Digging Deeper: What Shall We Do?
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place . . . 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:1, 5 (ESV)
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself”
Acts 2:36-39 (ESV)
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
The Day of Pentecost has arrived. In the Old Testament, Pentecost—the Feast of Weeks, the Day of the Firstfruits—was celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath of Passover (see Leviticus 23). In the New Testament, Pentecost is synonymous with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). Peter, accompanied by the other eleven apostles, is speaking in Jerusalem to a group of believers—the original one hundred and twenty. At the sound of the events surrounding the coming of the Spirit, Jews from all nations living in Jerusalem gather to investigate (vv. 2:5–6).
Peter gives a sermon—quoting from the prophet Joel and King David—that stuns his audience (vv. 14–35). He ends his message by gently reminding the “House of Israel” that Jesus is both “Lord and Christ.” He then proceeds to not-so-gently remind them that they were the ones responsible for crucifying Jesus (v. 36). These words “cut to the heart” of the listeners and prompt them to ask a life-changing question: “What shall we do?” (v. 37).
When life hits rock bottom, the most common question we ask is, “What can I do?” I used to lead a divorce recovery group, and I heard that question more times than I can count. While I couldn’t give a specific answer to each situation, I could offer one that has worked for me on numerous occasions: when you hit rock bottom, look down to your “firm foundation”—the “rock” on which you stand. (I can hear your melodic voice, Seth!)
Peter answers his audience’s question with: “Repent and be baptized . . . in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (v. 38). A simple question, answered by a seemingly straightforward response. Easy in theory—more difficult in practice. Enter the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has many roles. One of these is to transform (regenerate) the heart of a non-believer, allowing them access to the saving grace of Jesus—as is displayed in this narrative. Another role is conviction. The Spirit convicts us of our guilt, leading us to repentance. Repentance is simply turning the other way. David Guzik states, “You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against.”
As we begin digging deeper into A World-Changing Faith, I challenge you to examine your own life. What areas are causing you to ask that simple question? The answer is just a prayer away. Change the world by allowing the Spirit to change you from within!
Digging Deeper (er):
Luke 3:8-14; Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan); Mark 10:17-22
Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.