Peter gives a sermon to Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost explaining how Jesus fulfills prophecies. He outlines seven key points about Jesus: (1) His name is Jesus of Nazareth, (2) God attested to Him through miracles, (3) the Jews killed Jesus, (4) God raised Jesus from the dead, (5) Jesus is now exalted at God's right hand, (6) Jesus received what God promised, and (7) the Holy Spirit was poured out as they now witness. Many in the crowd are convicted and ask what they should do. Peter tells them to repent, be baptized in Jesus' name, and they will receive the Holy Spirit

1. Acts 2:22-47
Witnessing to Jews: Peter’s Methods
March 20, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
The glory of God!
http://kwhite75.com/websites/fbcodenville/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glory.jpg
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
March Memory Verse
Isaiah 6:8 ESV
8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom, shall I send, and who will go
before Us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
REFERENCES
• The ESV Study Bible, Crossway Publishing, 2008.
• The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Corporation, 1985.
• Website of Jews For Jesus www.jewsforjesus.org.
• Missler, Dr. Chuck: The Book of Acts. Chapter 2. YouTube Video.
• Hobbs, Herschel H., Fundamentals of our Faith: Nashville, TN, Broadman
Press, 1960.

2. Introduction to The Book of Acts
• Acts is considered to be a continuation of the Gospel of Luke.
• Mostly about Peter and Paul, not the acts of apostles.
• Acts ends with Paul’s appeal to Rome:
• Acts thought to be documents prepared for Paul’s defense in Rome.
• Documents had to precede your case presentation.
Introduction to Acts 2
• Both Luke and Acts addressed to “Theophilus”.
• Theophilus means “one who loves God”.
• May be a title for a Roman official instead of a name.
• Could be symbolic name for a Christian convert.
Setting for Acts 2
• Acts 1:1-5 Apostles told to stay in Jerusalem after resurrection and Jesus
ministers to them.
• Acts 1:6-11 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and then ascends into heaven.
• Acts 1:12-26 The apostles elect Matthias to replace Judas as the 12th
apostle.
Acts 2:1-21 Summary
• Jesus sends the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
• Tongues of fire rest on the believers in the upper room.
• They speak “Praising God” in the languages of the foreign Jews in
Jerusalem celebrating Pentecost.
• Peter addresses the crowd explaining how the Prophet Joel predicted this
“pouring out of the Spirit” in Joel 2:28-32.

3. Introduction to Acts 2:22-41
• Peter has just explained what the crowd has witnessed with the speaking
in languages.
• Peter now begins to explain the role of Jesus in this miraculous event.
• Pentecost was just 50 days after the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Peter gives us the 7 important points about Jesus in witnessing to the Jews (Acts
2:22-41).
1. Name.
2. God attested Jesus to you.
3. You killed Jesus.
4. God raised Jesus from the dead.
5. Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God.
6. Jesus has received the promise of the Father.
7. The Holy Spirit is poured out before your eyes.
Acts 2:22-24 ESV
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by
God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the
definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands
of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was
not possible for him to be held by it.
1. The title (proper) name: Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 2:22
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth…”
• Identified by hometown of Nazareth.
• Nazarenes were not held with great respect.
• “Nazareth” is Greek form of the Hebrew word for “shoot” or “sprout”.
• Isaiah 11:1
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2. God attested Jesus to you.
Acts 2:22
22 “…a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and
signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—…”
• Attested = proven or with clear evidence.
• Jesus exhibited God’s power by the miracles He performed for all to
see.
• Miracles were signs of Jesus as Messiah.

4. 3. You killed Jesus!
Acts 2:23
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and
foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless
men.
• Peter combines a clear affirmation of God’s sovereignty over world
events, and human responsibility for evil deeds.
Paradox
Definition: A statement that appears senseless, logically unacceptable or self-
contradictory.
Example: Less is more.
The Holy Paradox
Isaiah 53:10 NIV
10 Yet it was the Lord 's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
Acts 3:17-18 NIV
17 "Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets,
saying that his Messiah would suffer.
Who put Jesus on the cross?
I did!
My sins put Jesus on the cross!

5. 4. God raised Jesus from the dead.
Acts 2:24
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not
possible for him to be held by it.
• Peter is now going to use Psalm 16:8-11 to explain why death could
not hold Jesus.
• The Jew thought this Psalm applied to King David.
Acts 2:25-29
25 For David says concerning him,
"'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he
both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
King David’s Tomb on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem

6. Acts 2:30-32
30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to
him (David) that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw
and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to
Hades (death), nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus, God raised up, and
of that we all are witnesses.
Peter gives us the 7 important points about Jesus in witnessing to Jews (Acts
2:22-41).
1. Name.
2. God attested Jesus to you.
3. You killed Jesus.
4. God raised Jesus from the dead.
5. Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God.
6. Jesus has received the promise of the Father.
7. The Holy Spirit is poured out before your eyes.
Acts 2:33-35
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from
the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you
yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David (body) did not ascend into the
heavens, but he himself says,
"'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool."'
Jesus exalted at the right hand of God
1 Peter 3:21-22
21 …. Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of
God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Hebrews 10:12-13
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat
down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies
should be made a footstool for his feet.
Acts 2:36 (The Closing Statement)
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him
both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
• Full authority given to Jesus.

7. “…God has made him both Lord and Christ…”
Matthew 28:18
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me.
Romans 14:9
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and of the living.
Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the
rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
• The crowd was convicted of their sins.
• The Holy Spirit was fully at work immediately upon arrival.
Acts 2:38-39
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all
who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
• The message of Jesus is universal – Jews & Gentiles.
Acts 2:40-41
40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them,
saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who
received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three
thousand souls.
• 3,000 accepted Christ that day!!
A Closer Look
How would Jews respond to this sermon today?
Jewish Population Today is 13 – 14 Million.
• USA has 6.5 M (46%)
• Israel has 4.95 M (37%)
• Europe has 1.6 M (12%) Mostly France
• Other 5% scattered

8. Judaism’s Views of Jesus of Nazareth.
• He was one of many who have claimed to be Messiah.
• Judaism forbids the worship of a person (idolatry).
• Reject that Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies.
• Believe that the Messiah will return Jews to their homeland, rule as King,
rebuild the Temple and usher in an era of peace.
• Central belief in the absolute unity and singularity of God (monotheism or
one God).
Suggestions on Witnessing from “Jews For Jesus”.
• For many Jews today, their identity is more cultural than religious.
• Find out what they believe about God and the Bible.
• Judaism is considered the opposite of Christianity.
• Accepting Jesus would mean losing your Jewish identity.
• Most Jewish people have limited knowledge of the scriptures
(preservation of the Hebrew language).
Pointers for Witnessing to Jews from “Jews For Jesus”.
1. Make friends with the person.
2. Be up front.
3. Ask questions.
4. Give a personal testimony.
5. Use scripture.
6. Be prayerfully persistent.
7. Ask for a decision and follow-up.
Acts 2:42-44
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and
many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who
believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling
their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had
need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in
their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number
day by day those who were being saved.
God’s Sovereignty in Salvation in Acts 2.
Acts 2:39
39 “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Acts 2:47
47 And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

9. God’s Call to Salvation in Jesus.
• Role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation.
• Conviction of sin (greatest sin is unbelief in Jesus).
• Shows man the righteousness of God which is not by works but by
faith in Jesus.
• Works in a person’s believing on Jesus.
• God gives man the “free will” to accept or reject the movement of the
Holy Spirit to come to Jesus.
A Challenge to Christians.
• There are estimated to be 2 Billion people in the world who have never
been given a clear presentation of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
• International Day for the Unreached (IDU) sponsored by the Alliance for
the Unreached.
• May 15, 2016 is Pentecost Sunday – Share the Gospel message.
Acts 2:37 “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Pray
Share Your Story
Psalm 16:8
I will keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

10. John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23 For the wages of sin is death,
 Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
 Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
 The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23 but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
 Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

11. If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/