Disciples Global Network

SYNOPSIS  – The prophecy from Joel cited by Peter on the Day of Pentecost sets the tone for the book of Acts, all linked to the gift of the Spirit – Acts 2:17-21 .  Jesus commanded his disciples to “ tarry in Jerusalem ” until they received the gift of the Spirit – Only then would they become his “ witnesses ” and proclaim the “ kingdom of God ” in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the “ uttermost parts of the earth .” This is the testimony of the book of Acts – The proclamation of the good news to all nations by the church under the power of the Spirit - from its start to its finish. -  [ Photo by  Aaron Thomas  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  –  Following the events of the Day of Pentecost, the congregation established itself as a fellowship of believers centered in Jerusalem  –  Acts 2:42-47 .  The final paragraph of  Acts  chapter 2 summarizes the results of the outpouring of the Spirit. While the description sounds routine, even mundane, it records the basic practices of the Christian congregation that resulted from the Spirit’s presence – Teaching, shared meals, fellowship, prayers, unity, and material support for individuals in need. The one unique feature is the holding of possessions “ in common ” under the administration of the Apostles. - [ Photo by  Kerensa Pickett  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  – On the Day of Pentecost, Peter explained what God accomplished in Jesus and what his audience needed to do in response – Acts 2:37-43 .  Peter began his sermon in response to the question from the crowd – “ What does this mean? ”   In turn, their response at the end of the message provided him with the opportunity to summon his audience to repent, be baptized “ in the name of Jesus Christ ,” and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - (“ And, being pricked in their heart, they cried out - What shall we do? ”). While Peter was the one speaking, he functioned as the spokesman for all of the apostles [ Photo by Mike Lewis HeadSmart Media on Unsplash ]:

SYNOPSIS  –  Peter explained what God had accomplished in Jesus to a confused crowd in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost  –  Acts 2:16-36 .  When the Day of Pentecost had “ fully come ,” the Spirit of God descended onto the assembly of disciples accompanied by audible and visual manifestations. As the disciples were “ filled with the Spirit ,” they began to “ speak in other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance .” This caused a great commotion among many Jewish pilgrims who witnessed the event. Some were confused; others accused the disciples of drunkenness.    It was to this crowd that Peter addressed the first “sermon” of the new age of the Spirit. - [ Photo by  Jonatan Lewczuk  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  -  The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost signaled the arrival of the “last days”  –  Acts 2:14-21 .  I n his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, Peter applied a prophecy from the  book of Joel  to the initial outpouring of the Spirit. The arrival of the gift of the Spirit marked the commencement of the “ last days ,” the final phase of redemptive history. In the  book of Acts , the presence and activity of the Spirit is what identifies the new people of God, the men and women who are summoned to be his “ witnesses ” to the world in the final days before the “ great and manifest Day of the Lord .” - [ Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash ].