Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins… In getting the exact meaning of Peter's directions to these inquirers, observe — (1) "Repent" is literally to perceive afterwards, and hence to change the mind, including one's view of life and truth, and hence one's purpose. Here it means an entire change of opinion respecting Jesus Christ, from regarding Him as an impostor to reverencing Him as both Lord and Christ; but it also includes all that change of inner life and purpose which follows thereon. The Roman Catholic translation, "Do penance," making the direction merely the observance of certain legal rites, is equally inconsistent with the original Greek and with the spirit of the entire passage. (2) "Be baptized" follows in order the direction to repent. Baptism is not a regenerating ordinance, but a sign and symbol of repentance, and a public confession of Christ. (3) "Each of you," shows that the repentance and baptism must be a personal act. The multitude could not have been baptized under this direction, as some of the converts under Xavier's preaching were baptized in India, by being sprinkled altogether in a multitude, or as some of the northern people were baptized in earlier times, by being made to pass through the river in a great host. (4) "In" (upon) "the name of Jesus Christ," is upon the name of Jesus Christ as the foundation of the baptism, i.e., with an acknowledgment of Him in that act as being what His name means, the sinner's only hope, his Redeemer, Justifier, Lord, and Final Judge. (Lyman Abbott.) Parallel Verses 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. |
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