“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:22-24)
As the apostle Peter Delivered his first sermon on that great day of Pentecost he revealed to the Jews present Some truths previously unknown to them. These truths concerned Jesus, who He was and is and what He has done. This very Jesus the Jews had crucified was actually the Messiah that Almighty God had promised to send to redeem His chosen ones. Not only was He the Messiah, however, He was someone far greater than any prophet or King who ever lived, greater than any human being ever! He is Lord God Himself. He had proven this not only by His words and teachings and the mighty miracles He had performed: He proved who He was by rising from the dead, something that had never occurred in the history of man. Death could not hold Jesus for He is life itself.
Peter presented his case by using the Scriptures to reveal the gospel to his listeners. The very scriptures they had heard countless times with limited understanding, now, in the light of Christ, took on a whole new meaning. The reason for this was the power, presence, wisdom and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who was visibly manifesting Himself through the disciples as they spoke in foreign tongues. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them the words and insights to share. The Holy Spirit still speaks today through the disciples of Jesus and through they church. He still reveals the truth of salvation in Jesus alone to all mankind to the praise and glory of God the Father Almighty.