After the sermon was preached, about 3,000 people responded to the invitation in faith, repentance, and baptism. They are said to have been added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:38-47).
Please pause to consider that the crowd that day was told of a man who had died, been buried, and raised from the dead three days later. Instead of laughing, Peter and the apostles off the temple steps, multiple thousands responded in obedience. Peter reminded this crowd of the undeniable miracles performed by Jesus in their presence and the evidence this provided God was with Him (Acts 2:22). However, it was the greatest miracle that proved the deity of Jesus and our hope in Him — His resurrection from the dead. Here are four great truths regarding the resurrection of Jesus:
First, Jesus was dead (He really died)! There can be no coming back to life (resurrection) without there being a death. How can we know that Jesus really died? For one, His followers believed He was dead. We could pause to ask Thomas, Nicodemus, or Joseph of Arimathea. Did these men coming to prepare the body believe He was dead? Of course, they were all aware He was dead. However, His enemies knew He was dead, too. The Roman centurion who told Pilate He was dead knew. The soldiers guarding the tomb knew He was dead as they stood guard. Even in the coverup, the Jewish leaders knew that Jesus was dead (Matthew 27:62-66).
Second, the death of Jesus was foretold. For example, David prophesied of the One whose body would not see corruption (Psalm 16:10). In Acts 2:22-32, Peter makes it clear that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy. Everyone on that day knew David’s tomb was nearby and his body was still in it, but they were witnesses of the fact that Jesus had raised from the dead. Also, Jesus foretold His death, burial, and resurrection on multiple occasions (John 2:18-22; Mark 8:31; Matthew 12:38-40). Even His enemies, the Pharisees, knew His words (Matthew 27:63-64).
Third, there was/is an empty tomb. Peter made the claim that all of Jerusalem knows the tomb is empty in Acts 2. The disciples would never have risked being found with His body. The Jews would have openly displayed it. The only option is that Jesus did raise from the dead! The Bible tells us plainly this is what happened, but just viewing the evidence and using common sense, this is the only conclusion to reach!
Finally, consider the response of Jesus’ disciples. Where does Jesus find them to show Himself alive? In a room with locked door. However, only a few weeks later, these same men stand on the southern openly proclaiming He is the Christ, the Son of God — having raised from the dead! How do they go from fearful to fearless? Something has changed your mind! They were witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 4:7-12, 19-18-20, 31).
In Acts 12, James the brother of John will be beheaded and history shows us that all but John would seem to suffer a martyr’s death — why? Because of how confident they were of the resurrection of Jesus!
The resurrection of Jesus must provide us with strong, bold faith in Jesus! Our faith is not empty or worthless, but in the power of God who raised Jesus from the dead and we have the hope of being raised one day, too! May His resurrection produce a joy no one can take (John 16:20-22). Jesus didn’t promise happy circumstances or a life without trouble, but He did promise we can have a joy no one could take. May we never fail to know the power of the resurrection and the hope of going to be with the Lord!
-Adam Orr