by Timothy W. Burnett
And with many words he testified and exhorted them by saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation" (Acts 2:39-40). The promise was the gift of the Holy Ghost, and was directly tied with salvation.
To understand this better we need only look at the first example of people being baptized and receiving the promise of the Holy Ghost, found in Acts 2:4. They had just witnessed the disciples getting saved and Peter exhorted them to do the same. What happened next?
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).
Here, the word "received" is translated from the earlier known Greek word dechomai, which meant to mentally receive information with a favorable frame of mind.
This verse fits perfectly with Romans 10:9-10 where it teaches that righteousness is the result of believing with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.
It also fits perfectly with Acts 2:4 where we learn that the disciples were filled with the holy spirit. The reason they were filled was because they already believed God raised Jesus from the dead. They received the word with a favorable frame of mind and were baptized.
Isn't that simply wonderful? On the same day nearly 3,000 people were added to the list of believing Christians. It says in verse 47, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Wow! This means that a large number of people did the same thing that the first disciples did in Acts 2:4. The word spread like fire and many people were filled with the spirit of God and began to speak in other languages as the spirit gave the words.
This can be confirmed in Acts 10:43-46, 11:15 and 19:2-6. "They continued with steadfastness in the apostles" doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And reverence came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common.
They sold their possessions and goods and distributed them among all the believers according to need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, eating their food with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favor with all the people" (Acts 2: 42-46).
This is such a fantastic record of the first people who became part of the body of Christ. When they were filled with the spirit of God and obtained salvation, they launched into a whole new life of spiritual liberty that was not known before.
They didn't fully understand what was available because the apostle Paul had not begun his ministry, but they did understand enough to praise God in their individual homes with singleness of heart and unity of faith.
They could freely eat their food with gladness knowing that Jesus Christ their Passover, and ours, was alive and in heaven, and that they were completely cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.
They were free to plunge into a new and refreshing life of fellowship and service toward God in heaven and his first born beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord.
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