Thursday June 10, 2021
Acts 2:38
NKJV: Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of #JesusChrist for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the #HolySpirit.
KJV: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
NIV: 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.
Living: And Peter replied, “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.
Bible Breakdown: Acts 2:38
The NKJV MacArthur Study Bible tells us:
Repent: refers to a change of mind and purpose that turns an individual from sin to God (1 Thess. 1:9). Such change involves more than fearing the consequences of God’s judgment. Genuine repentance knows that the evil of sin must be forsaken and the person and work of Christ totally and singularly embraced. Peter exhorted his hearers to repent, otherwise they would not experience true conversion.
be baptized: This Greek word literally means “be dipped or immersed” in water. Peter was obeying Christ’s command from Matt. 28:19 and urging the people who repented and turned to the Lord Christ for salvation to identify, through the waters of baptism, with His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27). This is the first time the apostles publicly enjoined people to obey that ceremony. Prior to this, many Jews had experienced the baptism of John the Baptist, and were also familiar with the baptism of Gentile converts to Judaism (proselytes).
in the name of Jesus Christ: For the new believer, it was a crucial but costly identification to accept.
for the remission of sins: This might better be translated “because of the remission of sins.” Baptism does not produce forgiveness and cleansing from sin. The reality of forgiveness precedes the rite of baptism. Genuine repentance brings from God the forgiveness (remission) of sins, and because of that the new believer was to be baptized. Baptism, however, was to be the ever-present act of obedience, so that it became synonymous with salvation. Thus to say one was baptized for forgiveness was the same as saying one was saved. Every believer enjoys the complete remission of sins (Matt. 26:28, Luke 24:47, Eph. 1:7, Col. 2:13, I John 2:12).
God bless you and yours 💗