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Acts Bible Study

Acts: 3000 New Believers!

Acts 2:37-41 New International Version (NIV)

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The people knew that their actions had led to the killing of Jesus. So, they were very sad. He was their Messiah; the only person who could save them from the results that came from their sins. They felt very guilty. And they wanted to know what they should do.

Peter told them that they must recognize Jesus as the Messiah and be baptized. This would show that now they had genuine faith in Jesus.

‘In the name of Jesus Christ’ meant that they believed in his authority. They trusted him to save them. And they accepted him as their Lord. If they did this, they would receive two gifts. God would forgive them for the things that they had done wrong. This was the first gift. The Holy Spirit would come and he would live in them. The Spirit would make them into new people. This was the second gift.

‘This promise’ means the gift that God has promised. This gift is the Holy Spirit. It is for everyone. It was not just for the disciples at Pentecost.

‘All those who are far away’ means Jews in different countries and Gentiles also.

‘Everyone whom the Lord our God will call to come to him’ actually meant everyone. It included people who were not born yet. Of course, this includes people who are living now. When God calls us, he wants to give us these gifts too.

A person can begin to believe in Jesus. And he or she can begin to trust in him. When a person does this, it must not be a secret. When we are saved we must act differently, like a new creation. To show that the person has changed, he or she must come to be with other believers.

The group of believers in Jerusalem increased. They increased from 120 people to over 3000 people. They became the first church.

Think about how powerful that message must have been and how amazing it must have been to witness, 3000 people get saved in one service. O how our hearts sing when one person gets saved, but to see 3000. How joyful that day must have been.