“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:22-25)
Peter’s explanation of the miracles of Pentecost, particularly the speaking in tongues, gave him an opportunity to preach the gospel. I wonder if he spoke this message in tongues? I wonder if the other apostles just translated the sermon to those gathered as the Spirit moved them? In any case Peter spoke with the fire of the Holy Spirit, a fire which enabled him to speak the truth boldly, truth that convicted many of those present of their sinfulness, especially their complicity in the crucifixion of Jesus.
Peter’s short sermon contained the basic facts of Jesus ministry, death, and resurrection. These facts were enhanced by an appeal to the witness of the Old Testament Scriptures, the words of the prophet Joel and King David. Peter also cited the eyewitness testimony of the apostles and the testimony of many of the people who were there listening. They had seen Jesus. They had heard Him preach. They had seen his miracles. They had watched Him die. They had heard the rumors of His resurrection from the dead. They did not understand it all perhaps, and were quite perplexed about it all.
Peter clarified all the things they had heard. Jesus, the very man that the Jews had rejected and condemned several weeks earlier, had reconciled all men to God by His death and resurrection. But Jesus was no ordinary man: He is Lord, that is Almighty God, the promised Messiah in the flesh. Knowing this, many would be filled with fear, guilt, and sorrow, as fearful as Isaiah felt when he saw the Lord high and lifted up.
Peter called them to acknowledge their sins, repent, and be baptized. Then they would receive forgiveness, enter into the new life in the Kingdom of God, be filled with the promised Holy Spirit, and enter into the fellowship of the new covenant, the church. The gospel message Peter preached is the same we preach today.