“36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. 39 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. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:36-42

A piercing truth often comes with a painful sting. We tend to trust those in authority, particularly in matters of faith. We rely on our religious leaders, our church bodies, and the traditions we’ve inherited, often without questioning if they align with divine truth, revealed to us in the Bible. Yet, the story of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, serves as a powerful reminder that even deeply religious people, led by their trusted guides, can tragically miss God’s clearest revelation. It also shows us the path back to Him when that painful truth is revealed.

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood before a crowd of devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. He didn’t mince words. He declared that the very Jesus whom they and their religious leaders had rejected and crucified God had made “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). This was a gut-wrenching revelation. Imagine the guilt, the shame, the profound realization that they had participated, however unknowingly, in the rejection and murder of their long-awaited Messiah. Their hearts were “pricked,” pierced by the weight of their grave error. Their immediate, desperate cry was, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

Peter’s answer was direct and to the point. He didn’t offer complicated rituals or lengthy penance. He laid out a clear path to reconciliation with God and new life: “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” (Acts 2:38-39). Furthermore, he exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).

This ancient account holds profound relevance for us today. Just as those in Peter’s audience, we too can find ourselves blindly following our church bodies and religious leaders, even when they lead us astray. History is replete with examples of religious institutions falling into error, embracing doctrines or practices that deviate from God’s Word. Our comfort in tradition or our loyalty to a particular denomination can sometimes overshadow our personal responsibility to discern truth. When we encounter a truth that challenges our long-held beliefs or exposes an error within our spiritual landscape, the question that should echo in our hearts is the same as that of Peter’s hearers: “What shall we do?”

Peter’s words offer the timeless answer. First, repent. This is not merely feeling sorry for ourselves; it’s acknowledging our error, turning from it, and looking to God in faith for mercy and forgiveness in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Second, we are to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). Baptism signifies our union with Jesus Christ and our participation by faith in the new covenant He established through the shedding of His holy and precious blood on the cross (cf. Col. 2:11-15; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6ff.; 9:11ff.; Mark 16:16; John 3:14-18). It signifies our union with Christ in His death for our sins, that, as Christ was raised from the dead, we should be raised up in newness of life, alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 2:26-29). It signifies the washing away of our sins and guilt and a new identification in Christ (cf. Acts 22:16).

Third, Peter promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would indwell believers and guide them into all truth by giving them a right understanding of the Scriptures. This promise, Peter emphatically stated, “is to you, to your children, and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” It’s a universal invitation, extending to every generation and every person God draws to Himself. Finally, the call to “save yourselves from this untoward generation” is a summons to separate ourselves from the prevailing attitudes, values, and errors of the world around us — even from religious distortions — and to turn to Jesus, the Christ, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

The immediate response of three thousand souls on that day was a testament to the power of God’s truth. They “gladly received his word” and were baptized. Their conversion was not a superficial experience; “they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Their lives were profoundly reshaped by their encounter with the resurrected Lord and the truth of God’s Word made known to them through Peter.

Let us, then, examine our own hearts and the spiritual paths we walk. Are we diligently seeking God’s truth, even if it challenges our comfort zones or familiar traditions? Are we willing to repent when the Holy Spirit convicts us of error, regardless of how deeply ingrained it may be within our religious upbringing? The path Peter laid out is not just for a crowd in Jerusalem two millennia ago; it is God’s enduring invitation to us. It is the way to reconciliation, forgiveness, the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and true fellowship with Christ. May we respond with the same earnestness as those on Pentecost, and find our salvation in Him alone.

Have mercy upon me, O God, and forgive my sins, which caused the innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus, Your Son, and my Savior. Join me to Christ Jesus in my baptism and make the forgiveness and life He won for me on the cross my own through faith in His name. And grant me Your Holy Spirit and teach and guide me with Your Word, keeping me in the true faith unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]