Acts 2

From: The Book of the Acts By: James Harrison Smith

Acts 2 • 25 min. read • grade level: 9

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1‑4)).

It was the fiftieth day after the death of Jesus, the Savior. The “Brethren ... about one hundred and twenty in number” were all together, waiting for “the promise of the Father” according to the commandment of the Lord Jesus. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit of God came, sent by the Father’s Son and coming in His own power (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)), and showed Himself by marvelous and indubitable proofs:

His coming was accompanied by a loud noise from heaven like that of a strong, blowing wind. It was not shown by an excited congregation shouting at the top of its lungs;

His coming was demonstrated by way of cloven tongues, “like as of fire,” that settled on each of them (but without burning them);

His presence was also shown by the fact that the Galilean disciples could speak in other languages. They were perfectly understood by hearers from many nations, not some strange speech or words that nobody understood.

It should be noted that, once the Holy Spirit came, He stayed and has stayed in the church on the earth. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16¹⁶Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)). It is wrong to ask God to send us the Holy Spirit; He is already here. Not only does He live in the church, but also personally in every believer from the moment they believe the gospel of their salvation (See Eph. 1:13¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)).

There was a great difference between the way the Holy Spirit descended upon the Lord Jesus and the way he descended on the disciples. “The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove” (Luke 3:22²²And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22); see also Matt. 3:16¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16); Mark 1:10¹⁰And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: (Mark 1:10); John 1:32-33³²And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³³And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:32‑33)). The “dove” symbolizes purity and peace (see Gen. 8:8-11⁸Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; ⁹But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. ¹⁰And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; ¹¹And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. (Genesis 8:8‑11)); but when the same Spirit descended on the disciples, it was in cloven tongues, “like as of fire.” In Hebrews 12:29²⁹For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29), we read that “our God is a consuming fire.” We have “the flesh” in us, as did the disciples, but it was not present in Jesus. Because of this, it appears, the coming of the Holy Spirit was accompanied by something that speaks of the judgment of God (the fire) against the source of sin (the flesh), in the disciples. But when the Spirit of God came upon the Lord Jesus, God the Father expressed His complete pleasure, “this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The disciples did not just receive the Holy Spirit, but they also “were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Every Christian has the Holy Spirit — or he is not a Christian. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9⁹But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)). But not every Christian is filled with the Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18), we are exhorted “be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” If we are set free from the slavery of natural desires, (or, rather, fleshly) then the Spirit of God can fill us with everything that comes from Him: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:19-20¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:19‑20)).

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:5-11⁵And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. ⁶Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? ⁸And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ⁹Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:5‑11)).

It is very interesting to contrast the miracle of the grace of God with that miracle of the justice of God in days of old:

“The whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Gen. 11:1-9¹And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. ²And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. ⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. ⁵And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. ⁶And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. ⁷Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. ⁸So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. ⁹Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1‑9)).

What a contrast all of this is to what took place on the Day of Pentecost! In order to demonstrate that it (the presence of the Holy Spirit to form the church by His baptism) was the work of the omniscient and omnipotent God, God did the opposite of what He did at “Babel” in such a way that people of every nation under heaven understood the marvels of God in their own diverse languages.

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:12-21¹²And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? ¹³Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. ¹⁴But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ¹⁵For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. ¹⁶But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ¹⁷And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ¹⁸And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: ¹⁹And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: ²⁰The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: ²¹And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:12‑21)).

Simon Peter, full of the Holy Spirit and inspired by God, discerned that this passage spoke of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh — the key characteristic of what took place on the Day of Pentecost. Not the prophecy completely fulfilled, since neither on the Day of Pentecost nor even today have those marvels been seen in heaven nor signs been seen on earth below: blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. Neither has the sun been turned into darkness nor the moon to blood — that will not happen until the Day of the Lord arrives — the day of the judgment of God that will introduce the Millennium (see 1 Thess. 5:2-3²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑3)) — the reign of the Son of Man on the earth. The entire prophecy of the prophet Joel will be fulfilled in a soon-coming day when the Lord will have already caught up His church — the entire group of believers of this Christian era — to heaven and to the Father’s house.

It is important to note here that the miraculous manifestation of speaking in tongues was not a matter of unintelligible voices, but rather of words that were clearly understood by people of diverse nations — despite the fact that those who spoke were uneducated Galileans. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled” (Acts 4:13¹³Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)).

It is also important to note that the passage quoted from the prophet Joel does not speak about the order of worship in the Christian church. It says that women will prophecy; but in the Christian assembly women are not permitted to speak (1 Cor. 14:34³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:34)). In Acts 21:8-10⁸And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. ⁹And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. ¹⁰And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (Acts 21:8‑10) we read that “Philip the evangelist ... had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy,” but it does not say that they prophesied in the church. It was a man, “a prophet called Agabus” that spoke, or publicly prophesied about Paul. “So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

A devout woman will find plenty to do among the brethren without leaving her proper place in order to occupy the pulpit.

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him,

I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (verses 22-32).

What a marvelous act! That Jesus was “delivered by the determined counsel and providence (or presence) of God” as the “lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:19-20¹⁹But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:19‑20)). It was “the eternal decision” of God the Father that His only Son would become a man and die the “death of the cross” for us sinners. How marvelous! (See Eph. 3:11¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:11); Phil. 2:8⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)).

Oh, what love! God, the Father, sent His Son to save this lost world.

But, what an awful act! That man, when given the opportunity, would crucify the Son of God who had come in perfect goodness and infinite love to rescue mankind from the abyss of wickedness.

“But man ascribed nothing to the ‘Holy one of God’

but to send Him to the cross to suffer.”

However, the omniscient and omnipotent God — if I can say it like this — made use of the most wicked act that man could possibly have conceived of and carried out — the crucifixion of the Son of God — in order to carry out His eternal plan — that man would be reconciled to Him and pardoned of all his sins. How marvelous! Furthermore — God resurrected His Son from among the dead! The glory of the Father demanded that the one who died beneath the judicial weight of God for our sins be set free from the pains of death, since it was impossible that Christ be held by them.

Peter, inspired by God, quoted from Psalm 16:8-11⁸I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. ⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. ¹⁰For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ¹¹Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:8‑11), which speak prophetically of the fact that Christ would be raised from the tomb and that His body would not see corruption. “Hell” in the passage is not referring to “the lake of fire,” — the final destination of any unrepentant sinners — but rather to the place or invisible state of the spirits with dead bodies. This place is literally called “Hades.” There are two places where it appears. The unrepentant rich man who died and “was buried; and in hell (Hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; ²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22‑23)). The rich man was in the lower place, below, in Hades, the invisible world, and Lazarus was in the upper place, above; as was the Lord Jesus. (He says to the repentant thief, “today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” Luke 23:43⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)). Abraham, Lazarus, and all God’s saints who have died in the physical body are still waiting for the resurrection, but death could not detain the body of Jesus, which did not see corruption, in the tomb. Neither could it keep His spirit in Hades — the place of spirits without bodies. Christ is risen!

“Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign,

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!”

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:32-36³²This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ³³Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ³⁴For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵Until I make thy foes thy footstool. ³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:32‑36)).

The Holy Spirit Himself testifies of the fact that Christ was exalted at God’s right hand, as He came to the world, sent by the Father and by the Son — fulfilling the promise that the Lord Jesus had given us (see John 15:26²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)) — and showed himself among the believers (already made into one body by the baptism of the same Spirit), giving them the ability to speak in tongues that would be perfectly understood by hearers from many nations. What was the testimony that Holy Spirit gave to men? The same as David — speaking prophetically in Psalm 110:1¹<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1) — who said that “the Lord” Jehovah, had said to his “Lord” (his master — a voice different than Jehovah), that is to say, Christ, “Sit thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” Then Peter accuses the whole house of Israel of crucifying Jesus and adds that the One they crucified God had made as a man, Lord, or Head, and Christ — or rather Messiah. What a contrast between what man did and what Christ did!

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:37-40³⁷Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸Then 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. ³⁹For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ⁴⁰And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:37‑40)).

The Jews had heard from Peter (obviously inspired by God), this grave accusation: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)). God’s testimony given to responsible man, whether to the Jew, the pagan, or the so-called “Christian,” produces in him one of two definitive results: a convicted heart, (or, rather, repentant) or a hardened heart that is in rebellion against God. At least three thousand Jews repented of their evil in crucifying the Lord of Glory and their Messiah, Jesus, the Son of David according to the flesh and the eternal Son of God. They were saddened in their hearts and asked, “What then will we do?”

Having said that, note carefully Peter’s answer, the divinely inspired instruction that was particularly appropriate in that moment for the Jews who were guilty of having killed the Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus ... Lord and Christ.”

“Repent.” They had to repent of the wrong they had done. There was not, and will not ever be, salvation for anyone, whether Jew or Gentile, apart from repentance. Although repentance by itself does not save, it is, however, from God (see Rom. 2:4⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)). Paul testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21²¹Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)).

Later, Peter commanded them to be baptized, every one, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” In Acts 8:16¹⁶(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:16), we read that the Samaritans “were baptized in the name of Jesus” (other translations say, “of the Lord Jesus”). In Acts 10:48⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:48), we read that Peter commanded the Gentiles that had already received the Holy Spirit “to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Finally, in Acts 19:3-5³And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. ⁴Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:3‑5), we read about certain believers that had been baptized with “the baptism of John” but had not yet heard of the gospel of the grace of God according to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised again for our justification. “Hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” But, is there not agreement between these passages (when correctly understood), and Matthew 28:19¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19) given to “the eleven disciples” — “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”? Yes, there is. The phrase, “in the name of the Lord Jesus” is the same as saying, “with the authorization that the Lord Jesus gives you.” And, since, by the coming of the Son of God to the world — sealed by the Holy Spirit and revealing the Father — the blessed Deity was revealed, then the baptism with water is performed in the name of God, plainly revealed in the three Persons of the Trinity. That is to say, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it appears that a Christian baptizing someone has the divine authorization to express themselves thus, “with the authority given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

We should note carefully what Peter adds, “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.” But, how different this is from what happened when Peter later preached the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles,

“To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word ... .Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:43-48⁴³To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:43‑48)).

It is clear that God did not want to pardon the sins of the Jews who were guilty of crucifying His beloved Son until they had been baptized; and it is likewise clear that He not only gave the Gentiles forgiveness of their sins, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized with water. This shows that baptism with water has nothing to do with the “remission of sins.” “Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22²²And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). The Jews with sorrowful hearts on the Day of Pentecost were separated from the guilty nation by way of the visible action of baptism with water, and they were manifested as being already fit to receive the forgiveness of their sins. Saul of Tarsus was also separated from the guilty nation and was publicly washed from his serious sin of enmity against the Christ of God. Ananias said to him, “Brother Saul ... why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:13, 16¹³Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. (Acts 22:13)
¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)). Saul had been forgiven of his sins in God’s eyes three days before. Now, being baptized, he cleansed himself in front of the nation guilty of all their sins against Christ and His people. However, with respect to the Gentiles that the Jews hated, God wanted Peter and the “six brothers” that accompanied him to the house of Cornelius (the Roman centurion), to see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears that He had also forgiven the Gentiles of their sins, and that He had given them His Holy Spirit, without any prior moral obligation to be baptized with water. There is perfect agreement between all parts of the Holy Scriptures.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39³⁹For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:39)).

How extensive is the divine offer of forgiveness of sins!

1. “for you,”

2. “for your children,” and

3. “all that are afar off.”

The offer of salvation to the Philippian jailor, made by Paul and Silas, was this: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). God is a Father Himself, and He has thought about the deep desires of His children who are also parents. Of course, the personal faith of the parent is not enough for his child, the child will also have to repent of his sins and exercise personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the offer of salvation given to the head of a family includes everyone in the home, but the father only obtains it by faith. And Peter probably did not realize just how far the promise would extend “to all that are afar off.”

“And many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” We do not have everything in the Holy Scriptures that the apostles preached, only what was necessary to thoroughly and comprehensively instruct us. Regarding the exhortation of Peter, “save yourselves from this untoward generation,” note that he did not say “be saved from your sins,” but rather “from this untoward generation” — the guilty Jewish nation that God was going to judge. The way to escape was to be publicly baptized with water in the name of Jesus Christ — renouncing all relationship and connection with the Jews. “And they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41⁴¹Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)). The Jews whose hearts were sorrowful, having shown themselves to sincerely repent, had their sins forgiven. Not only that, but they were also added to the church — which had already been formed by the power of the Holy Spirit. They were baptized by the Spirit of God (or incorporated) into the body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 12).

What a sublime miracle of the pardoning grace of God! “Three thousand” people forgiven of the sin of having crucified the Lord of glory, “His blood be upon us, and upon our children” (Matt. 27:25²⁵Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25)). What a contrast with that terrible day in which the people of Israel were punished for having made and worshiped an idol, a golden calf, and for having been naked to their shame among their enemies, and the people ... about three thousand men! (read Exodus 32:19-28¹⁹And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. ²⁰And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. ²¹And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? ²²And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. ²³For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. ²⁴And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. ²⁵And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) ²⁶Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. ²⁷And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. ²⁸And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. (Exodus 32:19‑28)).

What were these new members of the church doing, along with the other members who had been baptized into one body that day? “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)). Here we have the three-legged stool of the Christian. The first part of this verse could be translated like this, “They continued in the apostolic doctrine and fellowship.” True fellowship depends on true doctrine. The Christian can easily sit on his three-legged stool: one leg is the doctrine and fellowship of the apostles; another leg is the breaking of bread; and the third leg is prayer. However, it is possible that a Christian can retain the good doctrine of the apostles and enjoy the fellowship of other Christians, but if he does not continue in the breaking of bread, he does not fulfill the beloved request of his Lord, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” He has left his first love and has cut off one of the legs of his stool. In the church in Ephesus, there was much that the Lord commended; much, but, by the hand of John he wrote to her that, “I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:2-4²I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. ⁴Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:2‑4)). It is also possible that a Christian may become so occupied with so many things, including the work of the Lord, that he forgets to pray and loses, bit-by-bit, his feeling of dependence on the Lord — risking a spiritual fall: he has cut off another leg of the stool. And, finally, the Christian that does not continue in the apostle’s doctrine will be carried about “by every wind of doctrine:” he has cut off the last leg; the stool is now on the ground.