WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER?
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 2:14 & 38 NKJ 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the last times we saw Peter was in the Gospel of John, where Peter was having to recover from denying Jesus three times. Of course, Jesus forgives him, but it's not a high point in Peter's life. Then we see him fishing, but not catching anything until Jesus comes and bails him out and then confirms Peter's love.
But in this second chapter of Acts, we see Peter standing up and preaching to thousands of Jews. So, he goes from running scared from a servant girl's accusation that he is a disciple of Jesus to boldly proclaiming that men needed to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. This is exactly what Jesus foretold when He said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." In this chapter, we see the Holy Spirit poured out on the men and women, including Jesus' mother, Mary, in the upper room. Then these empowered people poured out into the street, and things began to happen. This chapter records Peter's bold sermon with 3000 people responding and being added to the Lord.
APPLICATION
Peter literally changed overnight. He was a changed man having believed in the resurrected Jesus and having received the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Both salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are available today to anyone who will believe. And these gifts from God absolutely change your life.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, show me more about how Your gift of the Holy Spirit can change my life for the better. I have received Your salvation, and I want all You have for me.