Lord’s Library editors offer this Acts 2:38 meaning with commentary and supporting Scriptures for your edification.
To obtain an Acts 2:38 meaning, first see the verse: “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.” Acts 2:38 is one of the most quoted and discussed verses in the New Testament, especially regarding the doctrine of salvation.
Spoken by the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost, this verse has often been misunderstood to suggest that water baptism is necessary for salvation. However, when rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15), Acts 2:38 aligns perfectly with the rest of Scripture in teaching that salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Baptism is not the cause of salvation but the outward testimony of what takes place when one believes the Gospel.
To rightly interpret Acts 2:38, we must begin with the context. Peter had just preached Christ crucified and risen (Acts 2:22–36), convicting the crowd that they had rejected their Messiah. In response, many were “pricked in their heart” and asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter’s response in verse 38 begins with the word “Repent,” which means to change one’s mind. In this case, the Jewish audience was being called to change their mind about Jesus—no longer seeing Him as a blasphemer or fraud, but as the risen Lord and Christ. This repentance was toward God, and their faith was to be placed in Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul later described this same message in Acts 20:21: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Acts 2:38 Meaning
The next phrase—“be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”—has led some to conclude that baptism is required for forgiveness. However, the word “for” in this verse comes from the Greek word eis, which can also be understood as “because of” or “on account of.” In this light, Peter is saying to be baptized because of the remission of sins, not in order to obtain it. Scripture consistently teaches that remission of sins is through the blood of Christ, not through water baptism. Hebrews 9:22 clearly states, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” And Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
If water baptism were a requirement for salvation, it would contradict dozens of passages that declare salvation to be by grace through faith apart from works. Ephesians 2:8–9 affirms, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:5 likewise says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” If baptism were a necessary condition, it would become a human work added to grace, thus nullifying grace (Romans 11:6).
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul—the chief apostle to the Gentiles and the one who received the revelation of the Gospel of grace—said in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” If baptism were essential for salvation, Paul’s statement would make no sense. Salvation is through belief in the Gospel, as Paul explains in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
The phrase “ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” confirms that salvation results in the immediate indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not because of baptism, but because of faith. Galatians 3:2 asks, “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” The answer is clear—it is by faith. Ephesians 1:13 confirms this: “In 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.” The sealing of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of belief, not at the moment of water baptism.
Acts 2:38, then, is consistent with the rest of Scripture when properly understood. Peter was calling his Jewish hearers to repent—change their minds about Christ—and believe in Him as the crucified and risen Lord. Their baptism would be a public expression of that inward faith, a testimony to their identification with Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3–4 speaks of baptism symbolizing the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to new life: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?… that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.” It is a picture of salvation, not the means by which it is obtained.
In conclusion, Acts 2:38 does not teach that water baptism is necessary for salvation. Rather, it calls sinners to repent and believe the Gospel—to place their full trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. As Paul preached in Acts 13:38–39, “Be it known unto you… that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things.” This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1–4), and all who believe in Him are saved. Water baptism follows belief as a public declaration—not as a requirement for receiving the free gift of salvation.
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