Pentecost Acts 2:1-47

Again, just a type version of a recent study we did over here; this time over Acts 2 on Pentecost Sunday.

Four verses of action (Ac. 2:1-4) require a whole chapter of explaining.  Four verses of action filled with intriguing imagery and occurrence that have goaded many to wonder at the Old Testament connections of the event.  The feast of Pentecost is underway.  A time when the “firstfruits of the harvest” are brought in and celebrated (Dt. 16:9-11).  The sound of wind or spirit (what a wonderfully ambiguous word!) without presence of wind draws us back to the creation story (Gen 1:2, 2:7).  The tongues of fire remind us of YHWH’s leading of his people through the wilderness (Ex. 13:21).  The coming of the Spirit recalls Moses’ longing “that all the Lord’s people were prophets”  (Nu 11:29).  And the varying languages spoken in the tongues of “every nation under heaven” and their confusion are both reminiscent of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11).

Frankly, its not surprising those who witnessed the event responded as they did.  Confusion: “How is this happening?” (Ac. 2:7).  Questioning: “What does this mean?” (2:12).  And skepticism, or even cynicism: “They’re drunk!” (2:13).

And so, amid such thoughts, Peter stands up to preach a three point sermon, each revolving around Old Testament quotations.  As I’ve studied the passage, it seems the theme of Peter’s message is stated in his first point/quotation: we are in the last days. Here’s how I see Peter’s message breaking down:

Point #1 Acts 2:14-21 – The Spirit is here (Jl. 2:28-32)–therefore, the last days have come, restoration is here and the firstfruits of the great harvest of God are already being brought in! (Note: Pentecost vs. the desolation of Joel 1-2:11)

Point #2 – Acts 2:22-32 – Death is already being defeated (Ps. 16:8-11) in Jesus’ body–therefore, Jesus is living proof that death and all his friends are already being condemned by the life that is already available in Jesus!

Point #3 – Acts 2:33-36 – Jesus is already reigning (Ps. 110:1)–therefore, how will you live, in these last days, when life is finally being restored?

The implications of the message are simple.  How will you reorient your life around the current reality Peter has just declared?  Will you live as if the end were not already so near?  Will you live in the death you have always known?  Will you choose slavery to the old masters?  Or, will you live these last days enjoying life under the great King?

Misquoting Joel

I was reading Acts chapter 2 the other day and I noticed this:

As Peter is giving his sermon at Pentecost, he shows Jesus’ Messiahship by going through some of the Hebrew Scriptures that were fullfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection. What I noticed is that when he shows that the coming of the Holy Spirit is fulfilling the prophet Joel, Peter throws in an extra phrase.

But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:

‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,

‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,

and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

and your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

And I will perform wonders in the sky above

and miraculous signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

The sun will be changed to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

It is easy to catch in the NET Bible, because “in the last days” is the only phrase of the quote that isn’t highlighted. If you go to Joel 2:28-32, you will find that Luke is directly quoting the prophet, except he is adding in the phrase “in the last days.” Is Luke simply misquoting Joel? Or maybe he is adding in this phrase to tell the reader something.

I’m not completley sure what Luke is doing here, but this is my stab at it.

Maybe Luke is showing that not only was the coming of the Holy Spirit spoken of by the prophet Joel, but that the coming of the Holy Spirit was part of YHWH’s awesome plan from the beginning. By adding the phrase “in the last days” to the quote, he could be making a textual connection to the eschatological King of the Torah- the king (the Messiah) that will come “in the last days” from the poems of the Torah (Gen 49, Dt 31, Num 24). My guess is that Luke is showing the reader that Jesus Christ is the King that will come “in the last days” that Moses spoke of, and that through his resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit He has fulfilled Joel. In other words, Luke is showing the reader his interpretation of Joel which is this: the King that will come in the last days spoken of in the Torah is the same King that will bring God’s Spirit to Israel spoken of in the prophets. Jesus is that King, and He has fulilled both the Torah and the Prophets.

What do you guys think?