Acts #5 - Cut to the Heart

Acts 2:29-47 (NIV)
Read by: Clayton

Today’s passage continues Peter’s speech to the crowds of Jews at Pentecost. The Spirit came in power, in tongues of flame, enabling the followers of Jesus to declare the wonders of God in all of the languages of those present. And now it’s as if Peter says, “Let’s debrief what just happened!” He tells them about Jesus, about how the man they had crucified was indeed the Messiah, and he uses the words of their most beloved king, David. David… the one whose family line everyone believed would produce the Savior they had been waiting for. “Weren’t you listening?” Peter wonders... “Why could we not see it?” And yet now they were seeing it. The resurrection had happened. The disciples had been with the resurrected Jesus for 40 days, and they’re putting the pieces together now. What they were blind to before Jesus died, they see now. All of the prophets were pointing to it, to Jesus.

Listen now to Peter’s speech as he continues to open the eyes of the Jews.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What words or phrases stood out to you in the passage?

2. When the people heard Peter’s words, they were “cut to the heart.” These—even the crowds who had chanted, “Crucify him!” were invited to repent, to be baptized in his name and receive the Holy Spirit. Even they… Is there anything in your life that you feel would disqualify you from this kind of invitation?

3. We long for church to be the kind of community embodied here in Acts 2, but it often seems so disconnected from our current experience of Christians and the church… How might the LORD be calling you to live into the generosity, friendship, belief and obedience that this community lived out… even if it looks different than what our culture sees as “church?”

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

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