Listen
These are my notes from a sermon at my church Lakewood Baptist Church in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
If you would like to listen to the full sermon, you can do so here.
Peter’s First Sermon: Acts 2:14-41
Understanding the Gospel Message That Began the Church
On the day of Pentecost, something unprecedented happened in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit fell on 120 believers, and they began speaking in languages they had never learned. They were declaring the mighty works of God to pilgrims from every nation gathered for the feast. The crowd was stunned. Some asked, “What does this mean?” Others mocked, “They are filled with new wine” (Acts 2:13).
Peter stood to speak. This was the same man who had denied Jesus three times just weeks earlier. Now, filled with the Spirit, he preached a message that brought 3,000 people to repentance in a single day. His sermon contains the essential elements of the gospel and shows us how to present Christ to those who need Him.
The Full Text: Acts 2:14-36 NASB
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 For David says of Him,
‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE;
FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.
26 ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.
28 ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’
29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”‘
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:14-36
Luke tells us the full sermon was longer (Acts 2:40), but the summary in Acts 2:14-41 reveals three clear movements:
An Explanation of the Spirit’s Work (vv. 14-21)
An Exaltation of the Son’s Work (vv. 22-36)
A Confrontation for Sinners to Respond (vv. 37-41)
Understanding these movements makes Peter’s logic clear and makes the gospel’s claim on every life impossible to ignore.
Movement 1: Explanation of the Spirit’s Work (vv. 14-21)
Peter begins by answering the mockery directly. Some in the crowd suggested the believers were drunk. Peter points out the obvious: “It is only the third hour of the day” (v. 15)—nine o’clock in the morning. Jews did not drink wine without meat, and meat was not served until evening. The charge makes no sense.
Next, Peter explains what is actually happening. He quotes the prophet Joel:
“But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And 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 visions, 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 of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” (vv. 16-21)
Peter is not claiming that every detail of Joel’s prophecy is fulfilled at Pentecost. The sun has not turned to darkness; the moon has not turned to blood. Those cosmic signs await the final Day of the Lord. What Peter is saying is this: The Spirit-outpouring Joel foresaw has now begun. Men and women, young and old, are prophesying—exactly as Joel said would happen in the last days. The age of the Messiah has dawned, and the only escape from coming judgment is to call on the name of the Lord.
This is the church’s first act of defending the faith against slander. When God’s work is mocked, His people answer with Scripture and reason.
Movement 2: Exaltation of the Son’s Work (vv. 22-36)
With the confusion cleared, Peter turns to the heart of the gospel: Who is Jesus? He walks his hearers through four stages of Christ’s ministry, each rooted in Old Testament fulfillment.
1. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry Proved He Is the Messiah (v. 22)
“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—”
The miracles were not random acts of kindness; they were identity markers. Isaiah had promised that in the Messianic age the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the lame would leap, and the dead would rise (Isa 26, 29, 35). Jesus did exactly that. The signs declared, “This is the promised King!”
2. Jesus’ Death Fulfilled God’s Plan (v. 23)
“this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”
Human wickedness and divine sovereignty meet at the cross. The Jews and Romans bear full guilt—”lawless men” crucified the Lord of glory—yet every nail was driven according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. The cross was not Plan B; it was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (1 Pet 1:19-20).
3. Jesus’ Resurrection Displayed God’s Power (vv. 24-32)
“God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for death to keep its hold on him.” (v. 24)
Peter likens death to birth-pangs: painful, but unable to contain the life within. Death went into labor and had to release Jesus. Why? Because Psalm 16 promised the Holy One would not see corruption:
“For David says 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 Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'” (vv. 25-28)
David’s body decayed; his tomb was still in Jerusalem. Therefore Psalm 16 cannot refer to David. It must refer to David’s greater Son, the Messiah. Peter and the eleven are eyewitnesses: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (v. 32).
4. Jesus’ Exaltation Declares His Lordship (vv. 33-36)
“Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” (v. 33)
The tongues they hear are proof: the risen Jesus has received the Spirit from the Father and poured Him out on His people. Peter completes the argument with Psalm 110:
“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.”‘” (vv. 34-35)
Every Jew knew Psalm 110 was messianic. David calls the Messiah “my Lord.” Only one person fits: Jesus. Peter’s conclusion is direct and powerful:
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (v. 36)
The One they nailed to a cross now sits enthroned. The crucified criminal is the cosmic King.
Movement 3: Confrontation for Sinners to Respond (vv. 37-41)
“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?'” (v. 37)
“Cut to the heart” is violent language. Conviction has broken through. Peter does not soften the blow; he gives the remedy:
“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. 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.’ … So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (vv. 38-41)
Three commands, one promise:
Repent – Turn from sin, self-rule, and self-righteousness to Jesus.
Be baptized – Publicly identify with the crucified and risen Lord. Baptism does not cause forgiveness; it declares the forgiveness already received through repentance and faith.
Receive the Holy Spirit – Every believer in the new covenant is indwelt by God Himself.
The promise is for everyone – Jew, Gentile, near, far—”everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Three thousand who once shouted “Crucify Him!” now bow to Him. The same crowd that condemned the King now crowns Him with repentant hearts.
Five Marks of Faithful Gospel Preaching (Drawn from Peter)
Peter’s sermon is a pattern for every pulpit and every personal witness:
Addresses Objections – Peter refutes drunkenness with logic and Scripture. Today we refute “good works save” or “all religions lead to God” the same way.
Rests on Scripture’s Authority – Peter quotes Joel, Psalms 16, 110, and 132. The preacher’s opinion fades; God’s Word endures.
Confesses Sin Boldly – Peter addresses murderers directly: “You crucified the Lord.” No gospel without the bad news of sin.
Exalts Christ Relentlessly – Miracles, cross, resurrection, ascension—every point directs us to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Explains the Required Response – “What must we do?” Repent, believe, be baptized. No sermon is complete without a call to decide.
The Question Before You
Reader, the same Spirit who empowered Peter still convicts today. The same Jesus who was crucified, raised, and exalted still reigns. The same question the crowd asked comes to you:
“What shall I do?”
You were not in Jerusalem that day, but you are guilty. You have lied, lusted, hated, blasphemed, and lived for yourself instead of God. The wages of sin is death—eternal separation from the God who made you. Yet the gospel is this: Jesus died for sinners like you. He bore your guilt, satisfied God’s wrath, and rose to give you life. He now offers full pardon to everyone who will repent and believe.
Will you continue trusting in yourself to make things right with God? Or will you stop, turn, and trust the only Savior who can forgive, indwell, and keep you forever?
The crowd at Pentecost received Peter’s word and were baptized—3,000 souls added in a day. Today the invitation still stands:
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Call on Him now. Eternity is at stake.