Peter Finds His Voice
based on Acts 2:14-42
Reading time: about 4’30”

Reader one: Peter was a big man. Big hands. A big booming voice. And a big heart. Peter loved his family, his friends, with a heart that was as big as all outdoors. But Peter had a bad case of “foot-in-mouth” disease. Whenever he tried to say something, it seemed to come out wrong.

Reader two: There was that time on that misty mountain. The fog was so thick, you couldn’t see more than a few feet. And Peter was there with several other disciples, and with Jesus. It was a wild, mystical experience. Weird. Wonderful. Mind boggling.

Reader one: Jesus was walking around in the mist. His cloak was so white it faded into the fog. He was talking, or praying – Peter couldn’t tell what exactly. And then Peter saw – yes he was sure he saw them – two other figures. Elijah and Moses. It had to be Elijah and Moses. And so Peter blurted out the first thing that came into his head.

Reader two: “Jesus, should we build three little huts here, so you and the others have a place to stay?”

Reader one: It was a stupid thing to say. Peter knew that as soon as he said it. But then he couldn’t think of anything else to say to make it right. Peter had a bad case of “foot-in-mouth” disease. And he knew it.

Reader two: But it all changed that Pentecost day. The friends of Jesus had gathered – a pitiful little group – kind of a memorial society for Jesus. But then everything got turned on its head, because something blew through that little crowd. They started talking in strange languages, and yet everyone understood. And the atmosphere was so charged with power and delight, it felt as if tongues of fire were dancing among them. No one felt the passion, the power of that moment – no one felt it more than Peter

Reader one: Then the crowds gathered. What’s going on here? Are you all drunk, or something? Peter, with his heart full of passion and his eyes streaming with joy, spoke up in his booming voice.

Reader two: No! No! My friends, listen to me. How can we be drunk? It’s not even nine o’clock in the morning.

Reader one: And before he knew what was happening, big tongue-tied Peter was making a speech.

Reader two: This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know – this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. This Jesus, God raised up, and of that, all of us are witnesses.
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from God the promise of the Holy Spirit, which has poured out this that you both see and hear. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.

Reader one: Well then, what shall we do?

Reader two: Repent! Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls.

Reader one: Peter’s head was swimming.

Reader two: Did I just do that? Did I just stand up in front of all these people and make a speech?

Reader one: That’s exactly what he had done. Peter, the flat-footed fisherman, had found his voice. Peter became the leader of the tiny Jerusalem community of Christians, and their most out-spoken preacher. He traveled up and down Israel, to Rome and other parts of the Mediterranean community.

Reader two: Maybe that’s why Jesus gave Peter a new name. From Simon the fisherman, to Peter, the rock.

NOTE: The above is written in the style of “Reader’s Theatre,” a very simple but effective way of presenting the biblical story that can be done in any church, large or small. For more information about how to do Reader’s Theatre, click on this link.

Note: You have permission to use this in any worship service. No credit line is required, though it would be nice if you put in something like, “A Readers’ Theatre presentation of the Story-Lectionary.com project.”

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