History has too many details for any writer to cover them all (John 21:25). Since Luke had to be selective, he focused first on the apostle Peter (Acts 1-12). In that first section, Luke also showed how persecutions began, and how the Gospel reached Samaria and moved toward Africa (Acts 7-8). Then Luke focused on the apostle Paul (Acts 13-28). Peter and Paul each demonstrated Jesus’ patience and His power to transform sinners into saints.
During Jesus’ trial, Peter had denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:61). Yet Jesus graciously restored Peter (Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-19), allowing Peter to use the keys of the kingdom as the church began. To the vast crowd in Jerusalem, Peter presented compelling evidences—eyewitness testimonies, miracles and prophecies—with this conclusion:
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Acts 2:36)
Since Christ the Lord is to be obeyed, the convicted hearers cried out, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter supplied the Spirit’s answer:
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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself. (Acts 2:37-39)
“REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU.”
Here, again, is history at two levels.
● Then: History records Peter’s key commands and promises given on the Day of Pentecost, soon after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1-2).
● Now: The Spirit’s promise extends to “all who are far off,” applying those commands and promises to you and me.
Have you repented and been baptized in the way described by the Bible? If so, your personal history is changing. “Forgiveness” and “the gift of the Holy Spirit” are writing a new story for your life.
Peter’s teaching is presented in Acts, and later in his letters to Christians scattered across Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 3:1). 1 Peter and 2 Peter grow Christians in the “grace and knowledge” of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18 cf. 2 Peter 1:2). Peter wrote the second letter shortly before his death for Christ (2 Peter 1:14-15 cf. John 21:18). Looking ahead, he prophesied, “there will be false teachers among you” who will introduce false teachings, which he calls “destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1).