Introduction
Every year, the church prayerfully participates in the 10 days following Jesus’ ascension. During that time, the disciples awaited the promised gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Now, we learn to wait with them, longing for the Spirit’s renewing work and tracing a pattern in Scripture: God ascends to reign and fills people with the Holy Spirit so they can rule with him.
We have seen the Holy Spirit reverse the rebellion of dark spiritual forces and undo the scattering of Babel. We have watched Jesus’ followers proclaim his Kingship in the languages of every nation gathered in Jerusalem. Now, Acts turns to the contents of that proclamation as Peter addresses the crowd, interpreting Pentecost.
The Long-Awaited Day
Peter tells the gathering that this outpouring was foretold long ago. The prophet Joel spoke of a day when God would pour out his Spirit on all people—men and women, young and old, enslaved and free (Acts 2:16-18; Joel 2:28-32). Israel had long awaited this day, when God would visit his people. Peter points to the Spirit-filled proclamation of Jesus’ followers as proof that the day has finally come.
The Long-Awaited King
Joel’s prophecy describes signs in the heavens and on the earth. Peter says that these signs are fulfilled in Jesus—the heavenly signs during the crucifixion and the earthly signs in Jesus’ earthly ministry, when he healed his people and pushed back the powers that had enslaved humanity (Acts 2:19-22). These signs show that Jesus is the King that Israel has been waiting for. God has visited his people in Jesus.
And the resurrection is the ultimate sign that Jesus is the true King. Even though he was handed over to death on a cross, death could not hold him in the grave (Acts 2:23-24). Death had conquered every other king. But when Jesus descended into the grave, death was outmatched. Jesus is the King above all kings, because he triumphed over the enemy that no other king could defeat.
The Fulfillment of King David
Peter explains that the idea that God’s King would conquer death and rule forever isn’t new. It was foretold by none other than King David, who spoke of God’s Holy One who would not be left in the grave but would be received to God’s right hand (Psalm 16:8-11; 110:1). David was not speaking about himself but about his descendant Jesus, whose reign could not be ended by death (Acts 2:25-34). When Jesus ascended to heaven, God enthroned him above every power, placing all things under his feet (Acts 2:35-36).
The Gift of the Spirit and of Forgiveness
Now, the Spirit comes because Jesus is enthroned. The ascended King shares his reign by pouring out God’s own presence and power. This makes Pentecost all the more startling because, as Peter says, God’s people had rejected their King (Acts 2:23). Enslaved by rival powers and driven by their own rebellion, they rejected Jesus and handed him over to be killed by representatives of a rival nation. Here, humanity’s rebellion reached its terrible climax. The ultimate act of anti-filling and anti-ascension was not the conception of the giants or the construction of Babel. The supreme rejection of God was the crucifixion of Jesus.
But in mercy, God planned to unwork rebellion through the cross. The rejection of Jesus became the very means by which he conquered death and the powers, freeing his people from their grasp.
Jesus now reigns as King over every power and every people, even over those who put him to death. And on Pentecost, God draws near to his people with mercy, not judgment. He offers forgiveness to those who rejected his Son, offering them a place in the Kingdom. Through Peter’s royal proclamation, he calls them to turn from defeated rulers and receive his Spirit, to repent of their rebellious grasping for power so they may share in Jesus’ reign and proclaim his Kingdom.
Guided Prayer
We respond in prayer as Jesus, our merciful and ascended King, has taught us:
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven those indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.