Check out all the previous Acts readings here.

Acts Reading Plan | Week 2 | Day 2

Prayer

Hebrews 14:16 says “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” As you come to spend time with Jesus today, approach Him with confidence. Ask Him for the mercy and grace you need for today. Ask Him to open your eyes as you read His word.

Bible Reading: Acts 2:22-32

Read these verses three times slowly.

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Reflection & Questions

Peter continues to talk to the crowd, and he doesn’t mince his words as he speaks to them about Jesus’ death.

• He says: “You yourselves know” that Jesus proved who he was by his miracles. There was no question these people had heard and seen what Jesus had done.
• Yet Peter says, “you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death.” These were the people who cried, “crucify him.”

“But”, Peter says, “God raised him from the dead”. And like a thunderous preacher, Peter says, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Powerful words!

Again quoting the Old Testament, which the crowd knew so well (this time Psalm 16:8-11), he shows how the resurrection of Jesus was prophesied by King David. David’s body had decayed long ago – and his tomb was there for all to see – so who is David talking about when he says “you will not let your holy one see decay”? Jesus, of course!

Peter is proving that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s King. Jesus showed it in his miracles. He showed it in his death and resurrection. He showed it by fulfilling the prophecies. And he showed it by appearing to the disciples after he rose from the dead. “We are all witnesses of it.” There’s no denying it – Jesus is God’s King.

The reality is because of our sin, like this crowd, we hold responsibility in Jesus’ death. Praise God though, that He is no longer dead! He is alive – and he has changed our lives! That makes us all witnesses. That’s the good news we can share with our ONE’s!

1. What word or phrase from Peter’s message to the Israelites sticks out to you? Why?
2. What is God’s invitation to you to do in response to His word today?

Prayer

Thank God for sending His Son and for spreading the good news so that we could hear it! Pray for your ONE that you would be able to share the gospel with them.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?