Messianic Moments Devotional Series—Acts

The book of Acts serves as a powerful continuation of the gospel message, showing how the early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaims Jesus as the risen Messiah and Saviour of the world. Acts is not just a historical account; it’s a divine blueprint for how Jesus’ followers, filled with the Spirit, are to carry on His mission, pointing to Him as the fulfillment of God’s promises and the hope for all nations. From the very first chapter, Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8 underscore the global scope of His messianic reign, as His disciples are commissioned to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” The miracles performed by the apostles, including the healing of the sick and raising the dead, echo the works of Jesus Himself, further validating that the Messiah’s power is still at work through His followers. Acts 2, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, demonstrates how Jesus’ ascension does not signal the end of His work, but rather the empowerment of His people to continue His mission with His authority and presence. Through the bold preaching of Peter and Paul, we see the Messiah revealed in the proclamation that Jesus, though rejected and crucified, is the very Saviour Israel longed for, the one who brings forgiveness, restoration, and the promise of the Holy Spirit to all who believe. The book of Acts points to Jesus as the Saviour who, through His death and resurrection, is establishing His Kingdom, not just for Israel, but for every nation, every tongue, and every heart. It is a call to continue the mission of making Jesus known as the Messiah who offers salvation, transformation, and eternal life to all who trust in Him.

• Prophecy/Connection: Peter declares that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost fulfills the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, which foretells a time when God’s Spirit will be poured out on all people, and signs and wonders will accompany the coming of the Lord. This passage also connects to the messianic age that would be inaugurated by the Messiah.
• Cultural/Historical Insight:

• • Joel’s prophecy is rooted in the expectation of the coming of the “Day of the Lord,” a time of divine intervention in human history, bringing judgment and salvation. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit signifies the beginning of the messianic age, where God’s presence would be available to all, not just the Jewish people.
  • The Messiah was often associated with the arrival of the Spirit, as seen in prophecies like Isaiah 11:2, where the Messiah is endowed with the Spirit of God.

• Jewish Commentary:

• • In Jewish thought, the coming of the Spirit is linked to the Messiah’s arrival. Midrash on Joel sees the pouring out of the Spirit as a sign of the coming messianic kingdom, which would bring transformation to Israel and the nations.
  • The Talmud (Berakhot 5b) expects the Messiah to usher in an era of divine revelation and empowerment, which is in line with Peter’s claim that the Spirit has now been poured out in fulfillment of prophecy.

• Early Church History:

• • Early Christian writers, like Irenaeus and Tertullian, viewed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as a confirmation of Jesus’ messianic role, marking the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies and the beginning of the new age in Christ.

• Prophecy/Connection: Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 110:1 to show that Jesus’ resurrection fulfills the messianic prophecies regarding the Messiah’s triumph over death and His exaltation to the right hand of God.

• • Psalm 16 is a psalm of David, where the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s protection from death. Peter applies this to Jesus, claiming that David was speaking prophetically about the resurrection of the Messiah.
  • Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm that speaks of the Messiah being seated at God’s right hand, a position of honor and authority. Jesus’ ascension fulfills this prophecy, confirming His messianic kingship.

• Cultural/Historical Insight:

• • In Jewish tradition, Psalm 110 is seen as a royal psalm that speaks of the Messiah’s exaltation and His rule over Israel and the nations. The idea of being seated at God’s right hand was associated with divine power and authority, which Jesus claims for Himself through His ascension.
  • The resurrection of Jesus, which Peter highlights in his sermon, demonstrates that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to David. The Messiah would be raised to life and given eternal dominion, as seen in Isaiah 9:6-7 and Daniel 7:13-14.

• Jewish Commentary:

• • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) interprets Psalm 110 messianically, expecting the Messiah to be both a descendant of David and a figure of divine authority.
  • Midrash Tehillim (on Psalm 16) also associates the psalm with the Messiah, particularly the verse that speaks of God not allowing the Messiah’s soul to experience decay, which Peter applies to Jesus’ resurrection.

• Early Church History:

• • Early Christian writers such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian affirmed that Jesus’ resurrection and ascension were the fulfillment of these psalms, underscoring His divine kingship and eternal reign as the Messiah.

• Prophecy/Connection: Peter references Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses promises that God will raise up a prophet like him from among the people of Israel. Peter applies this prophecy to Jesus, affirming that Jesus is the fulfillment of the “Prophet” promised by Moses.

• • Jesus is not only the Messiah, but He is also the Prophet who brings God’s word and leads Israel in the ways of righteousness, just as Moses did.

• Cultural/Historical Insight:

• • The “prophet like Moses” was a key messianic expectation in Jewish thought. Deuteronomy 18:15 had been interpreted by many Jews as referring to the coming of a great prophet who would lead Israel in the last days, similar to how Moses delivered the Law and led Israel out of Egypt.
  • The Messiah was often expected to be a prophetic figure who would restore Israel to faithfulness and righteousness.

• Jewish Commentary:

• • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) speaks of the coming of a prophet in the messianic age, who would speak on behalf of God and guide the people of Israel. Some rabbinic literature even links the “Prophet” to the Messiah, furthering the idea that Jesus fulfilled this role.
  • Midrash on Deuteronomy suggests that the Prophet like Moses would be a teacher and deliverer who would restore Israel’s relationship with God.

• Early Church History:

• • Early Christian thinkers such as Origen and Irenaeus applied Deuteronomy 18:15 to Jesus, asserting that He fulfilled both the role of Prophet and Messiah, bringing God’s new revelation to Israel and the world.

• Prophecy/Connection: Peter declares that Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders, but has become the cornerstone, fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16.

• • Psalm 118 is a messianic psalm that describes the rejection of the Messiah by the leaders of Israel, yet God exalts Him as the cornerstone of the new temple, a symbol of the establishment of God’s kingdom.
  • Isaiah 28 also speaks of the Messiah as the cornerstone, the foundation upon which God’s kingdom will be built.

• Cultural/Historical Insight:

• • In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the foundational stone upon which the entire building relied. By applying this to Jesus, Peter is emphasizing that Jesus is the foundational stone of God’s new kingdom, which He established through His life, death, and resurrection.
  • The Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus is a central theme in the Gospels and the early church’s preaching, symbolizing the failure of Israel’s religious leaders to recognize the fulfillment of their messianic hopes.

• Jewish Commentary:

• • Midrash on Psalm 118 reflects on the rejection of the righteous one, who is later exalted, a theme also associated with the coming Messiah.
  • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) discusses the rejection of the Messiah by Israel’s leaders, but also affirms that the Messiah will be the one who is ultimately exalted and who brings salvation.

• Early Church History:

• • Church fathers like Augustine and Irenaeus emphasized that Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation as the cornerstone fulfill the Old Testament prophecies, underscoring the church as the new temple built on the foundation of Christ.

• Prophecy/Connection: Paul affirms that Jesus’ resurrection fulfills God’s promise to David that He would raise up a descendant to sit on the throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise, confirming His messianic identity.
• Cultural/Historical Insight:

• • The Davidic Covenant was central to Jewish messianic hopes. The Messiah was expected to be a descendant of David who would reign forever.
  • Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of God validate His kingship and demonstrate that He is the fulfillment of God’s promises to David.

• Jewish Commentary:

• • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) and rabbinic literature emphasize the messianic role of the descendant of David, who would restore Israel and bring peace to the world. Paul’s message in Acts directly connects Jesus’ resurrection to this Davidic promise.

• Early Church History:

• • Early Christian writers, like Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, reinforced the idea that Jesus’ resurrection fulfilled the Davidic promises and confirmed Him as the eternal King of Israel and the Saviour of the world.

The book of Acts is a powerful reminder that the mission of Jesus didn’t end with His ascension; it was only just beginning. Through the Holy Spirit, the apostles were emboldened to boldly proclaim Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises, the Messiah who brings salvation to all people. What stands out in Acts is not just the miracles or the explosive growth of the church, but the unshakable conviction that Jesus is the cornerstone of God’s kingdom—a kingdom built on His life, death, and resurrection. As followers of Jesus today, we can be inspired by the early church’s example of living out the truth of the gospel with boldness and grace. The message of Acts calls us to recognize Jesus as the Messiah who empowers us, through His Spirit, to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. It challenges us to continue the mission of proclaiming the transformative power of Jesus, sharing His hope, and inviting others into the Kingdom He established. Let us be mindful of our role in this divine plan and live in the power of the Holy Spirit, joyfully declaring the Messiah who offers eternal life to all who believe.