Acts 2 holds one of the clearest and most detailed explanations of water baptism in the New Testament. It’s the first time in history we see Christian baptism occur. As we know from our previous podcasts, theologians go to great lengths to explain why this passage of scripture is not about water baptism by parsing prepositions and verifying verbs. But, I think the passage is pretty easy to understand and completely uncomplicated. There is no need to dive into Greek linguistics and confusing explanations. Just read the passage with the heart of a child and it will all make sense.
So, what’s the context of our Acts passage? Peter is preaching the very first Gospel message. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and is quite bold! His audience is thousands of Jewish pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, which is just 50 days after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Peter presents a great deal of information about Jesus and explains all about the Messiah by offering proofs from the Old Testament scriptures. At the end of his sermon, in verse 36 he places the guilt and the blame of killing the promised Messiah, squarely on the shoulders of the onlookers. Let’s tune in and listen as he concludes his sermon.
The First Baptisms Ever
Acts 2:36-41
Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.“
Peter tells these people, “You killed the Christ!” Now, let’s stop right here. Isn’t that a little presumptuous of Peter? After all, many of these folks were not even in Jerusalem 50 days earlier and even if they were, probably none of them had anything to do with the execution of Jesus. In fact, the argument could be made that it was the Romans who actually killed the Christ. What’s going on here?
Some clues are found in what happens next.
Universal Guilt
Acts 2:37
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
They don’t argue with Peter! They don’t say, “No way dude, we weren’t even here on that day. Instead, they accept the charge and are even cut to the heart. They are broken about their sin. They feel guilt and shame.
What Peter did, demonstrates that, the death of Jesus is the responsibility of everyone. How can that be? Remember, Jesus died for the sins of all mankind. This is why Peter can make the claim that these Jews are just as guilty of the blood of Christ as the Romans. The truth is, we are all just as guilty as they are.
When we understand it is our sin which put Jesus on the cross… that we are guilty of killing the Messiah, our attitude should be the same… we should be cut to the heart. We should feel guilt and shame for our sin, but also hope and joy for the forgiveness and grace God offers.
Peter preaches and some of the people respond positively. Let’s read that again….
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
How to be saved.
The people seek justification, “What shall we do?” I think they were terrified the answer would be, “There is nothing you can do! But instead, Peter tells them something wildly surprising. He opens the vast gateway of grace.
In response to their desperate question, he says, “Repent and be baptized.” What? What’s this? Repent and be baptized? What in the world is that all about?
There should be no confusion here. It’s a simple straight forward answer to a simple straight forward question. Peter could have told them to do anything at this point in time. He could have said, “Say this prayer after me…” He could have said, “Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.” He could have said, “Stand on your head and spit nickels.” But he didn’t. He said, “Repent and be baptized,” when the people asked what they must do.
Repent and be baptized? Why? Verse 38b.
“…for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Two Blessings Related to Baptism
Two things happen in baptism. Our sins are forgiven and God gives us His Holy Spirit. We know we do not deserve this. We know we can not earn it, nor can we take some other path which might suit us better. We simply obey what Peter is telling us to do. It’s very simple and very clear.
Notice that there are two commands, repentance and baptism. These two words are connected with that conjunction “and.” There are two things required, according to Peter. Both must happen. Once these two biblical responses to the Gospel occur, Peter tells us our sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit will join us. These blessings do not precede obedience to Peter’s commands. The two qualifications must be met before God bestows the gift of salvation.
In today’s world, many people are baptized as commanded by Peter, but very few truly repent before their baptism. The Biblical pattern is tossed out and replaced by a popular modern plan. In this plan, people hear the correct message about Jesus, believe and accept it, but when it comes time to obey the Gospel, they are told that their belief and acceptance is all they needed to do. They are never told they must repent and be baptized to be saved just as Peter told the 3000.
They are carelessly led down a broad road with something like “The Sinners Prayer.” Since they don’t follow the Biblical Plan of Salvation, they do not have the forgiveness of sins or the Holy Spirit living in them. This is difficult for people to accept because they put so much trust in the preacher without knowing the scriptures themselves. They have no real and lasting power over sin. Therefore, a truly changed life proves to be a fairy tale. This can be pretty discouraging. They were promised life to the full but continue in the same pattern of sin they have been stuck in. This explains why the attrition rate in the modern church is as high as 90%! Good hearted people make a sincere commitment but see no real change or power in their lives and leave the church quickly.
It is so important that we understand and follow the Biblical pattern. The indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit is never given to a believer before repentance and baptism. In fact, when we study the scriptures thoroughly, we see God never gives the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit before obedience anywhere in the New Testament.
This becomes even clearer as we read on…
Acts 2:41
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Accepting the message is more than belief.
How many were baptized? 3000. Exactly who were these people? How are they identified? Was it all the people who heard Peter? No. Was it the people who had come from Rome? No. The people who obeyed Peter’s command to repent and be baptized were the people who “accepted” his message. If you did not accept the message you did not get baptized. To put it another way, If you are not baptized, you have not yet accepted the message. You reject the plan of salvation.
Peter is not making up methods of conversion on the fly and telling the believers to perform his method in order to alleviate their guilt. He is fulfilling the commands Jesus gave him in the Great Commission, just 10 short days earlier. Jesus gave the Apostles four vital commands which would be necessary to promote and further the Gospel after His departure. Jesus told them; Go. Make Disciples, Baptize them and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
So, Peter is not standing there on the day of Pentecost just making all of this up. He is following the exact pattern Jesus gave him, just over a week ago. With this in mind, we understand why Peter uses this formula in his Pentecost presentation, right?
Then, only the good hearted people who accepted the message were baptized. This reminds me of another passage in Luke which is very similar.
Luke 7:29-30
“All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.”
This passage presents two separate groups of people. One group is able to acknowledge or accept the message John preached and one group rejected John’s message. The only thing we see that is different between these two groups is whether or not they had been baptized by John. This is not to say there was something powerful in the water, but this does speak to something powerful which happens as a result a person’s obedience to the instructions God puts forth by His word.
Obedience to God’s commands is what separates the sheep from the goats. Obedience indicates acceptance of the message. The same is true for John and on the day of Pentecost and today. People who accept the message will be baptized. If you have not been baptized, immersed in water, you have not yet accepted the message.
The Promise
Ok, back to Peter. He continues. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
So, now we learn of a promise attached to whatever Peter is saying. This promise will extend not only to the people he is preaching to, it extends to their children and all who are far off… for everyone the Lord God calls.
But what is the promise thing? What promise is for you, for your children and everyone else? Is the promise Peter’s statement that we will receive the forgiveness of sins and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit? Yes, absolutely. He has spoken eternal truth… but. in context, I think there is something even more awesome!
Think about this. Everything Peter presented to these penitent Jews are the instructions from The Great Commission. Peter is remembering and preaching The Great Commission. It is fresh in his mind. It happened ten days ago! This is his mindset, his train of thought. And he does not forget something Jesus told him during the Commission… which I think… maybe we do.
I think we tend to forget Jesus last statement which is just as much a part of the Great Commission as “Go, make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey.”
Matthew 28:20
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus promised to be with us always! I think this is the promise Peter is referring to, not just the promise of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of God’s Spirit. I think Peter is on a roll and just keeps remembering everything Jesus said, including His promise to be with us forever.
Does it get any better than that? Our sins are forgiven, God gives us his Holy Spirit and then he will be right here with us until the very end of the age. That’s awesome! And to be sure, that promise only occurs when we have obeyed the Great Commission!
Save yourself. Is that possible?
This is absolutely amazing! But there is more!
Acts 2:40
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Yes, there is something you can do to “Save yourself.” It’s not a bunch of good works. It’s not a bunch of prayers. It’s just what Peter told you to do when you asked the question, “What must I do?” If you want to save yourself, just obey the Gospel as Peter presents it.
Acts 2:41 goes on to present the fact that “3000 were added to their number that day.” What does that mean? 3000 were added to what? To the church! How were they added to the church? They were baptized into the church.
So Acts 2 presents the very first Gospel message. It happened on the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem. This message of salvation is still valid today. When people were cut to the heart and wanted to respond to the Gospel, Peter provided the same prescription given by Jesus.
Peter told the people, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. This leads to you being added to the church.
The conversions of Acts 2 are amazing. 3000 people made a commitment that day. Peter had some pretty powerful preaching didn’t he? Isn’t it curious that we never hear this sermon preached in the pulpits of our denominational world today? I wonder why that is? Maybe it’s because Peter is just too hard to understand.
Enjoy!
Dana Haynes
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