The Apostle closed the previous quotation with the gracious assurance that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (Acts 2:21). Calling on the name of the Lord, that is, turning away from sin and trusting Him as the only Lord and Saviour grants us pardon, remission of sin, justification and salvation.
But who is the Lord to whom we turn for salvation? Peter affirmed that He is Jesus Christ, the One they crucified, who God raised from the dead. Speaking confidently and convincingly, he reminded them of the life and ministry of Christ (Acts 2:22), the betrayal, crucifixion and death of Christ (Acts 2:23), the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:24,32), the ascension, glorification and exaltation of Christ (Acts 2:33-36).
Peter emphasised that Christ’s substitutionary death and supernatural resurrection happened by “the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,” (Acts 2:23). And David, the king “being a prophet” (Acts 2:30) saw and prophesied that God “would raise up Christ.”
In conclusion, he laid the guilt of their sin before them. “Ye crucified” “Christ, the Lord of glory,” (Acts 2:36; 1Corinthians 2:8).So irresistible was the convicting power of the Holy Ghost that there was an immediate response. The people that heard Peter, cried out, “what shall we do” to be free from guilt and to escape everlasting condemnation and eternal punishment? The answer rings loud and clear throughout the whole Bible: Repent (Ezekiel 14:6;18:30; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14,15; Luke 13:3,5; 24:47; Acts 3:19,26; 17:30,31; 20:20,21; 26:20; Revelation 2:5,16; 3:3,19).
True repentance is known by the accompanying fruits – “save yourselves from this untoward (perverse, crooked, sinful) generation,” (Acts 2:40). The truly repentant people were to separate themselves from all the sinful practices and lifestyle of their society.
After repentance and faith in Christ and accepting Jesus as their Saviour, the people were to be baptised in water (Mark 16:15,16). Water baptism does not save, neither does it wash away sin. Only the blood of Jesus washes away sin and only Jesus saves when we repent and believe on Him. But by water baptism, the new believers declared their separation from the nation that crucified Christ and proclaimed their identification with the risen Lord.
Submitting to Christ in obedience and continuing steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine, many precious promises will be theirs, including “the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
• Further Reading (King James Version): Acts 2:14-40. Acts 2:14-21; Joel 2:28-32; Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11,12; John 7:37-39 ; Acts 1:4,5,8; Numbers 11:29. Acts 2:22-36; Luke 24:44-49; John 3:2,3; Acts 3:13-15; 10:39-43; Psalm 16:8-11; Romans 1:3,4; 2 Timothy 2:8; Acts 13:32-39; Philippians 2:5-11. Acts 2:37-40; John 16:7-11; Acts 16:29-34; 3:19-26; 17:30,31; 20:20,21; 2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Revelation 18:4,5; Mark 16:15,16; 2 Peter 1:3,4.
