Acts 2:22-41: “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— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 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; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “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. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 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. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 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?” 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. 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.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
As we look at Acts 2:22-41 today, the words “This Jesus” jump from the page. Peter preached Jesus —His sacrificial death, triumphant resurrection, and salvation for the lost.
Death was the Plan
The scripture begins by declaring that Jesus, in His earthly journey, was not merely “delivered up” but specifically “slain.” This intentional and sacrificial death was part of God’s eternal plan for the redemption of humanity. From the foundation of the world, God orchestrated this divine act of deliverance through the shedding of blood, as seen from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, personal responsibility was not ignored in the passage. “You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men,” Peter tells them they were responsible. We all are responsible. He died for our sins not ours only but for the sins of the entire world.
Revelation 13:8 (ESV) reads “And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
This verse from the book of Revelation refers to the worship of a power or authority by those on earth, and it mentions the book of life of the Lamb who was slain, emphasizing predestination and divine foreknowledge. Jesus not only planned to die for our sins but knew who would accept Him. Now don’t call me a Calvinist. I believe in a whoever will Gospel because the Bible teaches that but I also believe that God knew who would from the foundation of the world. These are not mutually exclusive. They can both be true and not take away a person’s will to choose. I’m simply saying God knew everything from the beginning for he is an all-knowing God.
- Isaiah 53:10-11 (ESV): “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
- Acts 4:27-28 (ESV): “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
- Romans 5:8 (ESV): “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV): “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
- 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.”
These verses highlight the intentional and planned nature of Jesus’ sacrifice for the redemption of humanity, fulfilling God’s purpose and demonstrating His love for us. Jesus died for you before you were ever born. He died for those who were born before Him. He died for the whole world and it was His plan! Greater love has no man than this!
Resurrection Power
The narrative doesn’t end with the crucifixion but triumphantly continues with the proclamation of Jesus being “raised up.” The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, affirming Jesus’ victory over death and sin. This powerful truth breathes hope into our lives, assuring us that the same resurrection power is at work within believers today. We too experience resurrection power. We were dead in trespasses and sin yet He quickened us. He made us alive again! We were reborn by the power of His resurrection.
Acts 1:11 (ESV): “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
This statement was made by two angels to the disciples who were witnessing Jesus’ ascension. It assures them that the same Jesus who ascended into heaven will one day return in a similar manner. This promise points to the future return of Jesus in glory.
The Call to Ascend
The phrase “come up here” in Revelation 4 invited John to see heaven. We too will hear a shout and the voice of an archangel inviting us up. The “rapture” encapsulates the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t just conquer death for Himself; He opened a pathway for us to ascend into a renewed and eternal relationship with God. This ascension is not merely a future event but a present reality, inviting believers to experience a transformed life in communion with Christ. We are invited into God’s presence every moment. By faith, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace to seek mercy and find grace” We “come up” there with a confessing mouth and a repentant heart. We come boldly because He understands our weaknesses and our temptations. He was tempted at every point like us. “Come up” above your circumstances into the presence of Jehovah God. But one day we will “come up” physically.
The Rapture
1 Thes 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
Several New Testament passages illuminate the rapture concept, emphasizing its imminent nature. From 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 to 1 Corinthians 15:52 and John 14:2-3, the promise of believers being caught away to meet the Lord in the air adds another layer to our understanding of the anticipation embedded in His Word.
Repentance and Baptism
Acts 2:22-41 calls us to respond to this grand narrative. Repentance and baptism become the natural response to the profound truth that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, points to. The necessity of the shedding of blood for the remission of sins is exemplified all the way to the cross. We must only receive the truth of the Gospel into our hearts and lives. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!
Embracing “This Jesus”
As we reflect on “This Jesus,” may our hearts resonate with the truth that His death, resurrection, and the promise of salvation and rapture shape our identity as believers.
May our lives be a testimony to the transformative power of His love and the anticipation of being forever with Him.