The women also spoke for God. Acts 2: The sons and daughters prophesied. Peter and 119 other men ... and women spoke God's words, opening the door of salvation with the keys of the kingdom.
On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the cross, 120 disciples of Jesus were dramatically filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter was no longer the coward who denied Jesus. He stood up fearlessly and spoke words of power to the crowd. These words of power and life were the key to the kingdom. They opened the door of salvation to 2000 listeners that day.
The prophetic words of Jesus were fulfilled.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV
When God gives words of grace and truth, they are words of life for anyone and everyone who will receive them.
But was it only Peter who spoke God's life-giving words that day?
There were 120 disciples who spoke words from God to the crowds that day. They spoke in languages they had never learnt, and the listeners from many nations understood God's message in their own languages.
Who were these 120 disciples? Were they only men who had been ordained to preach?
Peter clearly rejects this idea.
“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, … Acts 2:17 NIV
So did the women also proclaim the gospel in a public meeting?
In chapter 1 of Acts we have a clear confirmation of Peter's revolutionary words, although they were not Peter's words, but the words of the Holy Spirit quoted by the prophet Joel.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:14 NIV
Yes, the women were there too. There were also women among the 120 disciples. The women also spoke to the crowd with the authority of the Holy Spirit.
What do keys do? They lock and unlock doors.
The words of Peter and the other 119 male and female disciples unlocked the door of salvation and locked the door of condemnation for all those who believed and received their message.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV
Locking and unlocking is another way of saying binding and loosening.
Jesus gave his disciples the keys of the kingdom, keys, not just a key.
Keys represent God-given authority.
Words of inspired preaching, teaching, prophesying and witnessing are all keys through which God opens the doors to reach people with His goodness and power.
So who has the authority to bind and loose or to lock and unlock?
Only Peter? Clearly no.
Only the apostles? No.
Only the ordained preachers? No.
Only men? No.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Mt 18:18–20 NIV
Where two or three male or female disciples are together in unity and harmony, their words of faith and believing prayer can bind or loose, can lock or open spiritual doors.
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