Acts 2:34-36 – “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
When you look at Peter’s message you have to keep in mind Peter is speaking about a real Jewish man from Nazareth in Galilee that he knew very well. He had spent three years traveling and working with Jesus. For Peter to declare that this man was Lord and Christ was shocking. To the Jew this was either absolutely true or it would be blasphemy, a crime deserving of death. This sermon was the beginning of the preaching ministry of the Apostle Peter. His message consisted of the life, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus. For Jesus to be seated at the right hand of the Father insured Peter’s words were true, He is the Lord and Messiah. Here is how the New Covenant Commentary Series describes these verses.
“Now Peter’s witness had taken Pentecost attendants to the most significant point of their faith. The time had come for them to not only keep their eyes on the Scriptures but also on Jesus, made Kyrios (Lord) and Christos (Christ), risen and glorified for the salvation of whoever calls upon his name. The climax of Peter’s speech is reached when he ascribes the two christological titles of Kyrios and Christos to Jesus. In the context of Peter’s speech, the title Kyrios “shows in particular Jesus’ lordship over salvation and the distribution of salvation’s benefits,” while Christos is “the figure of deliverance.”
Something from the NCCS stands out to me, it says that Jesus is Lord of salvation and salvation’s benefits and as the Christ He is the One who brings deliverance. This is absolutely true today, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Lord that draws us out of sin, washes us from our sins, and comes into our lives to complete our salvation. He is also the deliverer. He delivers us from the chains and addictions of sin. So Peter was making a great declaration for all time in that great Pentecostal message, all that call upon the Lord will be saved and delivered.
