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ACTS 2:24

"THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL"

Intro: A crowd assembled to observe strange phenomena  Peter took advantage of the  crowd to
       preach. Jesus is the gospel.

I. "JESUS OF NAZARETH."
        A. This was to identify the subject to the crowd.
                1. Many Jewish boys called Jesus.
                        a. Beautiful name from Hebrew, Joshua. 
                        b. A name that means Jehovah is salvation.
        B. The name was used commonly of Him.
                1. Philip to Nathaneal.
                2. Demon cried out, "We know who you are..."
                3. Who seek ye? Jesus of Nazareth.
                4. Inscription on cross.
        C. The fact of His person asserted.

II. "A MAN APPROVED OF GOD AMONG YOU BY MIRACLES AND WONDERS AND  SIGNS."
        A. More literally, "A man proved to be of God."

                1. Jesus had called to His works as His proof.

                        a. Disciples of John.
 b. In response to Philip's plea, "Show us the Father."

        B. Three things--miracles, wonders, signs.

                1. The miracles were demonstrations of supernatural powers.
 2. They created wonder in the minds of men.
 3. They constituted signs unto them.

Ill. "YE HAVE TAKEN BY WlCKED HANDS AND HAVE CRUCIFIED AND SLAIN."
        A. That's looking at His death from the human side.
                1. A horrible most heinous crime.
                2. A cruel murder, blind folly.
        B. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
                God."
                1. This is the true perspective of His death. 
                        a. "God so loved the world that He gave..."
                        b. "And God made Him to be sin for us..." 
                        c. "And the Lord Faith laid on Him..."
        C. The death of Christ no accident of history.