Acts 2:14-24 (NRSV)
Read Acts 2:14-24 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 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. Verse 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: Verse 17'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Verse 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. Verse 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. Verse 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Verse 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Verse 22"You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know- Verse 23this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. Verse 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.
Devotion
Peter is standing in front of a large crowd ready to preach. The crowd is murmuring. When Peter speaks, all understand him. He declares that the one who did deeds of power and wonder and was crucified is not dead, but was raised by God. The power of those who plotted his death was thwarted and death itself has been defeated. Can we imagine what it must have been like for those who heard Peter to receive this bold, unapologetic declaration? This Lent, can we hear again Peter’s words but hear them as if for the first time? Can we still the murmurings of our lives as we hear them? By the power of God’s spirit and love in us, we can. We can be as bold to hear Peter’s words as he was to speak them. And we too can be bold in living by his words and continuing to proclaim them.
Prayer
Emboldening God, as Jesus is alive, may our faith in you be alive and bold. Amen.