Preaching to the Disciples: Peter at Jerusalem

Peter Preaches at Jerusalem

The days surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus were like no others in Israel:  the disciples had seen, along with the Roman guard and others in the Holy City at the time events which were indescribable.    The sense of ineffability must have been accompanied by an astonishment at seeing first hand things which to most persons simply could not be:  the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, the earthquake which rent the vail of the Temple, the earthquake the morning of the resurrection, the dead rising wandering back into Jerusalem, and the ascension of the risen Messiah:  even those of great faith hid behind closed doors, trembling at the events and goodness and power of God, not sure what to do next.

As the disciples are sequestered behind doors, in prayer and worship, praising the Lord, following the ascension,  the first 'sermon' of the book of Acts takes place, by the apostle Peter,  to whom Jesus had said he would give 'the keys of the kingdom'.   Not quite to the day of Pentecost, Peter nonetheless takes the opportunity to address the gathered believers about the recent troublings and wondrous happenings.

"And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said (the number of the names together were about a hundred and twenty,)  Men and Brethren: this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Judas. For he was numbered of us and obtained part of this ministry."

Note a few things about the passage:

The Address

1. It is addressed to "Men & Brethren".  Why is this important?  At the beginning of most sermons in the book of Acts, at least the ones recorded so,  the preaching of the disciples, whether to the believers in the church or ikklesia, or to the un-evangelized, calls attention to the declaration of the Gospel, by essentially calling them by name, office, or nation.   Here, 'Men & Brethren' refers to the gathered of the Lord in the days between the Ascension and the day of Pentecost.  He is speaking to the 120 gathered, awaiting direction from the Lord.   In open-air or other 'agora' preaching ('marketplace),  when a believer began to preach,  he directed attention to his message to a group of people.   Martin Buber the famed Jewish theologian once noted that the name of a person was important because it was the portal of access to that person

"so that is how matters stand; that is the name of the thing; that is how it is constituted,  that is where it belongs"

           One gains power over an incubus by addressing it by its real name    

 Buber, I-Thou

 Buber argues that the mere name of a person does not express the whole of the person, but gives us a 'way in' to the person, and we hence experience the 'other person' as one who like us, experiences life: it is an "I-You" relationship instead of an "I-it" relationship.  How does this relate to the address of a people in preaching:  it is the knocking on the door and asking to be let in,  an invitation to learn and experience, and a necessity of making people realize that the declaration about to be preached is for them.  We will see as we continue our studies, such addresses as "Men and Brethren", "Men of Israel", and "Ye Men of Athens" (Acts 17:22).

2. The Purpose of the Address is then made clear: to show how the troubling events of the past days have actually been no random occurrence but a fulfillment of prophecy.  This declaration of purpose will then set the course of the teaching and preaching to follow.  Apparently, one of the most troubling parts of the end of Christ's ministry, was the punishment and fate of Judas:  during Messiah's ministry he had taught repeatedly the forgiveness of enemies, love beyond bounds and 'going the extra mile'---but the days surrounding the Cross were violent and awesome, and the end of Judas, even after a seeming repentance for betraying innocent blood had to have been confusing against the backdrop of the other teachings of Jesus.   Judas though had betrayed more than innocent blood, but the Lamb of God, the sin sacrifice, the Deliverer of Israel and Desire of all Nations:  Peter is about to teach the disciples the 'goodness and severity of God'. (Romans 11:22)

Peter, even in these first few sentences, under the power of the Holy Spirit of God at least in portion, begins to draw attention to Judas' death as a prophetic fulfillment going back as far the David, the King of Israel and psalmist.  He is no doubt referring to Psalm 41 in which David writes:

"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. " Ps 41: 9

In the above passage the fact of his betrayal was prophesied, but in a later passage so was the chastisement to come:

"Ps 109:8 Let his days be few and let another take his office" 

He continues with his premise that because Judas was 'numbered of us' and 'obtained part of this ministry'  (see also Jn 6:70) and then turned to the point of betraying Jesus to death, that his (Judas' ) death would have been imminent.   Peter then turns and expounds and explicates the reasons for the death of Judas, prophetic reasons, so that the disciples are not challenged in their faith which was very real, no doubt, but more likely than not, quivering.  Peter in pointing to his topic and explication of the scriptures, is likewise pointing to the 'goodness' of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and Word as inspired, infallible and immutable.

Peter Recounts the Story of Judas

 (more to follow)  note: this study will continue in a few days, as it has been tampered with once again:   we have for several years progressively had non stop hacking and ruining of artwork, design, writing etc,  from those both in and out of the christian community who cannot bear to let another person succeed in the work of the Lord.  Please pray for this ministry which offers free bible study material worldwide without actively raising funds.  Please pray for the troubled people who hack this and other sites to 'see it God's way' and for their salvation.