They Ate With Gladness, Acts 2:37-47

 

As prophesied.

Jesus came as a Babe, lived perfect, died sinless, rose victorious on the 3rd day.

For 40 days He gave infallible proof of His resurrection to hundreds of eye witnesses.

Then, He ascended into heaven, right before their very eyes.

10 days later, He descended, in Holy Spirit, with the sound of a rushing, mighty wind, and tongues of fire.

This drew a large crowd of folks that were in Jerusalem, from every nation under heaven, to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, also called, Pentecost.

They were confused, and amazed, and awestruck as they heard the wonderous works of God spoken in their native tongue from 120 redneck country bumpkin Galileans.

However, some didn’t hear the wonderous words, but other tongues; so, they scoffed and said the tongue talkers are just drunkards.

Peter, stood, raised his voice, said, “These are not drunk as you suppose, but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…” and this fisherman known for sticking his foot in his mouth, waxed eloquent and proceeded to articulate with boldness and clarity and wisdom exactly what was happening, by pointing to Old Testament passages from Joel 2 and king David, Psalms 16 and Psalm 110.

He said things like:

And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh… I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs in the earth below (Acts 2:17, 19) …  and whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21) …

Peter concluded, saying: God has made this Jesus who you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

 

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

They heard Peter’s words.

They heard Peter quote Scripture from Joel and David.

Most of all they heard from God.

His Words are the Words that cut to the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Some heard God and were cut to the heart, “What should we do?”

Others heard other tongues and cut with their mouths; “These are drunk.”

Some hearts were softened; others were hardened.

It is the preacher’s job, to prayerfully, properly, prepare, and rightly divide and deliver, the Word of God; but up to the people to prepare their hearts to receive, to have an appetite, to hear.

It’s the shepherd’s responsibility to bring the food, but it’s up to the sheep to eat.

The waiter sets the food on the table…but he won’t feed the patron.

A cowboy can lead a horse to water, but...

Perhaps this is why throughout the gospels we hear Jesus often repeat the words, “Whoever has ears, let them hear…”  and then He says to every Church in every letter, in Revelation, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches”

The words, “I’m just not being fed” might say more about the person than the preacher.

So those with ears to hear, heard what the Holy Spirit was saying through Peter, and they were cut to the heart and asked, “What shall we do?”

Nothin’, just believe, and you’re good to go. Faith alone, in Christ alone, that’s all. Nothin’ more. John 3:16, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

The thief on the cross couldn’t do anything, but believe, and Jesus said, he would be with Him, that very day, in paradise.

Wait.

What?

Peter didn’t say that.

Why not? Isn’t that what he’s supposed to say? Just believe, by faith, it’s all grace?

Well, yeah, lots of folks say that; just believe and you’re good to go…  But James says that the devil also believes, and trembles. James 2:19.

The whole council of the Word of God must be considered.

Sound doctrine can NOT be built on snippets of Scripture.

So, what exactly did Peter say?

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1. Repent. 2. Be baptized. 3. Receive Holy Spirit.

Uh oh, did the pendulum just swing to the other side?

Did Pete just add works to God’s free Gift?

So, some say to be saved you must believe… and be baptized… some add, it must be, in Jesus’ name... others add you must be filled with the Holy Spirit… and then some go further and say, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

The list of dos and don’ts grows and grows.

Man likes to do that. One extreme or the other. They did it in Jesus’ day. Sadducees and Pharisees. Liberalistic and Legalistic. Anything goes, or nothing goes.

Okay, how do we untangle this? 

Let’s start with the obvious. Whatever Jesus says is True.

John 3:16 is True.  “…whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

But we must understand what He means. The words, “believe in” mean more than intellectual agreement.  

Believe in, is an intentional, intense, intimate, trust, a completely committed faith in. 

The Word “in” depicts the act of going from out to in; like crossing the threshold into a building, completely committing yourself inside the building. Like totally immersing, body, soul and spirit, into the waters of baptism.  

Perhaps it helps to say it like this: Whosoever be in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

John 17:20-21
 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Before Jesus told Nick at night, John 3:16, He told him, John 3:3; unless one is born again, he can’t see the kingdom of God.

Life, begins at conception physically and spiritually.

Even if you’re at the end of your earthly life, like the thief on the cross.

The eternal destiny of the thief on the cross changed the moment he, willingly chose to conceive in his heart that the Man on the cross next to him was Lord of all. Jesus told him so by saying, “Today you’ll be with Me, in paradise.” Period. No hoops to jump. Aisles to walk. Churches to join. Prayers to say. He didn’t need to get baptized, or speak in tongues.

So then, why does Peter tell them to do these things? Repent. Be baptized. Receive Holy Spirit?

Because there’s so much more to Christianity than conception and death bed confessions.

Remember, the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, and context is king.

So, let’s look at the context of the question Peter is answering. Verse 37 again.

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

They heard Peter

They heard Scripture 

Most of all they heard the Holy Spirit speaking words that cut to the heart.

Lord, we pray we hear, like that. Open our ears to hear, our eyes to see, our hearts to know, You.

Look closely at their question. They did NOT ask “What must we do?” They asked, “What shall; what should, we do?”

Matthew 3:15; Jesus was baptized by John. Not because it was a must, but because it was a should. He said, “Let it be so, for it is fitting, for us to fulfill all righteousness”.

Doing what’s right, just because it’s right, especially when no one but God is looking, is exhilarating, liberating, Life giving.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved? Paul and Silas say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

However here, in our text today, at the birth of the Church, it’s different.

The atmosphere is saturated with the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

They heard the Holy Spirit as a rushing mighty wind, perhaps even saw the tongues of fire.

They soaked in the sounds of the wonderous works of God spoken in their own language by folks who were speaking as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They listened as Peter, by Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, unveiled prophecy being fulfilled in their presence. Perhaps their eyes and hearts were overwhelmed and leaking as the Holy Spirit cut their hearts.

They heard the Word, and thus conceived, Life giving faith.

Romans 10:17
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ

That kind of faith gives birth to action.

James 2:17,20,26
Faith without works is dead

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

So those with ears to hear, what the Spirit was saying to the Church, couldn’t help but act, they just had to ask:

What shall we do?

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repent.

That was the same message John the Baptist preached. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He had one sermon, with one title and one message: Repent. Matthew 3:2.

After Jesus was baptized by John, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast and pray, 40 days and 40 nights. He was tempted by the devil and defeated him, the same way we must, by wielding the Word of God.

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit, and began to preach saying “Repent.”

Repent means to turn around, to change one's mind or purpose, change the inner man regarding acceptance of the will of God.

Now Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says what John and Jesus said; Repent.

The whole world shouted during COVID. “Wash your hands!” That’s Bible speak for REPENT. James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

What the devil meant for harm; God used to preach to the world, “Repent!” Wash your hands of sin, wake up, the days are evil, the time is short.

Baptized.

Let everyone of you, (because it’s the right thing to do), be baptized in the name (authority) of Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit.

Original text doesn’t say “and you shall…” It simply says, Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

He is a free Gift, for the asking, and receiving. Jesus told us plainly:

Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The Holy Spirit, is the Promise from the Father, available to you, your children, and all who are afar.

That’s speaking to their family, and ours, that are afar.

Those long lost loved ones we can’t reach.

The Holy Spirit can. He’s got their number.

Lord, we pray for our children, for all, near and afar, that You Lord our God will call.

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

Many other words, are not recorded here, hopefully they were uploaded on the cloud, so we can catch a replay when we get Home.

They had a perverse generation too… not much has changed.

 

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

They gladly received.

That is the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Receiving His Word brings joy.

Joy attracts people.

Romans 14:17
The Kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink (not rules and regulations) but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

So, after this redneck fisherman’s first recorded sermon, 3,000 souls were saved that day.

How many souls have we led to Christ in our life?

How many do you want to?

Do you want to?

Lord, give us, Your heart’s desire, to seek and to save that which is lost. Luke 19:10.

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Do a spiritual health check.

These four items reflect the health of our Spiritual Life:

Doctrine – Word of God

Fellowship – doing life together with other believers

The breaking of bread (Communion; Lord’s Supper)

Prayer – corporate and private (speaking and listening).

If these are healthy and balanced, so are you, and your relationship with Jesus.

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Right hearts, right living, results in reverential respect and honor for the Lord and His people.

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Thousands converted, were visitors, and they stayed and stayed. For many converting to Christianity, meant being ostracized from family and business.

Imagine if our Church had 3,000 saved this Sunday; and they all decided to stay, to learn more, to begin a new life in Him. The needs would be enormous.

Now, to be clear. This is not in any way shape or form, communism, as some try to insist.

These willingly, shared the love of Jesus, to meet the needs of the people.

It was not forcibly taken, as in communism. No one said, “Give us what we want or we’ll burn down the system.” That was demonic.

This was the Love of God in action.

Jesus became more important than possessions. They longed for Spiritual food, more than natural food. Jesus was Lord, of time and possessions.

NOTE: This is a description, not a prescription.

Describes what they did, in that time, not a command for what we must do, in our time.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

One accord. We heard those words at the opening of this chapter now again at the end.

This is an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Father make them one, as we are one. John 17:21-23.

One accord was how they were in the upper room for 10 days prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Praying in one accord, was preparation for the outpouring that led to 3,000 souls saved in a day.

Do we want to see an outpouring of His Holy Spirit? Are we willing to walk in one accord?

They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.  (We got that part figured out pretty good.)

Not fancy, but joy filled, in harmony and happy

One accord not discord, speaking well of one another, taming tongue, not gossip or slander; biting the tongue, not back biting one another.

We must choose, tongues of fire by the Holy Spirit, birthing one accord and gladness of heart.

 Or, we’ll default to tongues of Babel, causing division, sadness of heart and discord.

Lord, cause our tongues, our lips, our words, to be used for what they were made for…praising You.

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Life the way God meant the Church to live.

Favor with all the people, walking in the joy of Lord.

Church is not perfect, but Good.

The Lord added daily those being saved.

The Lord added, not gimmicks, or smooth preaching, or fancy lights, or good eats and treats, but the Lord drawing them in.

Jesus builds His Church, with and in, the most unlikely.

Back then, He used folks considered to be redneck, country bumpkins.

Today, in our Church, the Lord is adding, one by one, those who were lost sheep… those who wandered… maybe not from Him, but sheep without a shepherd, no place to call home.

One by one, the Good Shepherd is bringing them in, calling them home, into our family. A motley crew of scattered sheep, and a simple clubhouse; but it’s family, it’s home, it the kind of Church that Jesus builds.

Welcome home.

Let’s pray. 

Lord Jesus, our best Friend, thank You for noticing us, and calling us, and making room for us, at Your table. We accept Your invitation, to come Home.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

 

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: They Ate With Gladness, Acts 2:37-47

You tube: They Ate With Gladness, Acts 2:37-47

 

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.