Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (NRSV)
Read Acts 2:14a, 36-41 on biblegateway.com
Verse 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Verse 36Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Verse 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Verse 38Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." Verse 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Verse 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Devotion
Peter’s Pentecost preaching is the stuff of legends. To average a single convert per sermon would make one a preaching superstar. But, 3,000 converts in one sermon is, well, WOW!
The thing that surprises me most, however, is the listener’s initial response, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Read Peter’s sermon many times. Never once will you find him telling his listeners they must do anything. He simply presents the life of Jesus. Evidently, when you come face-to-face with the life of Jesus, when you learn from the master, or explore the mind of God, something inside you feels the need to change.
As an army chaplain, I quickly learned about the diversity of the church. I also learned we share an indivisible, essential Jesus. Good preaching, the type causing you to say, “What must I do?” resolves to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified. It changes lives.
Prayer
Lord, help us to talk about you in such a way that people feel they have encountered you. Put upon the lips of your people the words, “What must I do?” Help us to talk about you with the confidence and conviction of Peter. Amen.