Acts Studies

Acts 2:1-11 When all the Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, the Spirit of God came and filled the disciples, speaking through them in other languages about what God was doing.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:

By saying "this (the Spirit speaking directly through people) is that" which Joel foretold about the last days, Peter is saying that they were in the last days at that time! How can that be, when the world has gone on for 2000 years since then? (People asked Peter this later in II Peter 3:3,4. See what he replied in II Peter 3:15,16) Let’s think this through.

God had not spoken to Israel through prophets for about 400 years as foretold in Amos 8:11,12 and Micah 3:6,7. Then He sent John the Baptist to say that the time was up, the kingdom was at hand; repent to escape the wrath to come. (Mat 3:1-12) Jesus came proclaiming the same thing to Israel. (Mat 4:17; Mark 1:15) Then the leaders of the Jews killed Him and He rose from the dead. In prophecy, what would God do next? Read Mark 12:1-12. (Is 5:7) God would bring His wrath on Israel in judgment, (Ez 22:18-22; Luke 21:22-25) and then return to earth in power, to end the world system and set up His own kingdom. (Dan 2:44) All prophesy leads up to this. Joel calls Christ’s return "that great and notable day of the Lord".(Nahum 1:5,6; Mat 24:29,30; Rev 19:11-16)

In Acts 2, verses 17 and 18 were happening right then. God was speaking to Israel again through men (prophecy), and even in different languages (tongues), which was a sign proving that their time of rest and refreshing had come. (Is 28:11,12 & 32:15-17; Acts 3:19; I Cor 14:21,22).

But what about verses 19 and 20? The sun, moon and stars go dark, the universe is shaken, and earth stands unprotected in view of God! ( Is 13:6-13 & 24:18-23 &34:4; Luke 21:25-27; Rev 6:12-17; 12:7-12) That has never happened yet. Why? Because prophecy has been interrupted, and a new message introduced that Joel didn’t know was going to happen, and neither did Peter. Nobody at the time of Acts 2 knew about a 2000 year gap in prophecy when God would deal with the Gentiles. That was still a mystery that had not been revealed yet. (Eph 3:1-7; Col 1:25,26 )

So as we read Acts, keep in mind that the disciples did not know what we know today from the word of God, because at that time, the word of God was not complete. They only had the Old Testament and what Jesus had told them. So they were preparing for the wrath and the kingdom on earth. According to prophecy, that would have all happened in the next 10 or so years. What a crisis, because they did not know it would be delayed.

Just before Jesus went to the cross, He wept over Jerusalem because Israel was missing her chance. (Luke 19:41-44) Here in Acts, God is calling a remnant of believers out of Israel to survive the wrath and inherit the earth.(Acts 2:40; Is 10:20-23 & 65:8-12; Mat 5:5)

According to the parable of Luke 13:6-9, God apparently allowed Israel a whole year after Jesus’ 3 year ministry to accept their Messiah before He cut them down. That year is recorded in Acts 1-7.

Do you see why Acts is a transition book? The old covenant was ended when the veil in the temple tore at Jesus’ death. (Mat 27:50,51; Heb 9:1-17) Here in Acts the new covenant is about to be offered. (Acts 3:19-21; Jer 31:31-34) Israel hangs in the balance between the two. And nobody even knows yet that God has a secret plan that will be inserted before the new covenant is made with Israel. (Rom 16:25)