Acts 2:14-28
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ p
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ y [1]
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What struck me in today’s passage is the paradox between God’s deliberate planning and foreknowledge on the one hand, and the guilt of those who sin on the other hand.
I’m focusing on verses 23 and 24. Peter points out that Jesus was handed over to the people according to God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge. In other words God was in complete control. But if that’s the case, why should anyone be held guilty for what they do wrong, even when they oppose His plan? After all, they are only doing what God in His deliberate plan and foreknowledge has laid out. But Peter clearly holds the people guilty and calls them to repentance.
There are many paradoxes in Christianity. We shouldn’t be surprised by this because we follow a God who is beyond our comprehension. God is three and one. Jesus is completely God and human.
And so there is a paradox between God’s complete sovereignty and the fact that we are guilty for our sin. God knows all, and all will ultimately be accomplished according to His will, but He carries out His will through the free will choices of each one of us. How can that be? He’s God. Enough said.
So Judas’ betrayal was foreknown and prophesied, yet Judas is 100% guilty for His sin. In the case of our passage, Peter is convicting the people for collaborating in the death of Jesus, even though it was carried out with God’s foreknowledge according to His deliberate plan.
The point is that I am responsible for my choices and I cannot hide behind the sovereignty of God.
But Peter also points out this important truth: The end result of all of these free choices will be God’s victory. Jesus was raised from the dead. And in the same way, God is able to bring good and blessing even out of the boneheaded and evil choices we may make. How can He do that? He’s God. Enough said.
So today my prayer is one of thanks to the God of resurrection, but also a prayer for my own faithfulness, that I may make right choices this day and always, choices that honor God and serve those around me.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Ac 2:14–28). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
