Conversions In The Book of Acts - Ia

Having looked at the Gospels Answer to The Problem of Sin we now turn our attention to the Book of Acts where we will be examining the response to the gospel of Christ as it was preached.

Conversions In The Book Of Acts
The 3000 On Pentecost (2:1-41) - Part One

The Book of Acts serves a unique role in the New Testament and the history of the church. It picks up where the gospels leave off, and serves as the backdrop for the epistles. It details the spread of the gospel, and expansion of the Lord’s church. It is the only record, inspired or otherwise, of the first thirty years of the church. Included in the historical record of Acts are many examples of conversions in which we find the apostles and other preachers leading people to Christ. In some cases we can read the very sermons used to proclaim the gospel. We also have descriptions of what people were told in order to receive God’s saving grace. The value of such examples of conversion cannot be overstated. For today we can hear or see many different "gospels" being proclaimed. Even when the gospel facts are faithfully proclaimed, sometimes people are told to respond in a manner not found in the New Testament. With the help of The Book of Acts, we can make sure that the gospel facts and commands are being faithfully proclaimed!

In this series, we shall examine a number of examples of conversions described in Acts noting the background of each conversion. We will be considering the sermons proclaimed and the responses to them along with analyzing the sermons and responses, seeking to glean the elements of the gospel message and what response to expect of those coming to Christ. In this study, we start with the first example of conversion, "The 3000 On Pentecost", as recorded in Acts 2.

As we begin, let’s do so with the background of the conversion. Please use an open Bible as all the scripture references will not be quoted here, but will only be noted. It was the Day of Pentecost, - Acts 2:1 "On the day of Pentecost all the Lord's followers were together in one place." An annual Jewish feast, celebrated 50 days after the presentation of the first fruits. One in which Jews would travel from great distances to attend - Ac 2:5 "Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem."

The Holy Spirit fell on the Apostles - Ac 2:2-13, as promised by John and Jesus - Ac 1:4-5 "While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."; Lk 24:49 "I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven." The Holy Spirit fell on the Apostles accompanied by audible and visual signs. A sound as of a mighty rushing wind - Ac 2:2 "Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting." There were divided tongues as of fire sitting upon each of them - Ac 2:3 "Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there." Enabling the apostles to speak in foreign languages - Ac 2:4-11. Every man heard them speak in his own language - Ac 2:6 "And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages.", 11 "Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done." Those who spoke were "Galileans" (Ac 2:7 "They were excited and amazed, and said: Don't all these who are speaking come from Galilee?") suggests the apostles, for the apostles were from Galilee. Whereas the 120 disciples were from all over Palestine. The reaction of the crowd was mixed - Ac 2:12-13 "Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, "What does all this mean?" Others made fun of the Lord's followers and said, "They are drunk."’ Some were amazed and perplexed, others mocked, accusing the apostles of being drunk.

Peter explains what is happening. - Ac 2:14-21. It was too early for them to be drunk - Ac 2:14-15 "Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd: Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say! You are wrong to think that these people are drunk. After all, it is only nine o'clock in the morning." Rather, it was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy - Ac 2:16-21, found in Joel 2:28-32 in which God promised to pour out of His Spirit on all flesh. So we find a large gathering of religious people initially drawn by the miraculous events which occurred this day in Jerusalem. Having explained the meaning of the events, Peter immediately proceeded with the first recorded gospel sermon.
Having looked at the background events, let’s now turn the sermon by Peter and the response as Jesus is proclaimed. Peter began with the life and miracles of Jesus, with which his audience was well acquainted - Ac 2:22 "Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this." He laid the blame of Jesus’ death at their feet, but said it was in keeping with God’s predetermined plan - Ac 2:23 "God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross." He declared that God raised Jesus from the dead, and provided three lines of evidence - Ac 2:24-35. The testimony of David - Ac 2:25-31 "What David said are really the words of Jesus, "I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope. The Lord won't leave me in the grave. I am his holy one, and he won't let my body decay. He has shown me the path to life, and he makes me glad by being near me." My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king. David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay." David had prophesied of the resurrection of God’s Anointed - Psa 16:8-11 "I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest. I am your chosen one. You won't leave me in the grave or let my body decay. You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful." David could not have been speaking of himself, but of Jesus. -- Thus, the testimony of Scripture.

The testimony of the twelve apostles - Ac 2:32 "All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!" The Apostles had to be eyewitnesses to qualify as apostles - Ac 1:21 "So we need someone else to help us tell others that Jesus has been raised from death. He must also be one of the men who was with us from the very beginning. He must have been with us from the time the Lord Jesus was baptized by John until the day he was taken to heaven." With twelve witnesses, the demands of Scripture were overwhelmingly met ("by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.") -- Thus, the testimony of eyewitnesses.
The testimony of the Spirit’s outpouring - Ac 3:33-35 "Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him."’ The outpouring of the Spirit on that day, was evidence of Christ’s exaltation to the right hand of God and Christ receiving from the Father the promise of the Spirit. And so another prophecy of David was fulfilled - cf. Psa 110:1 "The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right side, until I make your enemies into a footstool for you."’ -- Thus, the testimony of the day’s events.
Finally, Peter reached the climax of his sermon - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross." The Jesus they crucified, God had made "Lord" (Ruler of all - cf. Mt 28:18), "Christ" (The Anointed One prophesied in Scripture). This fact they were to "know assuredly", to understand, to accept as fact, to believe firmly.

In response to Peter’s sermon the listeners were convicted - Ac 2:37 "When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?"’ They were "pricked to the heart" (ASV, KJV). They asked "what shall we do?". Peter replied with commands and a promise - Ac 2:38-39 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."’ The commands to repent (turn back to God) and be baptized for the remission of sins. The promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, a promise for "as many as the Lord our God will call". Luke then summarized what followed. Peter continued to offer testimony and exhortation - Ac 2:40 "Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, "I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people."’ Those who "gladly received his word were baptized" - Ac 2:41 "On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized." 3000 souls were "added" (later, we learn it was the Lord who was adding them to His church - Ac 2:47 "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." KJV) With this response to Peter’s sermon, the Lord’s church began in Jerusalem (Ac 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." KJV). It was an amazing day, in which 3000 souls responded to the gospel of Christ. What can be gleaned from this example of conversion?

In our next lesson we will do some analysis of the conversions and look at some observations regarding Peter’s sermon.

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
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Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
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