue, which the speakers did not know.
Side note: Speaking in tongues simply means the speaker is speaking in a language not naturally known to them. This happened to the 120 in the upper room when (Acts 2:4) were filled with God’s Spirit.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
In the preceding scriptures are listed the various nations of some of the people who were there came from. They are wondering how they are hearing these 120 people speak in their native tongue, when they don’t know the language.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Now the crowd which had assembled begins to wonder what is happening. However, as it is still today, they were some who just made fun of was happening and said they are simply drunk.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Now Peter stands up, with the 11 other Apostles present, and tells the crowd these people are not drunk. Here begins the first sermon of the Christian Church and Peter is the first preacher of the Christian Church.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter begins his sermon by quoting Joel 2:28-32. He states to the crowd that what they are seeing and hearing is God pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, which is fulfillment of the prophecy found in Joel chapter 2.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
After quoting Joel, Peter tells them of Jesus. He states Jesus did miracles, wonders and signs which they all know of as they had it done in their midst. He then says how he was put on trial and crucified and killed, yet God had raised Him from the dead.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
In verses 25 – 28, Peter quotes Psalms 16:8-11 which was spoken by David to prove that the Messiah (Jesus) must rise from the dead which Peter had just stated happened to Jesus.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Peter then comments on the scripture he had just quoted. He states David is dead, buried and his grave is still with them that day. However, being a prophet, David prophesied that the Messiah would come from his lineage and henceforth spoke of the resurrection of Jesus.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Simply stated, Peter declares they are all witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
In referring to the “right hand of God” simply denotes power. What Peter is saying is the flesh of Jesus has been resurrected by the power of God. Now due to the resurrection, what they are now seeing and hearing is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost which Jesus promised before His death (John 7:37-39; 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15).
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Peter now declares David has not ascended to heaven and hence did not speak of himself in the prior Psalm. Rather, Peter quotes Psalms 110:1 which speaks of the incarnation and resurrection of God.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
In ending his sermon, Peter tells the crowd that Jesus is the Messiah, which was the one they had crucified.
37 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?
Now, when they heard the word which Peter spoke and what he had said, they were convicted for their actions of condemning the Messiah. They asked Peter a most important question which all of us should ask and act upon: what shall we do? In other word, what can we do to get right with God?
Romans 3:23 declares that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. In knowing all have sinned, we all have missed the mark, then we need to ask what must we do to be saved. This is what they asked after Peter’s sermon.
38 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.
In response to the crowd’s question on how to be saved, Peter gave the response of repentance, baptism in Jesus name and being filled with the Holy Ghost. His answer follows along with how Jesus stated in John 3:5 how one must be born again, born of water and of the Spirit.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The promise of the infilling of the Spirit, of salvation was to those Jews who Peter spoke to, it was to their children (ancestors) and also to all who are afar off (us). We can partake of this wonderful salvation plan. However, it is up to us to be obedient to the plan of salvation God has laid out.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Peter continued to talk to them stating they need to save their selves from this wicked generation. When we look at todays world, it is still as wicked, if not more, than it was back then. We need to save ourselves from this godless society. The ones who gladly received the word Peter preached were baptized. Again, it is up to us to be obedient to the Word of God. Are we going to gladly receive God’s Word or will we have a hardened heart and reject His plan?
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Those who were baptized continued in the apostles teaching and in fellowship. Not only this, God continued many miracles through the Apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
As the chapter ends, we see the early Church cared about each other. They took care of each other. They were close knit and continued living for God.
In summary, we find God first out poured His Spirit in Acts chapter 2. When they received His Spirit, they began to speak in an unknown language to the speaker. This caused many who were present in Jerusalem to question what was happing. Peter stood up among them and preached the first New Testament Church sermon. Upon completing his statements, the onlookers asked what they must do to be saved. Peter gave them the plan of salvation in repenting, being baptized in Jesus name and being filled with God’s Spirit.
