Peter was referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the very thing Joel had prophesied in Joel 2:28-29.
Les Feldick explains that the 'this' is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming down in a role completely different from before, and the 'that' is Joel's prophecy. Peter quotes Joel word for word, showing that the events the crowd had experienced in their lifetime — Jesus' ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Spirit's outpouring — were what Joel had spoken of. Peter then continued through the prophetic program because, unlike Jesus in Luke 4, he did not know where to stop.
Acts 2:16 — This is the exact verse where Peter says 'this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.'
Joel 2:28-29 — The prophecy Peter quotes to explain what 'this is that' refers to.
Acts 2 records that when the day of Pentecost was fully come, the disciples were all with one accord in one place, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues. When the crowd accused them of being drunk, Peter answered, 'For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day' (Acts 2:15). Then he said, 'But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel' (Acts 2:16). Peter then quoted Joel: 'And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.' Scripture itself therefore shows Peter identifying the Pentecost phenomenon with the words Joel had recorded.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter's phrase 'this is that' points directly to Joel's prophecy. The 'this' is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming down at Pentecost in a role completely different from anything before — not a new person, but a new empowering role. The 'that' is Joel 2:28-29, which Peter quotes word for word. Les also places the statement in the larger prophetic program. Peter told the crowd that everything they had witnessed in their lifetime — Christ's ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and God's outpouring of the Spirit — was what Joel was talking about, all coming according to prophecy. Peter understood that the next thing on the agenda would be the tribulation, then the return of Israel's king and the kingdom. But Israel rejected the prophetic program. Les emphasizes that Peter lacked the insight Jesus had. Where Jesus in Luke 4 knew exactly where to stop reading Isaiah, Peter went straight through the Joel passage because he did not know that the program would be interrupted and had no idea of a church age. Pentecost, Les notes, was a Jewish feast day, and all prophecy is directed primarily to the nation of Israel. Peter addressed a huge crowd of Jews from the Roman Empire in the temple complex.
Les teaches that the 'this' Peter refers to is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming down in a role completely different from any role he had played before. It also includes the whole chain of events the crowd had experienced in their lifetime: Christ's ministry, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In other words, 'this' is what the people were seeing and experiencing, not just a single isolated sign.
The 'that' points back to the prophecies of Joel. Les shows that Peter quotes Joel's words word for word, beginning with 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh.' Joel wrote about a future day, and Peter says these things have happened at Pentecost.
Les says Peter did not have the omnipotent insight that Christ had. Jesus knew where to stop when he read Isaiah in Luke 4, but Peter did not. Peter did not know that the program would be interrupted, so he went right on through the Joel passage. He also had no idea that a church age would come between Pentecost and the completion of the prophetic program. Peter preached as if the next events would be the tribulation, the return of Israel's king, and the kingdom.
Les teaches that all prophecy is directed primarily to the nation of Israel. Pentecost was one of the Jewish feast days, and Peter spoke to a huge crowd of Jews gathered from all over the Roman Empire in the temple complex. Peter was continuing the claim that Christ came to Israel to fulfill Old Testament promises and covenants, even after His crucifixion and resurrection. Les adds, however, that Israel rejected the prophetic program, which is why it did not continue immediately to the kingdom.
Israel rejected the prophetic program
Les explains that the twelve understood the prophetic program was about to be fulfilled, but Israel did not buy it — which is why the kingdom did not yet come.
'This' equals the events of their lifetime
Les says Peter told the crowd that what they saw in their lifetime — his ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's outpouring — was what Joel was talking about.
Peter quotes Joel word for word
Les shows that Peter answers the drunkenness charge by pointing back to the prophecies of Joel, and the events of Pentecost had indeed happened as Joel said.
Spirit's new empowering role
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit's coming down to empower was totally new, and Peter identifies it with Joel's prophecy, which is directed to Israel.
Peter had no church-age knowledge
Les stresses that Peter did not know to stop quoting prophecy because he had no idea the church age would interrupt the prophetic program.
Pentecost and the Jewish crowd
Les sets the scene: Peter addressed a huge crowd of Jews from the Roman Empire at Pentecost, continuing the claim that Christ came to fulfill Old Testament promises to Israel.
'This' is the Spirit's new manifestation
Les analyzes the grammar: the 'this' is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming down in a role completely different than he had ever played before, and the 'that' is Joel.
Pentecost in the temple complex
Les reminds readers that Peter spoke on Pentecost to a great mob of Jews in the temple complex, which frames why the prophecy is Israel-directed.
Acts 2:1: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
This sets the occasion for Peter's 'this is that' statement.
Acts 2:15: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Peter's rebuttal immediately before he says 'this is that.'
Acts 2:16: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
The exact verse being asked about.
Joel 2:28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
The prophecy Peter quotes to explain what this is that refers to.
Joel 2:29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Continuation of the Joel passage Peter quotes in Acts 2.
In Les Feldick's teaching, 'this' is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit coming down at Pentecost in a role completely different from before, while 'that' is the prophecy of Joel that Peter then quotes word for word.
Yes. Les points out that Peter quotes Joel word for word and then says these things have happened at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit's new empowering manifestation was what Joel had promised would come in the last days.
Les says Peter did not have Christ's omnipotent insight. Jesus knew where to stop in Luke 4, but Peter did not know the prophetic program would be interrupted, and he had no knowledge of the church age.
Les teaches that all prophecy is directed primarily to Israel, and Pentecost was a Jewish feast day. Peter addressed a crowd of Jews from the Roman Empire, and his message was that Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament promises and covenants made to Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8