--- title: "Peter Addresses the Crowd" description: "A massive crowd gathers as Peter publicly clarifies the strange events of Pentecost, declaring that Jesus is alive and established as the true King of Israel." image: "" book: "Acts" bookId: "ACT" testament: "new" startChapter: 2 startVerse: 14 endChapter: 2 endVerse: 36 coversChapters: [2] aiTitle: "Breaking: Peter Defends Miracle as Prophecy Fulfilled" aiDescription: "A massive crowd gathers as Peter publicly clarifies the strange events of Pentecost, declaring that Jesus is alive and established as the true King of Israel." hasAiStory: true location: "Jerusalem" persons: ["David","Eleven","God","Jesus","Jesus of Nazareth","Peter"] hashtags: ["gospel","prophetic","redemption","repentance"] genre: "history" readingTime: 3 type: "adaptive" slug: "ACT/peter-addresses-the-crowd" canonicalId: "ACT.2.14-2.36" chronologicalOrder: 1532 relatedSlugs: ["JOL/a-future-day-of-the-lord","PSA/psalm-16-the-presence-of-the-lord","ACT/in-pisidian-antioch","ACT/peter-speaks-in-solomons-colonnade","ROM/israel-in-the-present","ISA/the-lord-has-chosen-israel","ACT/good-news-for-the-gentiles-the-gentiles-receive-the-holy-spirit","HEB/jesus-is-above-the-angels","PSA/psalm-110-gods-faithful-messiah","1PE/a-call-to-holiness-the-enduring-word","2PE/the-return-of-jesus","1CO/sexual-immorality","EPH/spiritual-wisdom","ROM/walking-by-the-spirit","PSA/psalm-86-tried-but-trusting","TIT/heirs-of-grace-avoid-divisions-final-remarks-and-greetings","JHN/where-i-am-going-you-cannot-come","REV/opening","LUK/the-last-supper","ROM/grace-in-jew-and-gentile-relationship","COL/alive-with-christ","JHN/jesus-teaches-at-the-feast","ZEC/mourning-the-one-they-pierced","2CO/treasure-in-jars-of-clay","JHN/jesus-the-good-shepherd","JER/the-covenant-with-david","1CO/our-hope-in-the-resurrection","HEB/benediction-and-farewell","ISA/gods-help-to-israel","MAT/the-resurrection","1TH/greetings-to-the-thessalonians","EZK/a-promise-of-restoration-gods-glory-leaves-jerusalem","HEB/the-perfect-high-priest","MAT/jesus-questions-the-pharisees","AMO/the-lord-does-not-relent","ISA/israels-sin-the-servants-obedience","1CO/the-body-of-christ-the-greater-gifts","GEN/the-death-of-joseph","HOS/adulterous-wife-and-faithful-husband","MAT/the-olivet-discourse"] prevSlug: "ACT/the-holy-spirit-at-pentecost" nextSlug: "ACT/three-thousand-believe" --- Tensions are high this morning as onlookers gathered to witness a bizarre and inexplicable event. Critics in the crowd were quick to accuse the group of believers of being intoxicated, but [Peter](/persons/peter) has just stepped forward to set the record straight. Speaking with calm authority, he dismissed the rumors, pointing out that it is far too early in the day for such behavior. Peter insists that what the crowd is witnessing is the direct fulfillment of ancient prophecies. He quoted the prophet Joel, who spoke of a time when [God](/persons/god) would pour out His Spirit on everyone—sons, daughters, young and old alike—regardless of their social standing. According to Peter, the strange phenomena currently being seen and heard are the outward signs of this divine promise coming to pass. The speech took a sharp turn toward the recent history of the region. Peter spoke bluntly about [Jesus of Nazareth](/persons/jesus%20of%20nazareth), reminding those present of the miracles and signs that accompanied His life. He did not mince words regarding the crucifixion, telling the crowd that while [Jesus](/persons/jesus) was delivered to death through a pre-ordained plan, it was their own hands that brought Him to the cross. The core of the announcement is a stunning claim: God has raised Jesus from the dead. Peter argued that death had no power to hold Him, citing the writings of King [David](/persons/david) to prove that this outcome was predicted centuries ago. He emphasized that the current group of believers are all living witnesses to this resurrection. Peter concluded his address with a bold declaration of authority. He stated that Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God, where He has received the promised Holy Spirit and poured it out on those present today. He urged the people of Israel to accept the reality that this Jesus, whom they previously rejected, has been officially confirmed by God as both Lord and the long-awaited Messiah. Then [Peter](/persons/peter) stood up with the [Eleven](/persons/eleven), lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, [God](/persons/god) says,I will pour out My Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your young men will see visions,your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservantsI will pour out My Spirit in those days,and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens aboveand signs on the earth below,blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness,and the moon to blood,before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lordwill be saved.’ Men of Israel, listen to this message: [Jesus of Nazareth](/persons/jesus%20of%20nazareth) was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches. [David](/persons/david) says about Him:‘I saw the Lord always before me;because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;my body also will dwell in hope, because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life;You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the [Christ](/persons/jesus), that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses. Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says:‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemiesa footstool for Your feet.”’ Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”

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