Content Comparison of Peter's Sermons in Acts 1-22
Content Comparison of Peter's Sermons in Acts 1-22
Peter's sermons in Acts 1-22 are recorded in Acts 2:14-40, Acts 3:12-26, Acts 4:8-12, Acts 5:29-32, Acts 10:34-43, and Acts 15:7-11. A comparison of these sermons reveals a consistent emphasis on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ [1].
In Acts 2:14-40, Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost, explaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and citing Joel 2:28-32. He emphasizes Jesus' resurrection and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy [2]. This sermon is characterized by its appeal to Scripture and its emphasis on the universal availability of salvation.
In subsequent sermons, Peter continues to emphasize the significance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. In Acts 3:12-26, he preaches in the temple, calling the people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. He cites Moses and the prophets, highlighting the continuity between the Old Testament and the Christian message [3].
A key feature of Peter's sermons is their Christocentric focus. According to John Chrysostom, Peter's sermons demonstrate a clear understanding of the person and work of Christ [1]. This is evident in Acts 4:8-12, where Peter declares that Jesus is the cornerstone and the source of salvation.
The content of Peter's sermons also reflects his audience and context. In Acts 10:34-43, he preaches to Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, emphasizing God's impartiality and the universality of the gospel. This sermon is notable for its emphasis on the inclusivity of the Christian message.
John Calvin notes that Peter's sermons demonstrate a clear understanding of the relationship between faith and works [5]. In Acts 15:7-11, Peter appeals to his experience with the Gentiles, arguing that salvation is by faith alone.
The sermons of Peter in Acts 1-22 demonstrate a consistent emphasis on the person and work of Jesus Christ, the significance of Scripture, and the universality of the gospel. As Charles Hodge observes, Peter's sermons provide a model for Christian preaching, emphasizing the importance of clear doctrine and the authority of Scripture [4].
Sources
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: 1:19 1:20 1:20 2:1-2 2:2 2:8 2:8 2:9 2:9 2:12 2:14 2:14 2:15 3:2-9 3:5 3:8-12 3:16 4:13 4:13 4:19 5:5 5:6 5:16 5:20 5:23 5:23 6:2 6:8 6:9 6:9 6:10 6:10 6:13 2 Timothy 1:5 1:5 1:16 2:9 2:9 3:2 3:12 3:15 4:6 4:6 4:10 4:11 4:11 4:13 4:15 4:17 4:20 Titus 1:7-9 1:12 1:12 1:16 2:12 3:5 Philemon 1:1 1:2 1:2 1:9 1:22 5:13 Hebrews 1:5 1:14 2:2 2:2 5:11-12 6:9 8:11 8:13 9:16 9:26 9:26-28 10:12 10:24 10:28-29 10:28-29 10:29 10:34 10:37 11:31 12:2 12:24 12:29 13:3 13:3 13:10 13:17 13:17 13:21 13:22 13:24 James 1:9 1:18 2:6 2:23 3:4 4:6 5:14-15 5:17 1 Peter 3:21 ”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 2 (introduction): Between the promise of the Messiah (even the latest of those promises) and his coming many ages intervened; but between the promise of the Spirit and his coming there were but a few days; and during those days the apostles, though they had received orders to preach the gospel to every creature, and to begin at Jerusalem, yet lay perfectly wind-bound, incognito - concealed, and not offering to preach. But in this chapter the north wind and the south wind awake, and then they awake, and we have them in the pulpit presently. Here is, I. The descent of the S”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 2:14: We have here the first-fruits of the Spirit in the sermon which Peter preached immediately, directed, not to those of other nations in a strange language (we are not told what answer he gave to those that were amazed, and said, What meaneth this?) but to the Jews in the vulgar language, even to those that mocked; for he begins with the notice of that (Act 2:15), and addresses his discourse (Act 2:14) to the men of Judea and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; but we have reason enough to think that the other disciples continued to speak to those who understood them (and t”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 78: They were all held in durance waiting for the Great Deliverer.” 762 762 Alger, ut supra, p. 284. The fate of those who die since the advent is no better, for they, as Paul is made to teach, are “all to remain in the under-world” until the second coming of Christ, “when they and the transformed living shall ascend together with the Lord.” 763 763 Ibid. p. 288. St. Peter is made to teach the same doctrine in still more explicit terms. In his discourse delivered on the day of Pentecost, he argued that Jesus is the Christ from the fact that G”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 2:19 2:21 2:24 4:3 4:6 4:8 4:11-12 4:14 5:12 5:12 5:13 5:14 5:15 5:16 5:16 5:16 5:17-18 1 Peter 1:2 1:2 1:2 1:3 1:5 1:5 1:9 1:11 1:12 1:12 1:15 1:16 1:18-19 1:18-19 1:19 1:19-20 1:20 1:21 1:21 1:21 1:21 1:22 1:23 1:23 1:23 2:5 2:9 2:9 2:9 2:13 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:24 2:24 2:24 2:24 2:24 2:25 2:25 3:18 3:19 3:21 3:21 3:21 3:21 3:21 3:21 4:3 4:3 4:8 4:8 4:11 4:11 4:14 4:17 5:1 5:2 5:2 5:3 5:5 5:6 5:7 5:8 5:8 5:9 2 Peter 1:4 1:4 1:4 1:5 1:13-14 1:14 1:14 1:19 2:1 2:4 2:4 3:4 3:8 3:9 3:16 11:9 1 John 1:1 1:7 1:7 1:7 1:9 1:9 1:10 2:1 2:1 2”