STUDIES IN ACTS OF THE APOSTLES- PART 14

                          June 23, 2004

Chapter 2, verse 38- one of the difficulties in understanding this verse is that the focus is on Israel, especially in the first 7 chap. Of Acts.  The apostles and others are declaring the resurrection of Jesus to Jews who make up the nation of Israel.

Ø      see chart on Transitional nature of Acts

  In this chart you may observe the decline of Israel and the rise of the

Gentiles.  Israel may be said to be on “probation”; that is, the doom of the nation was announced earlier in Matt. 23:34-37 and awaits fulfillment.  The Gentile peoples of the world are to become the focus of evangelistic efforts.

  Peter is limited in what he can see at this point:

1) Fulfillment of Joel there in ch. 2 at Pentecost

2) Israel on probation (remarks by Jesus in gospels)

3)  Apparently, the Day of the Lord has begun.  Throughout OT, the day of the Lord was a period of time of great distress upon Israel and the nations, followed by blessing and protection upon Israel.

  > see chart on period of Acts and chart on Peter’s view

     Later, it will be evident that the church began (or was birthed) there in Acts 2 at Pentecost.  This would be part of the New Covenant under which the church receives blessing.

   But this “church era or church age” is not seen from the viewpoint

Of the OT prophets.  They see only the 1^st and 2^nd advents of the Messiah, which to them appear close as one would view a series of mountain ranges; they look near one to another, but may be separated by considerable distance.

   Not seen is this church era; it is part of the unique revelation given to the apostle Paul- see Eph. 3:1-11.  It presents the church, not only as having both Jew & Gentile, but “not made known unto…men”.  Peter

at the point of Acts 2 knows only of the prophecies of Messiah, not the

era of the church.

Ø      see chart on viewpoint of OT prophets

   Therefore, the circumstances and language of Peter is unique.   See

Lk. 24 and I Peter 1 to understand how the OT prophets viewed the

Messiah’s coming.

   The verses in the OT that deal with “the day of the LORD” or “in that

Day” reflect chaos, destruction & death followed by the recovery of Israel and blessing in the land. See Acts 2:20-

Isa.2:12-18, 4:2, 11:10-12, 12:1,4, 13:6-13;  Hosea 1:11, Amos 5:18,  9:11;  Micah 4:3-7;  Zeph.1:14-18, 2:3, 3:11; Zech.12:3-10,

13:1, 14:1-4;  Malachi 3:2,  4:1-3  also Joel 1:15, 2:1-11