by Timothy W. Burnett
Peter's answer was astoundingly simple! He didn't tell them to change their lifestyles. Nothing was said about being dunked into or sprinkled with water. No sign of Peter commanding them to give to the poor or show kindness toward others. He said, "Repent and be baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ." What did this mean? To repent referred to a change of mind. According to the context of verses 22-33 it specifically referred to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10 shines more light on repentance unto baptism. It basicaly says that believing with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead results in righteousness. The word heart was a figure of speech referring to the inner depths of the mind. When people believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, they actually repent from their previous belief that God did not raise Jesus from the dead. It's that simple.
To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is the result of repenting. The word baptism was basically a washing or cleansing. It was also used of physical cleansing with water. But here it referred to true cleansing from the inside out by the spirit from God. Prior to his ascension, Jesus told his disciples, "For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5). To be cleansed is directly related to forgiveness of sins.
The phrase "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" is also found in Acts 8:16, "They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." According to verse 12 the baptism was directly related to believing what Phillip taught about the name of Jesus Christ. In essence, they changed their minds and believed with their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. Yet according to verses 16-17 they had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was such a significant discrepancy that certain disciples called for Peter and John to help them receive the Holy Ghost.
Peter understood the importance of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We know this because his reply in Acts 2:38 included the command, "you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The word "receive" is the same word used in Acts 8:17 and meant to seize unto or lay hold of something. From the context of Acts 2:38, to be baptized with the spirit of God is distinguished from receiving the same spirit. Based on a personal study of different lexicons, the words "you shall" do not appear in the earlier Greek texts. With this in mind, the verse could accurately read, "...for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The words "you shall" can be understood as a command.
According to Acts 2:40 Peter said, "Save yourselves from the untoward generation." Fulfilling the instructions of Acts 2:38 results in salvation.
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