Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” (Acts 2:40)
The message of Peter the Preacher moves from “here’s the reason behind all you are hearing and seeing” to “there is sin all around you; find THE place where you will be safe—and I will tell you that safety only comes from Yahweh!” Interestingly, he has been telling them about the work of God in the midst of their group. Now, he keeps the emphasis on the deliberate and intentional activity of the individual ones who are hearing the message.
Peter continues to tell them they must do something. He doesn’t just tell them once what they must do. But apparently he repeated that directive over and over. He preached for a long time.
Another description of his preaching is that he was “strongly urging his listeners”. It sounds like this was not a kind of “you might want to think about this as a plan of action; not sure if you’ll agree with me or want to do something different, but think about it.” No, he was “strongly urging” them. He was making his point with force. And why not? It seems he certainly had their undivided attention with the signs and wonders happening around him. The Holy Spirit had set him up for preaching success, and he took full advantage of the opportunity.
He was not afraid to call out the sin that was prevalent around them. He knew its dangers and affects (and remember, he had sinned—and regretted it deeply—in his three-time denial of his Master). But more than just on a personal level, he was aware of what sin does to a group of God’s people.
He knew that his audience was living in the midst of a “crooked generation.” This fiery indictment was nothing new. Jesus referred to a “wicked and adulterous generation” (Matthew 16:4), and a “faithless and perverse generation” (Luke 9:41). The generation word indicates both a time in history, and people born during that time. It’s fair to say that this crookedness was everywhere, operating on multiple levels. Interestingly, fire, which is often metaphorically in Scripture a purifying tool of the Holy Spirit, had been visibly in their midst. Peter was confronting sin, and not backing down. He knew that the holy living, brought by the purifying Holy Spirit, would be met with resistance by the crooked generation. Even so, he plainly told them: save yourselves. Be rescued. Run to safety. There is only one means of escape. The One who has your complete attention at this particular time is the One who is able to deliver you.
The heart and head of the preacher, fully aware of the context into which he was speaking and in which his listeners lived, delivered a penetrating sermon that saw an enormous response. The message, and the invitation, were clear: Salvation is available; take hold of it! Turn to the Resurrected Messiah!
“Father, grant us the grace to save ourselves from this crooked generation by turning and running to you!”
Freddy Boswell 