When Peter Preached About the Crucifixion of Jesus

July 9, 2025 | Read and Think About Acts 2:1-4 and 2:22-23

Acts chapter 2 is a pivotal moment in the Bible. This is when Peter, with the help of the Holy Spirit, explained  the crucifixion to thousands of people (2:22-23).

First, he says Jesus proved his divinity through the miracles and signs He performed.  These were witnessed by multitudes, including some who were there listening to Peter that day.  In spite of this, Peter explains, Jesus was handed over to the will of the people, and they chose that He should be crucified instead of Pilate releasing Him. 

What a shift that was. On entering Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to them as a powerful king, ready to lead victoriously as some of their ancestors had.  By the time they witnessed the trial before Pontius Pilate, however, everything had changed. 

In the minds of the crowd, Jesus’ power on entering the city days before seemed like an illusion.  Now powerless, at least by all appearances, they were displeased because their expectations of Jesus were not met.

Isn’t it a paradox that the power Pilate appeared to have was the real illusion here.

Importantly to the context of Acts chapter 2, the crowd who had attended the Passover and yelled, “Release Barabbas, Crucify Jesus!” also came 7 weeks later for the next feast, Pentecost.  Peter is speaking to the same group of people, when he told them: 

The crucifixion happened by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.

I went back and read that last phrase to myself a few times.  The implications of this truth are astounding.  The weight of this reaches all the way back to when sin first occurred in the Garden of Eden, and extends farther than eye can see into eternity. 

With extreme gratitude on our parts, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are the bridge He made, so we could have the possibility of going to Heaven.