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I am sincerely glad to be among 
you and to bring God's Word. It's true, 
it's been a number of years that we've been in contact with the 
leaders of this church, and I'm very, very grateful for that 
fellowship that we have had. over the years. I really would 
have been here last year, what I'm calling a stop over, that 
was last September, October, but I wasn't able to secure a 
visa last year, and so the Lord was good that I should be able 
to secure a visa this year to come and be with you for this 
number of days. And thank you that you'd allow 
me to occupy your pulpit bringing God's Word. I want to bring God's 
word indeed my dear brother pastor is not wrong when he mentioned 
that He was turning us to chapter 4 because yesterday when we were 
talking I hinted to him that I could preach from chapter 4 
But then later I said well, is it too late or we can actually 
make it? I preached from chapter 2 and 
he said no problem. So Still in his mind. It's chapter 4. However I would 
like to bring God's Word from chapter 2 of the book of Acts. Now, if my accent throws you 
a little, you know, sunder, please, after I preach, note down some 
of the things that I say which you don't somehow understand. I'll be able to explain later, 
but I hope that I will be able to speak in a way that you'd 
be able to follow. Do turn, therefore, in that passage, 
Acts chapter 2. Now, why Acts? uh for a number 
of years I preached through in in in elderate I preached through 
the through the the the gospel of Matthew and when I was finished 
or as I was finishing I thought to myself what should I feed 
my church on, and after consulting with my fellow elder at that 
time, then we did agree that I should think of moving to the 
Book of Acts, just to show how the Lord Jesus continued to carry 
out his work, building his kingdom, building his church. And so we 
did agree that I would preach through the Gospel of Mark. I, at the moment, back at home, 
I preached. Last Sunday, I preached near 
the end of chapter four. And I thought I could preach 
there, but I said, no, let me back off and preach from chapter 
two. Why? It is giving us a record 
of the first recorded apostles preaching, apostles summon. And when we know something about 
these apostles, just 50 days or so, they were very fearful. In fact, Peter himself ran away 
from his master, and equally the others were fearful. But 
Here, when we come to chapter 2 and we read of what happened 
during the Pentecost, there is an amazing change in these men 
and the whole group. And so he stands and preaches 
his first sermon. So can we learn something from 
this sermon which really will help us, ourselves as preachers, 
but really God's people? What is unique about this sermon? And I want us to then look at 
this. Peter Salmon has an interesting, 
at least according to me, interesting how he set it out. Remember, 
it was not something that he had thought through, at least 
we are not shown here, he had not thought through it and arranged 
how he would make his first salmon appear, but really, they were 
challenged. They were mocked. Wrong ideas 
were thrown out about them. And now he responds to what has 
been said. And in his response, we see this 
beautiful salmon set before us here. And really, the first verses, 
verses 1 to 13, really is just declaring that we have here a 
Lord of Promise, what he says he will do, and so he has bring 
to pass the promise that he said, he is the ruler, he rules the 
whole earth and beautiful hymns we have sung to show that indeed 
he's ruler and now that the rest of the world should come in and 
know him and serve him because he is the ruler. Well, let's 
look at his sermon. And the way I want us to look 
at it, this will help us first, he deals with the wrong perception. So, he says, what is Pentecost? He helps these people to answer 
that question. They got it wrong. And so, what 
is Pentecost? And then, number two, we are 
going to see something about who is Christ, because he spends 
quite a bit of this passage mentioning who the Messiah is. And then 
in the third place, we will ask the question, why all this? You know, why all this? Peter, 
why are you bothering to say all this? And then finally, this 
will lead us to see something about amazing grace. Well, so let's just look at this 
then in a short, you know, period that we have. The first thing 
is, he deals with what is Pentecost, and that is verses 14 to 21. He's correcting their wrong view 
by telling them there in verse 15, these people are not drunk. Okay, I need to just adjust myself. Recently, I had a surgery on 
my eyes, and I'm very grateful, sincerely, to you as a church, 
because you played a very significant role in making sure that the 
surgery was done and done promptly. Now, I have to adjust a lot. The pulpit I'm using at home 
is way up, so I'm able to see my notes very easily. But at 
the moment, I'm learning then to adjust. I hope that you'll 
be seeing my forehead a little, not because I don't want to see 
you, but because I want to make sure I read the scriptures clearly 
and look at my notes also. But look at verse 15! For these 
people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the 
third hour of the day." And so that's the first thing he tells 
them. He explains what is happening by correcting their wrong view. 
His explanation then immediately takes him to the Old Testament 
scriptures, and that's beautiful. In his sermon, he anchors what 
he wants to teach us. in the Scriptures. And there, 
right from verse 16 all the way to 21, he takes us to the book 
of Joel. Now, this passage in Joel chapter 
2, unfortunately, so often is referred to just when people 
want to force uh some teaching on prophecy you know in our church 
we prophesy well how do you get that in the scriptures then they 
take us to daniel you know to to joel but actually these uh 
prophecy in daniel is in in joel is a wonderful piece of god's 
word and we are seeing its proper fulfillment here before us in 
acts so Peter brings Joel to bear upon what he's saying about 
Pentecost. And he's saying what Joel said 
has come to be fulfilled. The Pentecost then is the fulfillment 
of what Joel had said. And what did he say? It had been 
read out beautifully. Let me just read quickly that 
passage. But this is what was uttered 
through the prophet Joel. I'm reading from ESV, verse 17. In the last days it shall be, 
God declares, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and 
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young 
men shall see vision, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on my male servants and 
female servants in those days, I will pour out my spirit and 
they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the 
heavens above and signs on the earth below. Blood and fire and 
vapor and smoke the Sun shall be turned to darkness and the 
moon to blood before the day of the Lord comes the great and 
the Magnificent day and it shall come to pass that everyone who 
calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved and so Peter tells 
us that Joel chapter 2 verses 20 to 32 has its fulfillment 
on the Pentecost experience. God's promise of the last day 
is being poured out before our very eyes, you know, in this 
very passage. His Holy Spirit comes to all 
and There is one thing. Many things 
are said there, but if we are to reduce into one statement 
or into one word when the Holy Spirit of God comes upon His 
people as He had promised, and it is this prophecy. people will 
prophesy. Basically, that means declaring 
the words and deeds of God. And that's what they did, actually, 
because the people who are in Jerusalem, when they saw what 
happened, the experience that came upon the apostles, and they 
began to hear the apostles declaring the mighty works of God. Prophecy is bringing God's Word 
to the people. Well, and of course that this 
was going to happen, Joel says, and Peter picks it in verse 19, 
will show wonders in heaven and signs on earth. Honestly, these were visible 
things. Look at verse 22. Just drop to 
verse 22. We will look at it again. But 
what are these signs and wonders? Verse 22 tells us, men of Israel, 
hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth am I attested to you by God with 
mighty words and wonders and signs. And so, these mighty works 
of God. have taken place of course in 
the life of the Lord Jesus, we'll see that in a moment, but indeed 
signs and wonders have come to pass. The Messiah is being declared 
to us. Then there in verse 20, now we 
can't get into each and every detail otherwise we will be here 
for so long, but verse 20, the sun shall be turned to darkness, 
and the moon to blood before the day of the Lord comes, the 
great and magnificent day. The day of the Lord, the magnificent 
day, the day when the Lord will do what all along he's been preparing 
to do. What is it? You know, this is 
when the Lord Jesus bore the punishment of his people. bore all that God had demanded 
and we could not pay. The Lord Jesus paid it. Could 
you just turn with me to the book of Luke please and see how 
I believe this ties together. Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 
23 and let's look at two verses Luke 23, the passage that talks 
about the death of Christ. And if you look at verse 44 and 
verse 45, let's see how this works out. Verse 44. It was now about the sixth hour, 
and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. while the sun's light filled." 
And then the next statement, "...and the curtain of the temple 
was torn in two." So there are at least a couple of things happening. There's these wonders in the 
heavens, the darkness upon the land, but then there is also 
the work symbolized here by the splitting of the curtain from 
top to bottom. And what does that teach us? 
It teaches us that the Lord Jesus is opening a way that now men, 
sinful men, can reach God, can have dealings with God through 
the open curtain from top to bottom. Ordinarily we would have 
to tear such a thing from bottom going up. But no, it is God's 
work splitting it from top to bottom. But in the context where 
then on the one hand there is this darkness covering the land, 
yet the Lord Jesus is mightily at work bearing this last judgment 
upon himself so people can meet with God. Now from heaven comes 
this mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire and marking the 
great, in my version here, back to Acts chapter 2, the great 
and magnificent day of the Lord. To what end? Why is all this 
happening? Is it just so that we can build 
a theology of prophecy in our church? No, actually, if that's 
what we are rushing to see in Joel chapter 2, we miss it. There we are told the end of 
verse 21. I'll read verse 21. So salvation 
is what really in the mind of God here, and Peter wants us that 
we don't miss that. that those who call upon the 
name of the Lord will be made right with God. That's God's 
desire. As we have sung a number of hymns 
that the nations will come and acknowledge and know and serve 
this God. And Joel tells us his aim of 
that prophecy was to the end. that people would get to know 
the Lord. And so, Peter is explaining the 
whole matter of Pentecost this way. And so, it's nothing to 
do with getting too much wine or alcohol in one system as they 
accused the believers. No, it is God at work. The scriptures being fulfilled. But then it doesn't stop there. 
In the second place, Peter then moves to explain who is the Messiah, 
who is Christ, who is this anointed one. And this is how he shows 
it. As Peter builds this, Peter really 
wants to exalt Christ, wants to lift Christ by showing various 
details or various aspects of Christ. And he uses a word that Jesus 
was attested. Look at verse 22. Men of Israel, 
hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man, attested 
to you by God. Okay. In other words, God brought various proofs which 
are beyond doubt that indeed He is the Christ. He's the anointed 
one. He's the one that men have to 
deal with if they are to be saved and be brought into this relationship 
with God. And so, as Peter then begins 
to bring the various evidences, Peter is like a lawyer, a well-trained 
lawyer. He wants to win his case, and 
so he brings one point and bears it there, and then another point, 
places it there, and another, and he piles them. Then at the 
end, he says, listen, I have demonstrated. have dealings with 
this and that's what we are going to see now let's let's begin 
he begins by saying something about his life the life of the 
lord jesus there in verse 22 so we read it again men of israel 
hear these words jesus of nazareth a man who can be located where 
he is. I've come from Eldoret and thank 
you that you my brethren now know oh there's a place we've 
been praying for this man and here he is today and on the map 
we saw ah that is Eldoret. Here we are talking of one who 
could be located where he indeed resided where he grew up. Nazareth was his place. 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. So that first point is 
amazing. His life is well known to you. You cannot deny it. Can we just turn back briefly 
to the book of Luke. Luke chapter 24. And see how this comes out. Luke 
24 verse 19. This is the record of those who 
were on their road to miles and they were disheartened that the 
one they had hoped in has died and reports are coming, well, 
then he engages them in conversation. But verse 19 is what we want. This is what we read. And he 
said to them, what things and they said it to him, concerning 
Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty indeed, 
and word before God, and listen to this, and all the people. So it's not just someone heard 
about no it was truly he was mighty before God evidence or 
attested by the things that happened but equally before all the people 
so he's a person people knew People cannot say anything else, 
but yeah, we know Jesus. Whether they had dealings, they 
have dealings with him or not by this time, but they know him. They know him. Later, by the way, they will 
be able to say when the two apostles, John and Peter and John, healed 
a man, and the authorities hearing that these people are talking 
about resurrection, they warned Peter and John, don't you talk 
about this man anymore. And then the story goes, the 
boldness of Peter and John, that is in Acts chapter 4, these people say, well, their 
boldness made them conclude they have been with Jesus. Even the 
authorities knew Jesus, as much as they didn't want anything 
to do with him. Well, friends, His life is before 
all, and everyone knew Him. His life. But then, who is this 
Jesus? In the second place we see something 
about His death. He not only lived there in Nazareth 
and did mighty works, but His death. Verse 23. We are back to Acts chapter 2, 
verse 23. This Jesus delivered up according to the 
definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed 
by the hands of lawless men. Well, so there in verse 23 we 
read a record of his death. And it reminds, it should remind 
us of that beautiful verse in the book of Psalms that Our times 
are in His hand. The Lord Jesus, His times are 
in the sovereign hand of God. Really, sovereign hand of God. However, the wicked people, Voluntarily. They were not forced. 
They voluntarily, according to the wickedness of their hearts, 
they killed him. They killed him. But just remember, 
because we will see this again, his times are in God's hand. That teaching, dear friends, 
is a great encouragement. That our times are in God's hand. 
whatever we pass through. As a church, you know that and 
I'm just raising it to encourage you. Your times are in God's 
hand. You went through a very, very 
difficult time during the COVID and so many tickets were given 
to you, you know, as a church. But you stood faithful. And we 
didn't know what the end will be, but we know someone who knew. He's sovereign and our times 
are in his hand. The Lord Jesus, his times are 
in the hand of the sovereign God. So that's about his death 
there in verse 23. Let's just look at it again, 
just one more time. This Jesus delivered up according 
to The definite plan and foreknowledge of God. Some people don't like 
this whole business of predestination. But honestly, it is there. Any sensible reading of God's 
Word as you go on, again and again, it appears God is in control. God is in control. Wicked men, 
yes, will do what they think they're doing with all their 
cleverness. But it's like, well, they're 
only carrying out what the hand of God had all along planned. We see that as we read through 
the book of Acts coming up again and again. We see his life. We see his death. But then in 
the third place, we see his resurrection. Peter is building a case. Peter 
is showing the Messiah through whom the Pentecost has meaning, 
that now God can relate with sinners through Jesus. Verse 
24 talks about his resurrection. Look at it. Verse 24, And God 
raised him up, losing the pangs of death, because it was not 
possible for him to be held by it. Well, they killed him, but 
God raised him, because death had no power over him. And then Peter, right from verse 
23 to 20, verse 25 to 28, Peter then brings beautifully from 
scripture, Old Testament scriptures, to show how the raising up of 
the Lord Jesus was not an afterthought. It's not that God sees his son 
killed and for him to fulfill the things that he had said, 
let him work out what he's going to do to raise his son. Peter 
is telling us that even that is anchored in the scriptures. Verse 25 to 28, let me just quickly 
read that. So he appeals to David. For David, verse 25, saying concerning 
him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand, 
that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and 
my tongue rejoiced. My flesh also will dwell in hope, 
for you will not abandon my soul to hates. or let your Holy One 
see corruption. Verse 28, you have made known 
to me the paths of life. You will make me full of gladness 
with your presence. Here, Peter brings in these great 
proofs that Jesus indeed is the Messiah that God talked about 
in the Old Testament. It's David who uttered these 
words, but then in the very passage, Peter says, honestly, the fulfillment 
of these things are far greater than the things that David himself 
experienced. Because in what he's quoting, 
he's talking there of gladness and rejoicing and hope. Why? because of course the father 
would not let the death have power or reign over his son. This fulfillment can only be 
sin in the Lord Jesus Christ. And there we are told David spoke, 
now from verse 29 on, David spoke as a prophet. He saw the Lord 
enable him to see the future and that his own descendant will 
be on the throne. And so verse 30, being therefore 
prophet and knowing that God has sworn with an oath to him 
that he would set one of his descendants on his throne. He 
foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of Christ. Amen. And so, friends, we are seeing, 
therefore, Christ, even his own resurrection, is all within the 
control of God. Death is not the final thing 
about. um jesus so his life his death 
his resurrection and he doesn't stop there peter then goes on 
to talk about his ascension there in verse 33 verse 33 being therefore 
exalted at the right hand of god having received From the 
Father, the promise of the Holy Spirit has poured out this that 
you yourselves are seeing and hearing." It's a beautiful way 
of arguing, bringing one's, you know, points here and there, 
here and there, and now he ties this with what we have, which 
is there in verses 1 to 13. This is what God had promised, 
and what the Lord Jesus, as he was going back to heaven, said 
will happen. then a little bit is added. As we're thinking about his ascension 
there in verse 33, something is added, a quotation from Psalm 
110, but here it appears for us in verse 35, Verse 34, yes, 34 and 35. For David did not ascend into 
the heavens, but he himself says, the Lord said to my Lord, sit 
at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. I don't know what you make of 
that, but this is actually a very messianic psalm. It's quoted several times, even 
by Christ himself. The father calls the son and 
says to the son, my son, if I may paraphrase it, my son, the work 
you have done. Sit now. Sit at my feet. Sit here and I will deal with 
all your enemies and defeat them. I will defeat your enemies. Just sit, wait and see. You know, 
and that makes me say it this way. It's a loss to fight against 
the living God. No one will win. Now you, again, 
I appeal to these brethren, you stood firm. You stood firm and 
represented the living God against the powers of the day. And may you continue to stand 
firm. And Psalm 110 verse 1, let that 
be a constant source of encouragement. The Lord say to my Lord, sit 
at my right hand until I make your enemies your food store. What's the conclusion? What is 
the conclusion? Remember, I'm imagining or I'm 
trying to help us imagine Peter as a good lawyer and he brings 
cases. And now his final submission, 
there in verse 36. Verse 36. Let all the house of 
Israel therefore know for certain assuredly that God has made him 
him who the one we have seen about here God has made him both 
Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified so it's like I 
rest my case that's what Peter would be saying here you killed 
the Messiah but God raised him he ascended God enthroned him 
and made him Lord. One would ask, and of course 
that brings us to our third point, Peter, why all this? So what, 
one may ask, and in fact we see how that dealt with or the impact 
of what he said by what we read now in verse 37. Has Peter's case brought anything 
to bear upon these people? Verse 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? So indeed, all this labor of 
Peter has borne the fruit. Peter has brought these people 
to a point that they cannot ignore. the Word of God. They cannot 
ignore the Scriptures. They cannot ignore the Messiah 
who has been explained before them here. What shall we do? They ask. And when you consider 
why they reached there, honestly, it's because they have their 
own mind they have worked out the various things but one of 
them is they have come to realize the long-awaited Messiah is the 
very one we put to death. Peter has shown us here and they 
feel guilty about that. And verse 35 seemed to crown 
it all when the Lord basically said, My son, you wait. Let me demonstrate my wrath upon 
the enemies. Just sit and wait. See what I'm 
going to do. And those things are entering 
into the very consciousness of these people. And you know, I've 
said to crown it all, but yet another thing to crown it all. 
This man is alive. This man they put to death. They 
didn't want him. They put him to death. And God 
is saying, yes, you have risen. And I want you to see what I'm 
going to do to your enemies. So the judge is alive. He's alive. and uh very little i mean not 
little actually there's nothing they can do that's why they ask 
is there any hope is there any hope they were cut to the heart 
what shall we do well friends As we have seen, Peter explains 
what Pentecost is from scripture and then takes a long portion 
of his sermon to explain Christ and then shows his hearers that 
these things are not just to fill their ears, these things 
are supposed to enter into their very being and to have dealings 
with them. And you know, friends, I'm not 
just talking and making reference to those of us who preach, but 
honestly to all, this is the state that all of us must come if we are to be saved. We must 
come to have dealings with the Christ, scripturally speaking. and see that we have terribly 
fallen in sin and a state that we cannot change by ourselves. And so it's a conviction that 
only the Holy Spirit can bring us into. Of course there are 
those who feel terribly convicted when they realize they've done 
wrong, but their conviction does not lead them to to surrender 
or confess and trust the Savior. There are some like that. And 
the book of Acts itself tells us, if you just turn ahead to 
chapter five, chapter five, verse 30, and particularly we want 
33, but we pick it in its context, where in chapter five, we read 
from verse 33, This is what the apostles went 
through when they were arrested and freed. Verse 30. The God 
of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on 
the tree. God exalted him at the right 
hand as a leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and 
forgiveness of sin. And we are witnesses of these 
things. And so, it's the Holy Spirit 
whom God has given to those who obey him. They should have been 
obeyed. But did they obey verse 33? When 
they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. And we find the same kind of 
negative reaction to a people who are face-to-face with biblical 
truths of Saints are exposed, and they 
are challenged, and instead of humbling themselves, I'm making 
reference to Stephen's speech, chapter 7, if you read nearer 
the end, verse 54, their reaction was not the right thing. They did not respond in the right 
way. So, friends, when we read God's 
word and definitely because this was someone when we preach God's 
word for us as preachers we we want to labor and bring each 
and every of our hearers to to see beyond doubt that we are 
dealing with scriptures and we are dealing with the promises 
of God and that Christ is the only hope and we have sinned 
And it's to the end that people would find help, though, as I've 
said, some people get enraged and walk away, want to have nothing 
to do with that ever again. But what about our passage here? How did Peter, handling the Scriptures 
and and setting forth Christ and therefore accusing these 
people of their terrible misdeed. How did this work out in their 
lives? Let's look then at verses 38 
to 41. And here is really what I'm calling 
amazing grace. While others would be filled 
with rage, here we see something about amazing grace. Verse 38. So they have asked Peter, 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. So, Peter 
then shows them what they need to do. And of course, verse 39 
then tells us, for the promise is for you and your children 
and for all who are afar off, everyone whom the Lord our God 
calls to himself. This is the Lord's word. It's 
the Lord's work. What we can do is only to expose, 
bring God's word to bear, and people must have dealings with 
it, but you know what? That's never enough. We have 
seen some people turn away in rage, but those who God brings, 
it's all the work of God. Those who God calls to himself, and something will happen to 
them. verse 40, and with many other words he bore witness and 
continued to exhort them saying, save yourself from this crooked 
generation. So those who received his word 
were baptized and they were added that day about 3,000 souls. Wow, this is a beautiful ending 
and An ending, honestly, that I'm just calling an amazing grace. When they ask, is there any hope? 
Peter says, yes, you repent and believe in the name of the Lord 
Jesus. Of course, repentance, repentance 
is the change of mind and heart. We are going this way. That's 
what we want. That's where the world is moving. And so the influence of the world 
and the remaining corrupt, you know, our sinful heart, we are 
going with the world. But then we hear God's word, 
the scriptures brought to us. And it arrests us and we think 
about it. And then we come to realize, 
no, I'm on the wrong way. I'm on the wrong way. stubbornly 
just been going my own way. And then you turn. So you turn by changing your 
mind, by changing your heart. Your liking now is a different 
route altogether. You turn towards God from evil. And that's powerful, by the way, 
left to ourselves. We don't want to be loners. So everyone, en masse, people 
are just going their sinful way. But God then come and interrupts 
and interjects and puts roadblocks through the preaching of his 
word. And when We listen to that. When we see that, then we are 
made to turn by faith unto the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course, 
there is a promise held there beautifully. Why did Peter add 
this? Actually, it's to show us The 
way of salvation is not narrow. He says, verse 39, for the promise 
is for you and for your children and for all who are afar off. So it's not only Jerusalem and 
Judea, but the ends of the earth. And friends, none of us should ever Think 
or say, well, he's talking about the natives of, the Jewish natives, 
the people of Israel. No, he says, even to those who 
are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. Now, you don't sit back and say, 
well, I don't know whether the Lord has called me to himself. 
No, you obey, repent, believe. And when you do so, lo and behold, 
like Spajon, I believe, is, you know, the illustration he gives, 
welcome, all welcome, come in. And when you walk in to this 
great banquet of salvation, and so as you rejoice and drink all 
the blessings And then as you look behind the door, it's like, 
well, you entered because it's God who drew you in. But I thought 
I entered because I chose to enter. Well, no one forced you, 
but actually God made you enter. It is God who makes us to enter. All who the Lord our God calls 
to himself will enter. Well, friends, This is a beautiful 
summon indeed. Scriptural and Christ is lifted 
ever so clearly and sin is not quoted, sin is not just talked 
about lightly. No, he brings out the sins of 
these people And yet he says, there is hope for any and for 
all who will repent. Well, was there any result to 
be seen? Was this someone successful, 
as we may say? Well, there was true success 
because we are told right at the end, so those who received 
his word as much as we would say, so those whom God called, 
and that would be right. But here, the responsibility 
that is upon everyone who hears the Word is that they receive 
the Word, that they believe the Word, that they obey the Word. So those who receive the Word were baptized and were added 
that day about 3,000 souls. Talk of baptizing many people, 
in the last two months I've baptized just over 10 people, about seven 
people in one church, five people in the other, and you know I 
ended up with a sprained elbow and I'm still treating, honestly 
up to now I have some medicine to take and cream to ointment 
to massage and because we've got a makeshift baptistry and 
these people obviously it's always strange experience so as I baptize 
you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 
there are those who when they go in they can't come up so I 
have to just bring them up and doing that at the end But here 
were 3,000 souls baptized in Jerusalem. Wow, the Lord's work. Friends, what can we carry home? A few things that we can remember 
from this passage by way of application. One, Jesus Christ is risen and exalted. He's gone above. He's the Lord. He's the Savior. 
He reigns above all. Have you admitted or submitted 
to Him? Have you? The hymns are beautiful. We sang a number of hymns there. The nations need to know Him 
and come to Him, but have you known Him? Have you submitted 
yourself to Him? Because, honestly, He is the 
Lord. He is reigning. Peter has proved 
that right from his birth all through to his ascension. Don't 
delay. Don't delay. have dealings with 
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and do so urgently. But you see, that takes place 
in the second place. You must come to a true conviction 
of the horror of your sins. If you do not see the Their horror, 
their terribleness, the wickedness of your own sin. You won't genuinely 
repent. It's only when you see the context of who this one, exalted by the Father, And you 
realize you missed him all along. You mistreated him badly. If 
you were there in Jerusalem, you would have been one of those 
who would have said, crucify him, crucify him. And so friends, there must be 
a true conviction that sin is horrible. God would not go through 
all these arrangements through Joel and at the right time through 
his son coming to be born and allowing his son to go through 
all these miserable things they did if sin is just something he can 
wash away. No! Sin is bad! Sin is wicked 
and God hates it! And so, each one must come to 
a true conviction of the horror of sin. And then, friends, that 
would lead to genuine abandonment of sin and saying, no, sin, I 
do not want you. And I turn the other way. Friends, 
that's what I pray. Even yesterday, as I joined a 
number of you, my brothers, as we were out there in town and 
as we were seeking to show, listen, life is precious. You cannot 
just decide and say, I don't want, this kid will cause me 
unnecessary disturbance. I have the right to destroy life 
no you don't have the right and so our prayer even as I return 
home will be Lord bring their awareness to these people who 
are butchering murdering babies that they would come to realize 
their horror of their sins that they may repent genuinely well 
friends Let's end on a beautiful note. Baptism follows repentance and 
faith. In my own experience, sadly, 
I grew up in a church where really I wasn't shown sin for what it 
is and need to repent than to be baptized. I was taken some 
through Catechism classes and because I was able to answer 
even though I was a hypocrite I answered well, and I was told 
you're fit for the water and so I was Put under the water. Let's just call it baptized. 
I was baptized, but I wasn't a believer It's only later when 
I saw what the scriptures clearly teach everywhere that it is believers 
who should be baptized and than the Lord in his goodness. Gave 
me peace of heart, peace of mind. My conscience came to be at peace 
when then, as a believer, then I was baptized. And I call upon 
those who have truly repented and put their trust in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Oh, please come forward. the 
two young men who have declared their interest to be baptized 
may the Lord so give you assurance when you obey him in the waters 
of baptism and others who may be are through the whole process 
wondering should I should I not well they they had put some bit 
of water on my forehead when was a baby should that not be 
enough Please, read the scriptures. It's those who believed, then 
they were baptized. May that happen to you. Otherwise, those who claim to 
be saved but not baptized, that's a contradiction. And finally, 
surely, there is no secret believer. No secret believer. you need 
to identify yourself with God's people. If the Lord has saved 
you, identify yourself. Take that step. Count the cost 
and say, I want to be a member of this biblical church because 
the Lord has saved me. I want to be baptized. I want 
to be a member so that I may serve the Lord. I say that because 
the last verse shows us, verse 41, so those who received his 
word, were baptized, and listen to this, and there were added 
that day about 3,000 souls. They were added. It was known 
where now they belonged. and beautifully how their life 
worked out in verses 42 to 47, and my last sermon last week 
at home, verses 32 to 37, another demonstration that they were 
really united. Brethren, may the Lord bless 
your labors here. As the scriptures are taught 
in this place, may you pray that sin will be revealed for what 
it is, will be exposed for what it is, and the Holy Spirit of 
God will work so that, through that, God will call to himself 
those whom he is saving. Well, may the Lord be glorified. Are you such that needs to turn 
to the Lord? Don't wait. Turn to the Lord. If now, if now, you will find 
such a blessing. He actually forgives and pleads 
the people who were forgiven here, who themselves then ended 
up being baptized, were in this lot. Many of them had previously 
said, crucify him. We don't want this one man to 
reign over us. So whatever anyone's sins may 
be, Religious because it was a time of Pentecost. Even those 
who were in Jerusalem because of just the Pentecost. Religious 
and wicked. Anyone who turns to the Lord 
will be saved. Turn to the Lord and you will 
be saved when you repent of your sins. Let's pray. Lord, our God, 
thank you. Thank you for your word. Thank 
you for this first recorded summon of the apostles. Lord, previously, 
there were people who the things the Lord Jesus Christ taught 
were just passing over their heads. And they were just getting 
the things upside down. Here, Christ had risen, and his 
Holy Spirit then came upon them. And surely now we see their perspectives 
were set right, and the resurrection of Christ became very central 
to them. And now they were able to say, 
yes, God has made him both Lord and Savior. And therefore, sinners 
must repent, must believe in him. And great was their outcome. Great was the result of their 
preaching. Sinners were saved. Lord, do 
so even in our day. Do so in this church. Bring many more to the sound 
of the word that they would be forgiven their sins and be saved 
and join the membership and be taught. Lord, Hear our prayer 
for these things we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.