Among the many subjects talked about through God’s word, the one subject we see prominently talked about is the good news of Christ. This good news is what the apostles preached and taught about. This news was the foundation for all of their teachings. But what was this good news? Well, we’re about to find out as we read an important message from the apostle Peter.

Acts 2:14-41 is a speech given by Peter on the day known as the Day of Pentecost. Thousands believed and were baptized on this day, and it was Peter’s message that made them realize what they had done? We are going to read and analyze Peter’s speech to determine what the good news of Christ was and is today. Let us begin.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness  and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ “Fellow Israelites, 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. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 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.

David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand,  I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’  

“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 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. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies  a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

There are 3 main ideas or 3 aspects of the good news of Christ that should be pointed out here. First in v. 24 and 32 Peter says that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is one good news of Christ. Peter makes the comparison to King David. David was a good man, but he died and is buried. However, Jesus died but he is not buried because he resurrected from the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 Paul writes, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have victory over the spiritual death because Christ arose. Christ overcame death and, therefore, we overcome the spiritual death.

The second main idea is found in verse 36 which says “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” How did Peter know he was Lord and Christ? Jesus said it in Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”” Hebrews 1:4 also says He is more superior than the angels. Clearly, another good news of Jesus is that he is Lord and Christ.

The third main idea is found in verse 38. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” We now have forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “God through Christ forgives us”- Eph 4:32. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” We now have eternal also through Christ if we believe and follow Him.

In conclusion, we have 3 main ideas from Peter’s speech. Jesus resurrected, he is both Lord and Christ, and he forgives and gives eternal life to mankind. This is the good news of Jesus Christ and we should always be teaching and proclaiming this news to others.