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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS made this claim, the Jews put Him to death, (John 19:7). “ The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by. our law he ought to die, because He made himself the Son of God.” Paul adds his testimony to the claim (Rom. 14:8-12). The sermon was a simple, strong ex position of Scripture;— a sample ser mon, in which the Holy Spirit took the things of Christ and revealed them unto Peter. (John 16:14, 15.) There was no display, or oratory, or rhetoric, but there were results. Peter was not preaching for a pulpit, nor for popularity, but to please his Master. The argument was to the intelligence; the testimony was to the heart; the ex hortation was to the will. (3) The People Convinced and Con verted, vs. 37-41. First there was conviction, then con version, then confession. 1. Conviction. The sermon laid bare the sins of their hearts, “ They were pricked” (Acts 5:33). (John 8:9.) A deep sense of their awful guilt was upon them. They had slain their Mes siah. Conscience had done its faithful work by the Spirit of God, and they cried, “What shall we do?” ' The true aim of all teaching and preaching must be to produce conviction. 2. Conversion. “ Repent,”— that is, “ change your attitude toward God” commands Peter (Acts 3:19, and 17:30): “ And the times of this ignorance God Winked at; bu t, now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” And they did. They opened their hearts to the truth and their lives to the Spirit. 3. Confession. They confessed Christ by baptism. They publicly acknowl edged the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Messiah (Acts 8:36-38 and 16:15). “ And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the
trine which distinguishes between true and false teaching. OUTLINE. (1) PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY, vs. 14-21. (2) PETER’S SERMON, vs. 22-36. (3) PEOPLE CONVINCED AND CONVERTED, vs. 37-41. (4) PECULIARITY OF THE EAR LY CHURCH, vs. 42-47. (1) Partial Fulfillment of Prophecy, vs. 14-21. In Peter’s reply to the accusation, he quotes from Joel to prove that the prbphecy had a partial fulfillment, in that His Spirit was poured out, and in other tongues they told out the story of the Christ. However ;the signs promised did not appear, neither did all flesh become the recipient of the blessed Spirit. But the prophecy will have a literal fulfillment in the days of Israel’s exaltation and Christ’s reign. (2) Peter’s Sermon, vs. 22-36. An analysis of his sermon: 1. Peter cites the proof of the Mes- siahship of Jesus,— a threefold seal,— miracles, wonders and signs. 2. Peter charges them with the crime of the crucifixion. (a) By the foreknowledge of God (Acts 3:18; 4:28; 15:18) (b) By their own wicked deeds (Acts 3:13, 15; 4:10; 5:30.) 3. Peter convinces them of the re ality of the resurrection, a. By Scriptural testimony (Psa. 16:8-10). b. By personal witnesses, (v. 32; Acts 1 :3). *c. By the presence of the Holy Spirit (v. 33; Acts 2:17, 18) and thus refutes the charge that the disciples were drunken. 4. Peter claims that this Jesus is the Lord and Christ. Because Jesus
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