“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

How did this come about? Was it due to the man preaching, or the people praying, or the way Peter gave an invitation?

1. We know that God has ordained the preaching of the Gospel for the converting of souls. Here was the first public preaching of the Gospel after our LORD was taken up into glory. With the crucifixion just 50 days previous, it was not a popular time to stand in public and declare Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ of God, the only hope for righteousness and forgiveness. Yet, this is the Word that God has ordained for the converting of souls to the LORD Jesus. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Cor. 1:21)

2. We know that it is not the rhetoric of preaching, but the GOSPEL proclaimed, “Now when they heard this...” (v. 37)It was not the mighty rushing wind, nor the speaking in tongues that converted them. These only brought questions and confusion in men’s minds, vv. 12, 13. It was the ordinary voice of a man, declaring the Truth of God concerning His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ and Him crucified, vv. 23-36. Peter gave his hearers a simple, Scriptural message, Whose every passage reveals the LORD Jesus Christ Himself by Whom sinners were justified by God at the cross. Paul declared, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)