Acts 2:38-39
“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.”
King James Version · the opening — all 2 verses are below
Peter's gospel proclamation at Pentecost citing Joel and Psalm 16, calling for repentance, baptism, and Spirit-reception.
Read the whole passage — all 2 verses (KJV)
2:38Then 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.
2:39For 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.
Fulfillment References
Joel 2:32 Acts 4:12 Acts 10:44-48
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThis is the new-birth promise at the heart of the apostolic faith. Peter, holding the keys of the kingdom, answers 'what shall we do?': repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost — the new birth of water and Spirit (John 3:5). Baptism is in the one saving Name (Acts 4:12), the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19) revealed as Jesus. 'The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off' — for every generation.
JewishPeter, a Jew addressing Jews at Pentecost (Shavuot), calls for repentance (teshuvah) and immersion akin to mikveh practice; the 'gift of the Spirit' echoes Joel. Read of Jewish renewal, not a baptismal formula.
CatholicA foundational baptismal text — repentance, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Spirit; read with the Trinitarian formula of Matthew 28:19 (cf. the Catechism).
ProtestantThe apostolic call to repent and be baptized; traditions differ on baptism's relation to remission (sacramental vs. symbolic) and on the baptismal name, most using the Matthew 28:19 wording.
AcademicLuke's Pentecost speech reflects baptism 'in the name of Jesus' (also Acts 8:16; 10:48; 19:5); scholars note this Christ-name formula appears earlier than the triadic formula and debate their relationship.
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Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.