Is Acts 2 the birth of the Church?
No. Acts 2 is not the birth of the Church, the Body of Christ. The setting is a Jewish feast day with a Jewish crowd and speaker, and Peter addresses 'ye men of Israel,' excluding Gentiles. The language does not fit Church doctrines.
Les explains that although 90-95% of Christendom views Acts 2 as the birth of the Church, the Body of Christ, he was always uncomfortable with that because so much language does not correlate with Church doctrines. He notes the setting is a Jewish holiday, a Jewish crowd, and a Jewish speaker. Peter addresses 'ye men of Israel,' which does not include Gentiles. These were Jews at a Jewish feast day in the temple area, not a Gentile meeting. Therefore he challenges the traditional teaching that this is the beginning of the Gentile Body of Christ.