“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:”
My Notes
What Does Acts 2:14 Mean?
"Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice." The man who denied Jesus three times is now standing in front of thousands, publicly identifying with the apostles, and preaching the first Christian sermon. The transformation is complete: the denier has become the proclaimer. The man who couldn't face a servant girl now faces Jerusalem.
The phrase "standing up with the eleven" places Peter as first among equals — not alone but leading. He stands with the community. The eleven stand with him. The sermon is individual in delivery and communal in authority. Peter speaks; the eleven endorse.
The command "hearken to my words" (enotizomai — to give ear, to listen attentively) demands the same focused attention the prophets demanded. Peter speaks with prophetic authority — not as a fisherman giving his opinion but as a Spirit-filled apostle delivering God's message. The voice that denied now proclaims.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What failure in your past feels like it disqualifies you from standing up?
- 2.How does Peter's transformation from denier to preacher encourage you?
- 3.What does 'standing with the eleven' teach about individual courage and communal backing?
- 4.What would 'standing up and lifting your voice' look like for you today?
Devotional
Peter stands up. The same Peter who sat down by a fire and denied knowing Jesus. The same Peter who ran from a servant girl's question. He stands up. In front of thousands. In Jerusalem. And lifts his voice.
The transformation is the sermon before the sermon. Before Peter says a word about Jesus, his standing says everything. This is the man who failed publicly and completely — three denials, each worse than the last, ending with curses and a crowing rooster. And now he's standing in the most public place imaginable, identifying with Jesus openly, speaking with authority.
The resurrection didn't just change Jesus' status. It changed Peter's. The same Peter exists — the same personality, the same tendency toward bold-then-fearful behavior. But something has shifted. The Spirit has arrived (verse 4). And the Spirit transforms the denier into the preacher. Not a different person — a filled person.
Peter stands with the eleven. Not alone — together. The community backs him up. The sermon has communal authority even though one person delivers it. Peter's voice carries the weight of eleven standing witnesses.
If you've failed publicly — if your denial is on record, if your weakness is known — Peter's standing up is your invitation. The failure wasn't the end of your story. The Spirit fills failures. And filled failures preach the most powerful sermons.
Stand up.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
But Peter standing up with the eleven,.... Apostles; their number being now complete, Matthias being chosen in the room…
But Peter - This was in accordance with the natural temperament of Peter. He was bold, forward, ardent; and he rose now…
Peter, standing up with the eleven - They probably spoke by turns, not altogether; but Peter began the discourse.
All ye…
We have here the first-fruits of the Spirit in the sermon which Peter preached immediately, directed, not to those of…
St Peter's Sermon. Refutation of the Mockers
14. But Peter, standing up, &c. The twelve naturally take the leading place…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture