Acts 2:29-36

Lord and Messiah

Peter needed to explain clearly to those listening exactly who Jesus is, otherwise His actions would have been of no consequence.

Peter went back to the Old Testament, and the promise from God to David that one of his descendants would bring about the eternal kingdom. It is clear that God was not talking to David about himself, nor was He talking about Solomon or other of David's children.

David was promised someone who would inherit the eternal kingdom, and would rise from the dead. Jesus spoke of an eternal kingdom, and there were many witnesses to Him rising from the dead, so it is certain that David was talking about Jesus - the promised Messiah!

The Holy Spirit is further proof

Those there that day had seen the Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples. We read in John that only the one at God's right hand (the Lord, or "Yahweh") can pour out the Spirit. Jesus had promised that He would do this, and here He was now, doing it. Therefore Jesus must be the Lord.

So here it is, proof that Jesus is both Messiah and Lord. What this meant to those listening, and to us today, is that if we belive this testimony and the eyewitness accounts from the Bible we recognise our sin and that we need the Lord and Messiah to save us. So in repentance we give our life to the Lord who deserves our service.