Acts Study: 2:38-41

Review:

Peter is preaching a sermon on Joel, Psalm 16, and Psalm 110. So far he has said:

These are the last days in which:

The Spirit is being poured out.

Terrifying judgement is coming.

All who call on the Lord will be saved. (But who is this Lord?)

Jesus was from God.

Jesus died because you wickedly murdered him according to God’s plan.

God rased him up because it was impossible for death to hold him (because he trusted in a faithful God?)

Jesus received the Spirit from the Father and poured it out on his people - the church.

God has made him both Lord and Christ!

Verse 38:

Last time we talked about the meanings of “repent” and “be baptized”. But here are a few more notes to add:

How does, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” correspond to verse 21?

1 Peter 3:21 ESV

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(Repentance and baptism are calling on the Lord to be saved)

Verse 39:

What is “the promise”? (Look at verse 33 - the promise of the Holy Spirit is for all of God’s people, not just that generation in Acts)

“Everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Joel 2:32 ESV

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

So, the promised Spirit will be received by not just by those who hear Peter’s sermon and repent, but also by any of their children and any non-Jews whom God calls to himself.

Also, “for you and for your children” - covenant language:

Noah:

Genesis 9:9 ESV

“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you,

Abraham:

Genesis 13:15 ESV

for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.

David:

Psalm 18:50 ESV

Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.

Meaning: this repentance for sin and baptism into Jesus, with receiving the Holy Spirit, is the New Covenant (and also… flowed directly out of the promises to Abraham and David).

Verse 40:

Peter kept preaching. What does, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation,” mean? (Not from the violence of that generation, but from the judgement which that generation would receive.)

Verse 41: The Results of Peter’s Preaching.

Those who received his word were baptized that day. Does this mean that folks should always be baptized the day that they make a profession of faith? (Maybe - if it is as obvious as this, and the Spirit is moving powerfully with a clear presentation of the gospel. But not when a person’s profession of faith is unclear or uncertain.)

“There were added” - the “divine passive” - a kind of word where God is implied as the doer. It was ultimately God who did this marvelous work of salvation (see verse 47).