The Speech: How Peter’s Words Persuaded 3,000 Listeners

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem!” (Acts 2:14, NLT) 

A Word For Writers

A persuasive speech compels listeners to act.

• Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech (1963) persuaded lawmakers to advance civil rights legislation.
• Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech (1940) persuaded the British to stand against tyranny during World War II.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” speech (1933) persuaded citizens to embrace his New Deal and chart a pathway out of the Great Depression.

A persuasive speech explains “why.” People act when you give them a good reason, whether it’s to deliver a minority’s rights, resist a dictator’s advances, or embrace a nation’s recovery from financial crisis. 

In his Pentecost speech, Peter gives a neat little example for making a persuasive speech. 

First, he stated his premise: the multiple languages spoken at Pentecost were the work of the Holy Spirit … and those present could be a part of that great movement, too (2:15-17).

• Then, Peter explained why: God promised an unleashing of His Spirit (2:17) after Jesus was betrayed, killed, and raised Him from the dead (2:23, 32).
• He explained “why” believers should act: because God keeps His promises.

Peter’s technique was not only persuasive, but also powerful. Three thousand people were added to the church that day.

A Wise Word

A persuasive speech explains why.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for those who have gone before me that demonstrate how to write and deliver a persuasive speech. Show me how to answer “why” to motivate others.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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