1. He is Lord of all – all nations, all people,
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Illus: John Perkins / 1971 / Rankin County Jail / “Lord, if you get me out of here alive, I will preach a gospel that reaches not only my people, but these white faces twisted with hate as well.”
2. Things we have witnessed
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
Illus: “I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How?
Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” (Charles Colson)
Witnesses / wit = OE for “know” – to experience, encounter. They had
experienced/encountered the Resurrected Jesus and come what may, they had to tell others. And “come what may” meant everyone of them (save John) would die brutal deaths of martyrs. Who would preach this message knowing you would die unless…it were true.
3. Not seen by all
41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Why not “by all.” Had it been me, I would have showed up first at the foot of Caiaphas’ bed…or in front of a specially called meeting of the Sanhedrin. Instead, he shows up to women (bottom of the social ladder), and the Twelve (fishermen, tax collector, Zealot, etc.). If the High Priest or the Sanhedrin were ever to get Jesus, they would have to get Him through them.
4. His command to us
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
- Believes – bet your life, all of it, on Him.
- Forgiveness of sins – “lo, I will remember your sins no more”
- Through His name – “By His death, for His living message to those you encounter in your life today”
5. Pentecost
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
A taste of Pentecost. God takes over your life. You get bold with His message.
6. Tyranny, over
37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached — 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power/tyranny (CSB) of the devil, because God was with him.
Notice that phrase “tyranny of the devil” – tyranny = only 2x in NT. Katadynasteuõ – a dynasty of Satan over your soul.
“Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.”
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-44 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.10.34-44.NLT