Acts 2:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

NIV: God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

NASB: It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses.

CSB: "God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

NLT: God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.

KJV: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

NKJV: This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

Peter is using a psalm of David to show that Jesus is David's heir and the Messiah promised by God. In Psalm 16:8–11, David identifies his "Lord" as someone whose body will not decay in death (Psalm 16:8, 10; Acts 2:25, 27). This is about fifty days after Jesus was crucified and His disciples claimed He rose from the dead.

The witnesses Peter is referring to are the 120 who remained in Jerusalem and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:15; 2:1–4). In the forty days between Jesus' resurrection and ascension to heaven, He saw Mary Magdalene (John 20:11–18), the disciples minus Thomas (John 20:19–23), the disciples with Thomas (John 20:24–29), Cleopas and a friend (Luke 24:13–35), Judas' replacement Matthias (Acts 1:22), His half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7), and five hundred unnamed followers (1 Corinthians 15:6).

About nine days before Peter's speech, minutes before Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus told His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Earlier this morning, they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). Now they're fulfilling their commission as witnesses in part by speaking the different languages and dialects represented in the crowd (Acts 2:5–13).

The 120 know that they are to bear witness to the truth about Jesus—His miraculous works, that He is the Messiah, and that His death and resurrection wipes out the sins of those who follow Him. But they don't know that martys, the Greek word for "witness," will subtly alter in its application. That change will result in the meaning of the modern English word "martyr." Of the twelve apostles, church tradition says all but John will die a martyr's death. Jesus has already warned Peter he will be crucified (John 21:18–19). Legend says Peter refused to die in the same way as his Master and insisted on being hanged upside-down. Only John will die of natural causes, but, legend says, only after surviving a cauldron of burning oil.

Acts 2:14–36 transcribes the first sermon ever given by a Christian. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised (John 14:16–17) has come upon 120 of His followers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15; 2:1–4). They immediately start speaking in different languages, shocking a crowd of Jews and proselytes who are in town to celebrate Pentecost (Acts 2:5–11). Some of the crowd dismiss the speech as nonsense; others are very interested (Acts 2:12–13). Peter, combining his natural enthusiasm as spokesman for the group with wisdom from the Spirit, responds by obeying Jesus and being His witness (Acts 1:8).

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2 describes the creation of Jesus' church. Forty days after Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). One hundred and twenty disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 2–15). In Acts 2, they receive the Holy Spirit and share the gospel with a crowd of people who have come to celebrate Pentecost. Three thousand believe, and the church comes to life. In the following chapters, Jesus-followers fulfill Jesus' promise that they will be His witnesses ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.