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Lesson 12 Acts 2:33-36

Journey Through Acts

Lesson 12

Acts 2:33-36

The Exaltation of Christ

  1. Review
    1. The Life of Christ v:22
      1. This verse highlights the “works’ of the messiah.
    2. The Death of Christ v:23
      1. We learned this was planned before the beginning of time.
      2. That we will answer for our sins.
    3. The Resurrection of Christ v:24-32
      1. This is the climax of redemptive history.
  2. Right hand of God.
    1. Honor, glory, power.
      1. Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but he also was exalted to the place of honor, glory, and power.
      2. Acts 2:33 (NIV) — 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
      3. Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV) — 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
    2. He sits at God’s Right Hand.
      1. Romans 8:34 (NLT) — 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
      2. (cf. Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 5:31; 7:55–56; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22)
    3. Promise of the Holy Spirit.
      1. “he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit”
      2. That promise has poured out…
      3. I love this language.
        1. Poured out means God was giving in abundance, to bestow generously.
        2. What a beautiful picture of Pentecost.
      4. This is a promise fulfilled.
      5. Now that Christ was risen and glorified, God fulfilled that promise (see John 7:39).
  3. King David Quote.
    1. Peter offers more proof that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

Acts 2:34–35 (NIV) — 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’

Psalm 110:1 (NLT) — 1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

 

      1. For David did not ascend to heaven
      2. Placing one’s enemies under one’s feet was a figure of speech denoting their abject submission (see Josh. 10:24–25).
      3. David was not exalted to God’s right hand, but Jesus was (Acts 1:9–11).
      4. The proof of that was the outpouring of the Spirit that the crowd had just witnessed.
  2. In conclusion.
    1. Whom you crucified!
      1. Acts 2:36 (NIV) — 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
      2. Be assured = worthy of being believed, certainly true, completely believable.
      3. You see through His life.
      4. You see it in His Death.
      5. Through the power of His resurrection.
      6. And you sitting in the place of honor at God’s Right Hand.
      7. The Messiah you crucified at the hands of evil men.
    2. Peter will add to this.
      1. Acts 4:11 (NLT) — 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
      2. Then he adds this…
        1. Acts 4:12 (NLT) — 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
    3. The power of the word.
      1. Acts 2:37 (NIV) — 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.
      2. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.
      3. Never underestimate the power of God’s word.