Acts 2:1-21: Joel 2 and Acts 2

Watch this lesson on YouTube, or listen to it here.     

1)     Intro

A)   Acts 2 outline:

1)     2:1-11 – The arrival of the Holy Spirit.

2)     2:12-13 – “What does this mean?”

3)     2:14-21 (esp. v. 16) – “This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel.”

(a)   Quote from Joel 2:28-32

B)    Peter said that this event is what Joel told us about, SO, in this lesson, we’re going to try to understand what Joel told us about.

2)     Prophets tell the big story of the Bible.

A)   In our last lesson, we talk about God’s intent for his creation (the 3 Ps)

1)     Peace / Rest

2)     Provision (water and food)

3)     Presence of God

4)     But then Adam and Eve sinned. Now, there is no more peace, provision, presence.

B)    The blessings and curses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28) work within this big story. If God’s people will obey him, then they will be blessed, specifically, in the 3 Ps. If not, then they will be curses, also within the 3 Ps.

1)     Examples of blessings in Lev. 26:

(a)   26:3-5 – Provision (NOTE ESPECIALLY for this lesson rain and food.)

(b)   26:6 – Peace

(c)   26:12 – Presence

2)     Examples of curses in Lev. 26:

(a)   26:14-16 – Peace

(b)   26:18-20 – Provision (NOTE ESPECIALLY for this lesson NO rain or food.)

(c)   26:33 – Presence (Captivity = you have to leave.)

C)    Joel is a prophet who came to tell God’s people that they had broken the covenant and God was about to bring these known curses upon them.

3)     There are four big sections in Joel.

A)   Joel 1:1-2:11 – Here come the curses on the land.

1)     1:4 – No food.

2)     1:10 – No food because drought (no rain).

3)     1:11-12 – Drought.

4)     1:16 – No food.

5)     1:17-18 – Drought.

6)     1:19-20 – Drought plus fire.

B)    Joel 2:12-17 – Repent!

1)     This is almost always the main point of the prophets. Their message is a last chance to get right with God before his judgment arrives.

C)   Joel 2:18-27 – If you do repent, then God will restore you.

1)     2:19 – Restoration of food.

2)     2:21-22 – The land can rejoice and the pastures will be green because God will send rain again.

3)     *2:23 – Rain. Especially note the words “poured out.” The curse was that there would not be any food because God would turn the rain off. The restoration is that God would restore the rain and his people would have plenty of food again.

4)     2:24-27 – Restoration of food.

D)   Joel 2:28ff. (vv. 28-32) – Messianic Hope (i.e. “afterward…” – God’s restoration is going to be bigger than you can imagine.)

1)     Take note of “pour” x2.

(a)   God is not just going to pour out rain on a dry world so that food grows,

(b)   He’s going to pour his Spirit out on a spiritually dead world, so his people can LIVE!

2)     Joel 3:1-21 – God will defeat all his enemies

(a)   NOTE Joel 3:18

E)    Other passages where God pours out his Spirit on a dead world.

1)     Is. 44:1-5 (It would be a good idea to also read Is. 43.)

2)     Ezek. 39:25-29 (Followed by a description of the new temple – Life in the presence of God.)

3)     Zech. 12:10-13:1

F)    God will…

1)     Forgive us of our sins (peace).

2)     He will pour out his Spirit on us and give us everything we need to live (provision).

3)     He will restore a connection that was lost in the Garden of Eden (presence).

4)     Now, read Acts 2:1-16.

A)   This is what Joel talked about!

B)    God poured out LIFE on a DEAD and spiritually starving world.

In the next lesson, we will learn about HOW God poured out life on the dead world.