Replies

From: Acts 2:14, 22-33

Peter’s Address

[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them,
[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth with mighty works and
wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves
know—[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknow-
ledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] But God
raised Him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for
Him to be held by it. [25] For David says concerning Him, ‘I saw the Lord always
before Me, for He is at My right hand that I may not be shaken; [26] therefore My
heart was glad, and My tongue rejoiced; moreover My flesh will dwell in hope.
[27] For Thou will not abandon My soul to Hades, nor let Thy Holy One see cor-
ruption. [28] Thou hast made known to Me the ways of life; Thou wilt make Me
full of gladness with Thy presence.’

[29] “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both
died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] Being therefore a
prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that He would set
one of his descendants upon his throne, [31] he foresaw and spoke of the resur-
rection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see
corruption. [32] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. [33]
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the
Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and
hear.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

14-36. Even as the Church takes its first steps St. Peter can be seen to occupy
the position of main spokesman. In his address we can distinguish an introduc-
tion and two parts: in the first part (verses 16-21) he is explaining that the mes-
sianic times foretold by Joel have now arrived; in the second (verses 22-36) he
proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews crucified, is the Messiah pro-
mised by God and eagerly awaited by the righteous of the Old Testament; it is
He who has effected God’s saving plan for mankind.

14. In his commentaries St. John Chrysostom draws attention to the change
worked in Peter by the Holy Spirit: “Listen to him preach and argue so boldly,
who shortly before had trembled at the word of a servant girl! This boldness is a
significant proof of the resurrection of his Master: Peter preaches to men who
mock and laugh at his enthusiasm. [...] Calumny (’they are filled with new wine’)
does not deter the Apostles; sarcasm does not undermine their courage, for the
coming of the Holy Spirit has made new men of them, men who can put up with
every kind of human test. When the Holy Spirit enters into hearts He does so to
elevate their affections and to change earthly souls, souls of clay, into chosen
souls, people of real courage [...]. Look at the harmony that exists among the
Apostles. See how they allow Peter to speak on behalf of them all. Peter raises
his voice and speaks to the people with full assurance. That is the kind of cou-
rage a man has when he is the instrument of the Holy Spirit. [...] Just as a bur-
ning coal does not lose its heat when it falls on a haystack but instead is ena-
bled to release its heat, so Peter, now that he is in contact with the life-giving
Spirit, spreads his inner fire to those around him” (”Hom. on Acts”, 4).

22-36. To demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah foretold by the pro-
phets, St. Peter reminds his listeners of our Lord’s miracles (verse 22), as well
as of His death (verse 23), resurrection (verses 24-32) and glorious ascension
(verses 33-35). His address ends with a brief summing-up (verse 36).

32. To proofs from prophecy, very important to the Jews, St. Peter adds his own
testimony on the resurrection of Jesus, and that of his brothers in the Apostolate.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.