A Second Chance for the Jury

July 12, 2025 | Read and Think About Acts 2:33-41

The last passage of Module 6 involves the same people featured in the first passage of the module.  They are the people.  The crowd.  The worshippers at the Feast who came to Jerusalem from near and far. 

On his entry to the city, they greeted Jesus like the King that He is.  Days later, they gathered for a public farce of a trial in Pilate’s court.  They voted to release Barabbas.  About Jesus, they yelled “Crucify Him!” His blood was on their hands.

Now on Pentecost, thousands of them had gathered when they observed amazing signs of a miracle, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. 

And in this moment, as Luke records in verse 37, they were convinced by Peter’s words, when he said to them: 

“God has made him both Lord and Christ (Messiah), this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Whoa!  They were not only convinced, but also cut to the heart.  Convicted. 

How many times has a person or a group done something deserving of horrible consequences, yet received a 100%, unconditional, loving and grace-filled second chance?  An opportunity to have their sins, and their lives, redeemed. These folks received this second chance, and many of them took it. 

And so have we.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.