Acts 2:22-24 is the heart of the first mass evangelistic sermon after Jesus’ ascension. Peter was put forward as spokesman by the other apostles to answer the crowd of Jewish worshipers in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, who were amazed by the unusual display of the Spirit of God that enabled the apostles to speak the home languages of all the people groups attending the feast. In the middle of his response, Peter said (v. 22): Men of Israel, listen to these words – and he proceeded to present 3 proofs to his Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah – the divine, anointed one of God.
1st (still v. 22) – God performed miracles through Jesus. God proved what kind of person Jesus was by miracles & wonders & signs.
2nd – after Jesus was nailed to a cross by the plan of God (v. 23), God raised Jesus from the dead (v. 24), proving that Jesus was more powerful than death.
3rd (vv. 33-35) – Jesus ascended into heaven. He is in the exalted position of the right-hand of God – the place reserved for Messiah alone.
The many men of Israel who heard Peter’s message that day came under strong conviction, but did not know what to do (v. 37). Peter’s first word of instruction to them was repent – from a Gk. word meaning to change your mind. These Jews realized that they had been wrong all along about who Jesus was. They needed to change their mind about Him and confess beyond any doubt (as Peter declared to them in v. 36) that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was both Lord and Christ (Messiah).
If you are without God’s salvation through faith in Christ, perhaps you need to repent as these Jews who heard Peter did; you need to change your mind about who Jesus is. You need to confess Him as the Lord God who died in your place for your sins, and rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He is alive today at the right-hand of God; and believe in Jesus the Christ as your only God and Savior from your sin (read Romans 10:9-13).