And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
At Pentecost Peter gave a bold Spirit-led testimony that lifted up the crucified Jesus as exalted by God to be Prince and Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness, and with many other words he urged his convicted hearers to escape the corrupt generation by turning to Christ. The generation is called untoward because it had rejected Christ, and to be saved from it is to believe in Him whose death gives everlasting life. The way held out was for every one to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, a promise to them and their children and all afar off, and about three thousand who gladly received were baptized that day into a community continuing in doctrine and fellowship and prayer. That experience is a pattern for God's people today, who must pass through similar experiences in receiving the Spirit's power to proclaim a risen Saviour with salvation of souls as the one desire. The same exhortation applies to the generation before Christ's coming, calling parents and believers to definite faith in Jesus as personal Saviour, to separation from corruption, and to overcoming temptation through His righteousness.
Pentecost Setting and Meaning
Acts 2:40 belongs to the Pentecost narrative recorded in Acts 2:1-47. That narrative sets forth the gospel commission and records what came to the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit. It records the apostles receiving the promised power of the Spirit, including speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The verse was spoken to the multitudes assembled in Jerusalem for the great religious festival. It was spoken after the disciples had spent several days together confessing their sins and praying for the Holy Spirit while waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. It was spoken after they received power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth, and the second chapter of Acts records the experiences that came to them when they received the Holy Ghost.
On that day all the believers were united and together in one place. They were harmoniously united, with one accord in one place. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through them, and the Spirit of God wrought mightily through those so united. The verse is part of Peter's firm, bold testimony about Christ. It was delivered to people who had rejected Jesus and demanded that Barabbas be released. Under the Holy Spirit's influence Peter spoke with holy boldness before thousands after his restoration, and his witness showed that his restoration was real, with complete restoration reaching the depths of the soul through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, publicly testified to Christ and carried the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to people from many nations, and the appeal to be saved is part of their witness calling hearers to turn to God amid their generation. Peter's preaching carried forward Christ's harvest work, and three thousand people were added. At Pentecost the apostles' teaching about Jesus and the plan of salvation convicted and converted thousands, who set aside the priests' traditions and accepted the teachings of God's Word. Their post-resurrection message carried Christ's teaching to people and helped break the hold of long-standing superstitions, and those who had heard Christ teach in the temple later came forward to carry out their commission with wisdom and zeal.
Its great and mighty subject was the Spirit unfolding Jesus and glorifying Him before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him to desire Him. The wondrous sermon was preached in demonstration of the Spirit and with power, lifting up Jesus as exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Peter bore witness that God made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ, and the mystery of the cross and other truths about the Messiah were explained. The glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, for it is the Spirit that gives life, so lifting up Jesus and beholding Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world brings conversion. That witness pricked hearts and convicted hearers that they had crucified the Son of God, so they asked what to do. Peter with many other words of testimony and exhortation urged them to escape the corrupt generation around them by responding to God's call and turning to Christ.
His appeal called them to turn to Christ and receive forgiveness, baptism, and the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, and those who welcomed his message were baptized and joined the believers. The generation is called untoward because its people did not accept Christ. The call to be saved is connected with believing in Christ, whose death gives believers everlasting life. Even if they lose their lives, their names are in the Lamb's book of life and they will rise in the first resurrection, and those who take hold of Christ's righteousness can overcome temptation and come into right relation with God. The way of salvation held out was to repent and be baptized every one in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
That promise is unto hearers and children and all afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call. Those who gladly received were baptized, about three thousand the same day. Those who welcomed the message were baptized and joined a community devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and house to house with gladness and singleness of heart praising God, with the Lord adding to the church daily such as should be saved.
Pattern and Present Call
The second chapter of Acts is to be read and received and presented to others, and the whole book stands as a lesson to be followed. It calls for deeper piety and the sincere meekness of the Great Teacher, requiring each person to humble the individual heart and be converted daily. The experience of the early church during and just after Pentecost is to be studied by God's people today because they must pass through similar experiences. Acts 2 is a pattern for later believers receiving the Spirit's power and for giving a special representation of present truth at the nation's capital as the apostles bore the gospel witness in Jerusalem.
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower preaching everywhere, with thousands of sinners converted in a day, proves that sinners are to be converted and that believers have a part to do in it. That part is getting Christ's self-denying life, making people hungry to hear the Word, doing the whole duty and making covenant with God by sacrifice, taking the Bible from house to house, and waking from stupor and indifference. God enlarges small faithful efforts to satisfy hungry souls, and there is a world to save with a message to be given without sleeping in the judgment hour. Spirit-led preaching today should likewise proclaim salvation through Christ and urge men to accept it, bringing hearers to accept Him. That truth flashed conviction into human hearts like a flaming two-edged sword and brought men under Christ's control.
The response then fulfilled the prophecy that the weak shall be as David and David as the angel of the Lord. Converts flocked to the church from all directions, sinners united with Christians in seeking salvation and believers were reconverted, and the glad tidings were carried to the uttermost bounds of the inhabited world. The congregation became of one heart and of one soul, animated by the Spirit of Christ, with one interest and one object to reveal Christ's character and enlarge His kingdom. The verse means proclaiming a risen Saviour with the salvation of souls as the one desire, rejoicing in communion with saints, being tender, thoughtful, self-denying and willing to sacrifice for truth. It means revealing in words and deeds the love Christ commanded in order to awaken that love in other hearts, cherishing the love that filled the apostles, going forward in willing obedience to love one another as Christ loved, being so closely united to Christ as to fulfill His requirements, and magnifying the power of a Saviour who justifies by His righteousness.
The promise is unto believers and unto their children and to all afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call, so parents carry a great and solemn responsibility to instruct their children to form characters God will approve. They are to appreciate the special light given on the claims of God's law for the saving of both themselves and their children. Saving faith is definite faith in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, not casual faith founded on feeling or depending on sight but established upon the Word of God, believing He saves from sin and transgression but not in sin, in separation from an untoward generation. Those who take hold of Christ's righteousness can overcome temptation and come into right relation with God, and though they may lose their lives their names are in the Lamb's book of life and they will rise in the first resurrection through His death giving everlasting life. The exhortation to save themselves from a corrupt generation applies to the generation before Christ's coming, which is compared to the days of Noah, and those who would be overcomers must diligently keep themselves free from the corruptions of their age. In earth's last days God's people are to reject an untoward religion and strife over who is greatest, seek greatness through humility and understanding God's will, and stand as free people endued with the Spirit because they seek God with all their heart.
At Pentecost Peter gave a bold Spirit-led testimony that lifted up the crucified Jesus as exalted by God to be Prince and Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness, and with many other words he urged his convicted hearers to escape the corrupt generation by turning to Christ. The generation is called untoward because it had rejected Christ, and to be saved from it is to believe in Him whose death gives everlasting life. The way held out was for every one to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, a promise to them and their children and all afar off, and about three thousand who gladly received were baptized that day into a community continuing in doctrine and fellowship and prayer. That experience is a pattern for God's people today, who must pass through similar experiences in receiving the Spirit's power to proclaim a risen Saviour with salvation of souls as the one desire. The same exhortation applies to the generation before Christ's coming, calling parents and believers to definite faith in Jesus as personal Saviour, to separation from corruption, and to overcoming temptation through His righteousness.
Pentecost Setting and Meaning
Acts 2:40 belongs to the Pentecost narrative recorded in Acts 2:1-47. That narrative sets forth the gospel commission and records what came to the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit. It records the apostles receiving the promised power of the Spirit, including speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The verse was spoken to the multitudes assembled in Jerusalem for the great religious festival. It was spoken after the disciples had spent several days together confessing their sins and praying for the Holy Spirit while waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. It was spoken after they received power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth, and the second chapter of Acts records the experiences that came to them when they received the Holy Ghost.
On that day all the believers were united and together in one place. They were harmoniously united, with one accord in one place. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through them, and the Spirit of God wrought mightily through those so united. The verse is part of Peter's firm, bold testimony about Christ. It was delivered to people who had rejected Jesus and demanded that Barabbas be released. Under the Holy Spirit's influence Peter spoke with holy boldness before thousands after his restoration, and his witness showed that his restoration was real, with complete restoration reaching the depths of the soul through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, publicly testified to Christ and carried the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to people from many nations, and the appeal to be saved is part of their witness calling hearers to turn to God amid their generation. Peter's preaching carried forward Christ's harvest work, and three thousand people were added. At Pentecost the apostles' teaching about Jesus and the plan of salvation convicted and converted thousands, who set aside the priests' traditions and accepted the teachings of God's Word. Their post-resurrection message carried Christ's teaching to people and helped break the hold of long-standing superstitions, and those who had heard Christ teach in the temple later came forward to carry out their commission with wisdom and zeal.
Its great and mighty subject was the Spirit unfolding Jesus and glorifying Him before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him to desire Him. The wondrous sermon was preached in demonstration of the Spirit and with power, lifting up Jesus as exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Peter bore witness that God made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ, and the mystery of the cross and other truths about the Messiah were explained. The glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, for it is the Spirit that gives life, so lifting up Jesus and beholding Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world brings conversion. That witness pricked hearts and convicted hearers that they had crucified the Son of God, so they asked what to do. Peter with many other words of testimony and exhortation urged them to escape the corrupt generation around them by responding to God's call and turning to Christ.
His appeal called them to turn to Christ and receive forgiveness, baptism, and the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, and those who welcomed his message were baptized and joined the believers. The generation is called untoward because its people did not accept Christ. The call to be saved is connected with believing in Christ, whose death gives believers everlasting life. Even if they lose their lives, their names are in the Lamb's book of life and they will rise in the first resurrection, and those who take hold of Christ's righteousness can overcome temptation and come into right relation with God. The way of salvation held out was to repent and be baptized every one in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
That promise is unto hearers and children and all afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call. Those who gladly received were baptized, about three thousand the same day. Those who welcomed the message were baptized and joined a community devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and house to house with gladness and singleness of heart praising God, with the Lord adding to the church daily such as should be saved.
Pattern and Present Call
The second chapter of Acts is to be read and received and presented to others, and the whole book stands as a lesson to be followed. It calls for deeper piety and the sincere meekness of the Great Teacher, requiring each person to humble the individual heart and be converted daily. The experience of the early church during and just after Pentecost is to be studied by God's people today because they must pass through similar experiences. Acts 2 is a pattern for later believers receiving the Spirit's power and for giving a special representation of present truth at the nation's capital as the apostles bore the gospel witness in Jerusalem.
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower preaching everywhere, with thousands of sinners converted in a day, proves that sinners are to be converted and that believers have a part to do in it. That part is getting Christ's self-denying life, making people hungry to hear the Word, doing the whole duty and making covenant with God by sacrifice, taking the Bible from house to house, and waking from stupor and indifference. God enlarges small faithful efforts to satisfy hungry souls, and there is a world to save with a message to be given without sleeping in the judgment hour. Spirit-led preaching today should likewise proclaim salvation through Christ and urge men to accept it, bringing hearers to accept Him. That truth flashed conviction into human hearts like a flaming two-edged sword and brought men under Christ's control.
The response then fulfilled the prophecy that the weak shall be as David and David as the angel of the Lord. Converts flocked to the church from all directions, sinners united with Christians in seeking salvation and believers were reconverted, and the glad tidings were carried to the uttermost bounds of the inhabited world. The congregation became of one heart and of one soul, animated by the Spirit of Christ, with one interest and one object to reveal Christ's character and enlarge His kingdom. The verse means proclaiming a risen Saviour with the salvation of souls as the one desire, rejoicing in communion with saints, being tender, thoughtful, self-denying and willing to sacrifice for truth. It means revealing in words and deeds the love Christ commanded in order to awaken that love in other hearts, cherishing the love that filled the apostles, going forward in willing obedience to love one another as Christ loved, being so closely united to Christ as to fulfill His requirements, and magnifying the power of a Saviour who justifies by His righteousness.
The promise is unto believers and unto their children and to all afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call, so parents carry a great and solemn responsibility to instruct their children to form characters God will approve. They are to appreciate the special light given on the claims of God's law for the saving of both themselves and their children. Saving faith is definite faith in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, not casual faith founded on feeling or depending on sight but established upon the Word of God, believing He saves from sin and transgression but not in sin, in separation from an untoward generation. Those who take hold of Christ's righteousness can overcome temptation and come into right relation with God, and though they may lose their lives their names are in the Lamb's book of life and they will rise in the first resurrection through His death giving everlasting life. The exhortation to save themselves from a corrupt generation applies to the generation before Christ's coming, which is compared to the days of Noah, and those who would be overcomers must diligently keep themselves free from the corruptions of their age. In earth's last days God's people are to reject an untoward religion and strife over who is greatest, seek greatness through humility and understanding God's will, and stand as free people endued with the Spirit because they seek God with all their heart.