What is so significant/ important about this sermon? What is at stake here and at every point in this sermon is God. The miracles of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, the exaltation of Jesus, the privilege of Jesus to baptize his church in the Holy Spirit, all these are endorsements from God almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Is this what you confess? Is this what you believe?

Peter's argument for his sermon is established in 2:21, "Whoever calls on the name of the LORD (Yahweh) will be saved." This Lord that we should worship and call upon is Jesus Christ. He is the living Lord. He reigns. He is both Saviour and Lord and therefore we should by all means call upon Him. This is certain. It is fact.

• The Life of Jesus - vs 22
• The Death of Jesus – v23
• The Resurrection of Jesus – v.24-32
• The Exaltation of Jesus – v.33-35

The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Church.  If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Christ is not divine but a man.  If Christ did not rise from the dead, then His teachings, which pointed to the coming resurrection, were lies.  If Christ did not rise from the dead, we are still in our sins and are without hope (1 Corinthians 15:17).  If Christ did not rise from the dead, we have no real hope (1 Corinthians 15:19).  If Christ did not rise from the dead, then the cross was His, and our, ultimate defeat.  If Christ did not rise from the dead, we have no basis for real and abiding joy.

The central message of the early Church must be the central message of the modern Church:  the crucified Christ is the living Christ.  He has risen in confirmation of all that He said about Himself and the Father.  This means that what modern man most needs to hear is that Christ is alive.  As a result, modern man must come to terms with Jesus in His totality:  all that He said and all that He did.

Discussion Questions

1. Why are the miracles, signs and wonders Jesus did, so important in validating his life?
2. Is the sacrifice of Jesus, the only one that will give us peace with God? Why? 
3. How do we know, Jesus is both Lord and Christ? 
4. Can a person accept Jesus as Saviour without accepting Him as Lord?