Acts 2:14-15 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who inhabit Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
Like in 1:15, Peter once again stands up to address a question that had developed. The next episode of the events on the day of Pentecost addresses the confusion of the crowd about how the disciples were speaking in the dialects of Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from the many places listed in verses 9-11. A significant transformation had taken place in Peter’s life from the night when he disowned Jesus. Chronologically, it can be accounted for when Peter met the resurrected Jesus after fishing in John 21. Spiritually, a change to place in Peter with the coming of the Holy Spirit. He was still the outgoing person who was quick to respond to situations. These qualities, when sanctified by the Holy Spirit, made him a good leader. He was now filled with the power of the Holy Spirit who gave him courage to address the large crowd that had gathered. It was an anointed moment with curious people and disciples who had prayed through and were filled with the power and presence of God’s Spirit.
Peter stood up to address the crowd, meaning he took the initiative as the representative of the group of apostles to answer the question of the crowd. By this point in Acts, it is clear that Peter was the leader, though the other apostles were involved in the standing and proclamation of the good news about Jesus. The word used for addressed (apephthegchato) has the sense of making a loud or strong speech. It is the same word used in 2:4 for how the Spirit empowered the disciples to speak in tongues. Peter continues the speaking in the power of the Spirit, which leads to testifying about Jesus, which is the purpose of all Spirit-empowered gifts.
Peter addressed the crowd probably using Aramaic, the common language of Jerusalem. There is no mention in these verses of any miraculous speaking in “tongues.” The speech is clear and would have been understood by all. Men of Judea would be another way to say “Jews,” those who lived in the surrounding area who had come to the feast. The inhabitants of Jerusalem would have been the hosts of the great festivities. Peter defends the behavior of the disciples by denying that they were drunk. The third hour was 9 a.m., which was too early for someone to drink enough wine to be drunk. It was also the time when Jews would have or should have been in prayer. Other speeches in Acts correct the wrong interpretation of situations (3:12; 14:15). Unbelievers often try to explain the movement of God’s Spirit through human intellect. The power of God is beyond human understanding or explanation. The grace of God was at work in this crowd, many of whom would have been sincere seekers of God.
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