My previous devotion was about our foreknowledge, what we know in advance because God has given us His Word. I want to look at a little more of Peter’s Pentecost sermon with you today and talk about a couple of other significant words in this passage.

Acts 2:14a,22-32 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: …  22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “`I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

A key word near this end of this passage is “MARTUS,” witnesses, from which we get the English word “martyr.” Peter speaks of how they were witnesses to all that they were saying. Eyewitnesses are important in proving a case. They are the most credible kind of evidence there is. And it was a Biblical standard that two witnesses verify the truth of a matter.

• Deuteronomy 17:6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Matthew 18:16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
• 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

Witnesses are credible because they have firsthand knowledge of something. If more than one person says it, you can count on it. You and I are witnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Can you say that you are a witness in the same sense that Peter does in this passage? Simply put, No. Peter and the disciples were primary, first hand, eyewitnesses. They watched Jesus die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. They saw Him buried. They also saw Him victoriously risen from the dead. I guess you would have to say that we are secondary witnesses, relying on the testimony of those who were eyewitness. But we are nonetheless witnesses to the truth.

After His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to the disciples without Thomas, do you remember what he said? Thomas said He would not believe unless he saw it for himself, and what did Jesus reply? Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29) He was speaking about us, those who are removed by time and space from being eyewitnesses. Yet we have believed, we are blessed, and we are now to be witnesses. While our witness is not the same as that of the eyewitnesses, we do know what has happened. You and I know that Jesus was put to death for our transgressions and raised again for our justification. His death was for us, His resurrection was for us. We know that. So we are witnesses.

Another term of significance in this passage is the one translated as “tell confidently.” This was a word had different meanings depending on the context in which it was used. In the Political world, this term was used to refer to “free speech” in a democracy. In the Private sector, it also meant to speak freely, but it sometimes had a negative connotation as in being impudent. In the book of Acts it is used in the sense of bold, open, public speaking, or “candor.” (4:13; 9:27-28; 14:3) On that first Christian Pentecost, enlightened and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, the disciples were telling confidently what they had witnessed.

You and I are witnesses who know what will happen. We should feel the same urge and urgency to let other people know what we know. You and I can speak of this confidently, based on the fact that we are speaking God’s Word and His promise, not our own. The same Spirit that enabled the disciples to speak on that first Christian Pentecost will empower us to be His witnesses, too. We can speak the truth just as confidently as the first disciples did.

May God enable all of us to confidently tell others this Good News of our Savior.