what does Acts 2:38 mean?

Question

quick pick up a Bible and try to explain it to me!

Answer 1

It is pretty well stated, what do you need help understanding?

Answer 2

This verse is the one held above all others by the non-centralized denomination in the United States known as the Church of Christ. They are one of the few groups that hold the belief (based on this verse) that water baptism is a requirement for salvation.

According to their theology if you are not baptized for the right reason eg. "for the remission of sins" then you will not make it into heaven. Based on this belief, this small group is the only group making it to heaven and the rest of us Protestants and Catholics are in for a rude awakening.

The conversion of Cornelius and his family (Acts chapter 10:44-45)seems to contradict this theological theory. Their answer to this is....."Cornelius was an exception because he was the first Gentile to become a Christian and was baptized immediately after" (Acts 10:48). It is clear from the text however that baptism was the outward expression of an inward change that had already happened.

I find it amazing that the Church of Christ has very little in the way of outreach, foreign missions, or other efforts to convert the non-believers. By default they seem to think they have the corner on the secrets of Christianity, but don't feel the need to share with the rest of us.

Answer 3

Back at the beginning of Acts 2, Luke, the writer of Acts, is telling us about when the Holy Spirit came down on people & they began to speak " in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Then Luke goes on to give the account of Peter's sermon about what had taken place a while ago. The people were so moved about it all, that in verse 37 of Acts 2, they asked what they should do, now that they heard this and apparently believed it. In verse 38, Peter tells them what they needed to do to be saved and have eternal life.
P.S. : Speaking in other tongues means that each person was able to understand & speak other languages and dialects of all those gathered there that day. That way, they were able to converse with people who spoke another language, and also understand the same languages.
This is one of the main things that moved the people to want to know what to do to be saved.

Answer 4

Acts 2:38

38 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.

This Verse of Scriptures is best discribe in the Book of Romans Chapter10 and in Act 8

Answer 5

The answer to your question is that in order to became a citizen of the Kingdom of God you must admit that your a sinner in need of saving..Example if you have ever broken any of the 10 commandments like stealing,lieing,having another god other than the one spoken in the Bible. Then Jesus died on the cross and payed the ransom for your life in order to become a child of the Living GOD..read John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotton son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.. Meaning after you become a child of God the Holy Spirit seals you as a promise that you can live in heaven for ever with God... mrs hosek

Answer 6

1) We are to repent of our sins.
2) Upon salvation that is when we repent; that is from the heart.
3) We are to be baptized in the Authority of Jesus accordant to Matthew 28 the way Jesus said to be baptized.

The immersion in water is not why you receive the Holy Spirit. It is because you are saved. Baptism just identifies or is suppose to identify you as a follower of Christ.

Answer 7

Act 2:38 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.

Repent - turn away from sin.

Be baptized in the name of Jesus - accept him as your Lord and Savior and experience the joy of eternal life

And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - meaning, it is free, you do not have to buy it. The Holy Spirit empowers you to overcome sin in your life.

Answer 8

basically be baptized clean up your ****, start living right "you are forgiven" come on man it's this easy, even if your an atheiest i think this is common sense everyone should apologize for there sin's ! im a jewish christian broad and believe me calculationg all mine in just one day can be a trip but never stop just know god is the only one who know's your heart talk to him what have you got to lose if your an atheist then what 's gonna hurt a little counseling in your head come on im sure you do it already, and also to the atheist your loved anyway so stop trying so hard to be a rebel we all respect your beliefs anyway so just go and be happy but just remember the day the **** hit's the fam, were all here that we can promise but we still love you and hey stay away from those religious fanatic's hey jesus did'nt care for them

Answer 9

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!


~ the bible talkes about spiritual Gifts. Repent( ask for forgivness) Be babtized .. ask for remission of your sins and take on the death of christ.. The holy Ghost.. Well dependinng on your denomination it can saddly mean different things.. its an Instruction to Salvation!

Answer 10

Like Jesus, the apostle Peter urged people to be repentant. Addressing Jews in Jerusalem at Pentecost 33 C.E., Peter said: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.” Thousands repented, were baptized, and became Jesus’ followers. (Acts 2:38, 41; 4:4) In 36 C.E., repentant Gentiles took similar steps. (Acts 10:1-48) In our day, faith in the good news is moving thousands to repent of their sins, make a dedication to God, and be baptized. They have accepted the good news of salvation and are exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Moreover, they are practicing righteousness and have taken their stand on the side of God’s Kingdom. But what is faith? The apostle Paul wrote: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Hebrews 11:1) Our faith makes us sure that everything God promises in his Word is as good as done. It is as though we possessed a deed proving that we own certain property. Faith is also “the evident demonstration,” or evidence for conviction, regarding unseen things. Our mental perception and heart appreciation convince us that such things are real, although we have not seen them.—2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 1:18.

After delivering the Israelites from Egypt, Jehovah offered to accept them as his “special property,” to love and protect them and to constitute them “a holy nation.” To receive such blessings, however, the people had to respond to God’s love in a concrete way. This they did by agreeing to do ‘all that Jehovah had spoken’ and entering into a covenant with him. (Exodus 19:4-9) In the first century, Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of people of all nations, and those who embraced his teaching were baptized. A good relationship with God depended on faith in Jesus Christ followed by baptism.—Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38, 41.

These Scriptural accounts show that Jehovah blesses those who make and keep a solemn agreement to serve him. For Christians, dedication and baptism are necessary steps that lead to Jehovah’s blessing. We are resolved to follow his ways and seek his guidance. (Psalm 48:14) Jehovah, in turn, figuratively grasps us by the hand and leads us in the way in which we should walk.—Psalm 73:23; Isaiah 30:21; 41:10, 13.

The motivation for us to take these steps should be love for Jehovah and a desire to serve him. No one should get baptized merely because someone tells him that he has studied long enough or because his friends are getting baptized. Naturally, parents and other mature Christians may encourage a person to think about dedication and baptism. The apostle Peter urged those who heard him at Pentecost to “be baptized.” (Acts 2:38) Nevertheless, our dedication is a personal matter, and nobody else can make it for us. The decision to do God’s will must be our own.—Psalm 40:8.

Answer 11

Act 2:38
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. (KJV)