Acts 2:38
Before the labels, there was a pattern.
The earliest Christians had no denominations, no creeds, and no theological shorthand. They had what Jesus commanded, what the apostles preached, and what happened when people obeyed. This site invites you to set the labels aside and read what Scripture actually says.
Acts 2:37 — The question asked by every believer who hears the story of Jesus
What shall we do?
Acts 2:38-39 — Peter's answer at Pentecost
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.
Click any phrase above to explore what Scripture says
Repent
Peter does not invite the crowd to feel saved — he calls them to respond. Repentance is a genuine turn: away from sin, toward God. It is the first movement in every conversion account Luke records.
- Scripture
- "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." — Mark 1:15
- "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name." — Luke 24:47
- "God… commandeth all men every where to repent." — Acts 17:30
- "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." — Luke 13:3
- "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." — Acts 3:19
Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
Baptism is not a symbolic afterthought. Peter commands it the same hour hearts are pricked. Every conversion in Acts that records baptism names Jesus specifically — not a formula of titles, but the Name in which remission is given.
- Scripture
- "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." — Mark 16:16
- "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." — Matthew 28:19
- "They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." — Acts 8:16; 10:48; 19:5
- "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." — Galatians 3:27
- "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." — 1 Peter 3:21
Remission of sins
Remission means the sins are washed away — not merely covered, not deferred. Ananias told Saul to "wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Baptism is where Scripture places that washing.
- Scripture
- "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." — Acts 22:16
- "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them." — John 20:23
- "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him." — Colossians 2:12
- "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" — Ephesians 1:7
- "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." — Hebrews 9:22
The gift of the Holy Ghost
The promise does not end at the water. Jesus told the disciples to tarry until "endued with power from on high." Peter's answer includes the Spirit as a gift — not earned, not optional, but promised to all who obey.
- Scripture
- "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." — Acts 1:8
- "The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." — Acts 10:44
- "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" — Acts 19:2
- "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." — Acts 2:4
- "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." — Acts 8:17
Scripture has an order. Read it forward.
The Gospels record the commission. Acts records the obedience. The Epistles record the life that followed. Rather than starting with later theological explanations and reading backward, move forward with the text — letting Scripture interpret Scripture.
The Commission
What Jesus commanded before He ascended — baptism, repentance, remission, and the promise of the Spirit.
Pentecost
The first public preaching of the gospel after the resurrection — and Peter's unfiltered answer.
The Build-Out
Six conversion accounts across Acts — same message, same response, every time.
Lay the labels down — just for now.
You are not being asked to accept an argument in advance, or to surrender your faith, or to join a movement. You are being invited to temporarily set aside the conclusions you may have inherited — long enough to let Scripture speak in its own voice.
Approach with honesty. Trust Scripture and Scripture alone. Where the Bible speaks plainly, let it speak plainly. Where it is silent, do not pressure it to answer questions it does not address. If Scripture does not support something, reject it — no matter who taught it or how familiar it feels.