Oy! What got into Peter?

Oy! What got into Peter? Acts 2.14-41 

The guys are looking at him, and then back and forth at each other . . . Andrew, Thaddaeus, Bartholomew … and one apostle says to the other, ‘Oy! What got into Peter? I mean, of course we all love him, but nu, this guy can’t act like he has it all together now! Look at him, trying to take the limelight. You heard what he did, I heard what he did … and now he stands up and tries to get everyone’s attention and preach …seriously?’ 

Step a little closer. Peter had been part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with disciples James and John. He was headstrong, outspoken and impulsive, and how he loved Jesus! So full of faith that when Jesus told him to come to him on the Sea of Galilee, Peter literally walked on water to get to the Lord. And yet, even when Jesus warned that he would deny him to others, Peter was so shook up by Jesus’ arrest, that he did indeed deny his relationship with the one he adored—not once, but three times. 

From his spot on the hillside, Peter watches Jesus ascend into Heaven1, and wonders again what will become of himself. But this time he remains faithful, convinced of the miraculous resurrected Lord Jesus. As the 120 expectant folks gathered together in the upper room, we find Peter among them. They are waiting as Jesus had instructed, and are suddenly impacted by the coming of the Holy Spirit. They first hear, then see and feel the Spirit’s presence …and strangely, they begin to speak in unknown languages--unknown to them, but not to the Jewish pilgrims who had traveled to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost. A crowd of the observant Jews gathers beneath the window and hears the good news of the Gospel in its own tongue--nothing short of amazing.2 

Some accuse the messengers of being drunk, though Peter will not stand for that! Open your Bibles to read his radical sermon in Acts 2.14-41. 

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was in an all-school bicentennial play, commemorating the 200-year anniversary of our country. My role? Oh, I was the town crier. I rang a bell, hollering, “Hear ye! Hear ye!” to get the attention of the townspeople and then delivered a proclamation about their independence. 

On this momentous day, Peter was the town crier calling those near him to listen to him because the people they heard were absolutely not drunk (and yes, like me the town crier, followed with a message of independence as well). Luke writes, “But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: “My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. Pay attention to what I have to say. These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning!” And then Peter goes on to preach such an inspired message, that 3000 people repent and turn to Christ.3 Before we look at the message, what the heck had happened to Peter? 

How had Peter gone from Peter-the-Denier to Peter-the-Powerful Preacher? And why was he not laughed out of town by his fellow apostles? After all, they knew all about his failure. The reason is that Peter intentionally did a few things really well after he blew it—things that speak to me, actually. 
1. He humbly restored relationship with Jesus; he did not allow his moral failure to keep him separate from God. 
2. From the closing verses of the gospels, it appears that Peter stayed in community; he did not isolate or hide because of guilt or shame. 
3. Peter was teachable and obedient to Jesus when told to wait in Jerusalem; he did not take off like a lone wolf. 

Because of these things, Peter was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came and filled the believers, and being filled with the Holy Spirit radically changed him. What difference does being filled with the Holy Spirit make? Stay tuned. 

Christine 

PastorWoman.com

1 – Acts 1.9-112 - Acts 2.1-133 – Acts 2.41