Acts 2:22-28 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 2:22-28. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 2:22-23 (NIV)
22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
On verses 22-23: After explaining in Acts 2:14-21 where this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was coming from, Peter transitions into talking about Jesus. He begins by describing Jesus as a man accredited by God and through whom God did many miracles, wonders and signs (v22). He then speaks of how, in accordance with God’s plan, Jesus was handed over and put to death on the cross, saying to his audience that “you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death” (v23).
Peter, who was very much a people pleaser in the past, pulls no punches when telling his audience that they put Jesus to death. With the filling of the Holy Spirit comes a boldness in you that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
Acts 2:24 (NIV)
24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
On verse 24: When you are the resurrection and the life, when you are the way, the truth and the life, when you are life itself, death cannot hold you down. That’s what happened with Jesus: after being killed on the cross, Jesus rose from the grave.
Likewise, when your life is in Christ, death won’t hold you down either; you have way more life to live even after you die.
Acts 2:25-28 (NIV)
25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
On verses 25-28: Here Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11 and says that this was David writing about the resurrection of Jesus. Peter is effectively showing that the Old Testament Scriptures which his Jewish audience was accustomed to hearing had been pointing to Jesus and his resurrection all along.
Also, notice that the Holy Spirit had given Peter, a man without formal education, tremendous insight into Scripture and boldness to share Scripture that he didn’t show before. There’s a lesson for us here: to understand Scripture, we need the help of the Holy Spirit who authored Scripture. To share Scripture effectively with others, we need the power of the Holy Spirit as well. So let’s ask the Holy Spirit often to give us insight into His Word and boldness to share it.
Finally, in verses 25 through 28, when Peter quotes Psalm 16, notice how often joy, gladness and confidence are associated with God’s presence. When we know that God is with us and we fix our eyes on Him, there is joy, gladness and confidence that go beyond our circumstances.
Jesus, I praise You for being the One who is stronger than death. No matter what my circumstances are like, may I fix my eyes on You and as a result have much joy and confidence today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
