DAY #183: Acts 2:37-3:11

These people that Peter preached to were convicted deeply. This means the crowd stunned. Their hearts were pricked. The crowd was stunned! They asked the question that warms the heart of any messenger of the gospel: “What should we do?” Peter was ready with the answer.

In answer to the people’s question, Peter presented a threefold challenge: Turn from your sins—In other words, “repent.” Turn to God—In addition to turning from sin, people must turn to God. It does no good to turn from sin without turning then to the one who can solve the sin problem.

Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins—For believers, baptism is visible proof of repentance and commitment to follow Jesus, the Messiah. The idea of baptism for the forgiveness of sins does not mean that baptism results in forgiveness of sins but rather that forgiveness of sins as a result of accepting Jesus as Savior should result in a baptism—an outward display of an inner conviction. Repentance, not baptism, is what brings forgiveness.

What a response! Three thousand people believed and took the step of faith in Christ and were baptized—they took that first step of obedience, publicly identifying themselves with Christ. And they were added to the church; that is, they immediately joined the fellowship of believers.

The apostles’ teaching was central to the content of what was to be studied. The apostles, the eyewitnesses of all Jesus had done, would be the ones whom the Holy Spirit would remind of the crucial truths by which the church would be directed for centuries to come. From the beginning the early church was devoted to hearing, studying, and learning what the apostles had to teach.

The fellowship (koinonia) means association and close relationships. This was more than just getting together, certainly more than just a religious meeting. It involved sharing goods, having meals together, and praying together.

Of the thousands of Jews who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Pentecost, many may have come as early as Passover (fifty days earlier). Now they were extending their stay in Jerusalem even longer to learn the basics of this newfound Christian faith. Many would likely need financial or physical help from those who lived in Jerusalem to be able to remain this long. When a need arose, believers would sell their possessions to help those in need. This practice of sharing everything they had was likely a response to that specific need.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, build the kind of fellowship we read abut here in Acts 2 into the lives and fabric of people at COV. Lord, teach us that we are better together. teach us that we need to love others and serve others and in turn beloved and be served ourselves. Lord, Everyday build into me a greater heart and desire to pastor and shepherd Your people. Help me model the life of Christ and the love of Christ. Raise up leaders at COV who desire to do the same. Lord, raise up LIFE group leaders. Lay it on the hearts of our people to get plugged into a LIFE group.