Peter's first sermon

Acts 2:14-40 (New Living Translation)

14Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

17‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

18In those days I will pour out my Spirit

even on my servants—men and women alike—

and they will prophesy.

19And I will cause wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below—

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20The sun will become dark,

and the moon will turn blood red

before that great and glorious day of the lord arrives.

21But everyone who calls on the name of the lord

will be saved.’

22“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25King David said this about him:

‘I see that the lord is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

26No wonder my heart is glad,

and my tongue shouts his praises!

My body rests in hope.

27For you will not leave my soul among the dead

or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

28You have shown me the way of life,

and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

29“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

32“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The lord said to my Lord,

“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

35until I humble your enemies,

making them a footstool under your feet.”’

36“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

How would you out this sermon into your own words ?

Peter had been an unstable leader during Jesus' ministry, letting his bravado be his downfall, even denying that he knew Jesus. But Christ forgave and restored Peter after his denial. This was a new Peter, humble but bold. His confidence came from the Holy Spirit, who made him a powerful and dynamic speaker. Have you ever felt as though you've made such bad mistakes that God could never forgive and use you? No matter what sins you have committed, God says He will forgive you and make you useful for His kingdom. Confess your sins and also allow God to use you effectively to serve him.