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Peter's sermon is something strikingly fresh in the history of preaching. Moses, Joshua, the prophets, the Baptist, Christ had preached, but this preaching was in many respects a new thing in the earth.

1. The occasion was new — the spiritual excitement of the disciples, produced by Divine influence and leading to strange thoughts.

2. The substance was new. It was not a prophetic or a present, but an historic Christ who had risen from the grave to the throne of the universe. No one had ever preached Christ in this form before.

3. The impression of the sermon was new. In analysing the discourse we find —

I. A STATEMENT FOR REFUTING THE CHARGE OF THE SCOFFER.

1. The negative part includes three distinguishable points.

(1) A categorical denial: "These men are not drunken." It is a libel.

(2) An intimation of the groundless-ness of the charge: "As ye suppose." It was a mere empty assumption.

(3) A suggestion of high improbability: "Seeing it is but the third hour."

2. The positive part asserts that the phenomenon was the effect of Divine inspiration: "It shall come to pass," etc. The days of the Messiah are "the last days"; no other dispensation of mercy will succeed them. The passage teaches that these last days —

(1) Would be connected with an extraordinary effusion of the Spirit, not limited —

(a)  To any class.

(b)  To any sex.

(c)  To any age.

(2) Would be connected with prodigious revolutions. The words "I will show wonders," etc., may probably be regarded as a highly poetic representation of what would follow, in government and churches, the working out of Divine ideas and spiritual influences (Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 34:4).

(3) Would be succeeded by a notable day — probably the destruction of Jerusalem as a type of the Judgment.

(4) Would be connected with a possibility of salvation to all who seek it.

II. AN ARGUMENT FOR CONVICTING THE HEARTS OF THE HARDENED — an argument resolving itself into four facts.

1. That Jesus had wrought miracles among them while living.

2. That His crucifixion was only the working out of the Divine plan. So great is God that He can make His greatest enemies serve Him.

3. That His resurrection, which they could not deny, was a fact which accorded with their Scriptures. In this quotation from the Psalms Peter —

(1) Assumes that the document which he quotes will be admitted by them as of Divine authority.

(2) Takes for granted that the document refers to the resurrection of some one of distinguished excellence.

(3) Reasons that the resurrection of the distinguished one predicted could not be David.

(4) Concludes that the resurrection predicted must have referred to Christ.

III. AN EXHORTATION TO THE AWAKENED. Peter directs them —

1. To the only blessings that could meet their case: Divine pardon and Divine influence.

2. To the course of conduct essential to the attainment of those blessings.

3. To the precious promise of heaven to encourage them in the course of conduct required.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

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KJV: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

WEB: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.