New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[NKJV at Thomas Nelson] [Thomas Nelson, Inc.]
Acts 2:14-21 (New King James Version)

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’[a]

Peter, true to his own exhortation to be ready in season and out to give an answer for the faith that is in you uses this perfect opportunity to stand up and proclaim the truth. Peter was ready to do what needed to be done at the time. This is a great example for me. I can't afford to not be right with God or not be in a place where I am not ready to speak for God. I never know when that opportunity will come. I need to be ready. Peter wasn't perfect, he certainly had failed his Lord not long before this by denying him, but the point is he got it right with the Lord and now had confidence to seize the opportunity and boldly speak for God. Usually when I am timid to speak for God it is because I am not right with Him. I need to stay right with Him so I am ready for the opportunities.