Peter's First Sermon
After Jesus gave the Apostles the Great Commission and ascended to heaven, they began preaching the gospel. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered one of the most powerful sermons recorded in Scripture. In this sermon he masterfully tied together Old Testament prophecy with what Jesus taught in His Olivet Discourse.
Acts 2
This passage of Scripture is very important to a proper understanding of prophecy. It sheds a great deal of light on Jesus' teaching in the Olivet Discourse, and Peter's application of Joel's prophecy demonstrates for us how Peter interpreted Jesus' teaching. Peter was present when Jesus taught the disciples about His coming. Jesus answered their question; "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" [Matt. 24:3]. Peter knew from Jesus' teaching that the final sign, which will occur "immediately after the tribulation," is the darkening of the sun and moon, [Matt. 24:29-31].
On the day of Pentecost, Peter placed himself within Joel's prophecy of the "last days" [Acts 2:17]. According to Peter, the "last days" had already begun. This period would conclude with the coming of the "Day of the Lord," which would be heralded by the same cosmic signs Jesus said would occur "immediately after the tribulation." It is apparent, from Peter's use of Joel's prophecy, he expected to continue with the task of world evangelism until the end of the tribulation. The statement, "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," spans the time from Pentecost until the cosmic signs at the end of the tribulation. Peter made this connection, no doubt, because Jesus said the gospel must first be preached among all nations before He would return, "immediately after the tribulation."
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(KJV)
 |
According to Peter, between the Day of Pentecost, and the cosmic signs "immediately after the tribulation," the Spirit of God would be poured out upon all flesh. During this day of grace, which includes the tribulation, anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If we pick out the two most important signs Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew twenty-four, they would be the preaching of the gospel to all the world [Matt. 24:14], and the cosmic signs just before His coming [Matt. 24:29]. These two signs must have had a huge impact on Peter, because he alluded to both in his sermon. Peter indicated to the crowd when the present age of grace will end. It will end when the sun and moon are darkened. It will end with blood, fire, and pillars of smoke at the battle of Armageddon. Undoubtedly, Peter believed the "end of the [age]" would come "immediately after the tribulation," just as Jesus taught him.
Go to: "Peter's Second Sermon"
