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Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapour of smoke:

Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and
notable day of the Lord come:

All these signs and wonders listed in verses 19 and 20 occur after the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit in Acts 2. In Joel 2, these occurrences precede the second advent of the Lord
(Matthew 24:29-30); the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will occur “afterward” (Joel 2:28).

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.

Peter uses the last verse of Joel 2 to begin his sermon on salvation from the day of wrath
coming on the earth. The Jews listening to the sermon will not face that day but will face
the great white throne judgment of the Lord Jesus.

Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves
also know:
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth (humanity), a man (double emphasis
on His humanity) approved of God among you by (dia: through) miracles and wonders
and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Peter begins his sermon to the Jew first (Isaiah 28:11; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16). As deity,
Jesus did not have to be approved among men, but as humanity He did. Miracles, signs,
and wonders are God’s stamp of approval on a ministry (Hebrews 2:3-4). Peter tells these
men of the signs and wonders Jesus did, but he also reminds them that they already have
knowledge of these things.

Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel (fixed purpose) and foreknowledge
(prognosis) of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Jesus’primary purpose in coming to earth was not to heal or perform signs and wonders.
He came into the earth to die (Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 13:8). This was the determined,
fixed will of God from eternity past. Peter informs the Jews that it was not the Romans
who crucified Jesus, but them, the religious Jews.

Religion has and always will be the greatest hindrance to the gospel and the greatest
persecutor of the church and the believer.