What does Acts 2:39 mean?
Peter has just called a crowd of Jews to repent and be baptized. Some of them must have recognized the words of John the Baptist who had his ministry on the Jordan River just east of Jerusalem three years prior. If so, they may remember John's harsh words to the Pharisees and Sadducees who believed they were saved by virtue of being descendants of Abraham. John told them don't rely on pedigree. "God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:9–10).Peter knows the apostles are to be Jesus' witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8), but he doesn't yet know that this is more than a geographic description. His audience is of devout Jews and proselytes (Acts 2:5, 11), all dedicated to Judaism. It won't be for a while that the apostles recognize that when Jesus said He had "other sheep that are not of this fold" (John 10:16) He meant the wretched Samaritans (Acts 8:14–17) and the blasphemous Gentiles (Acts 10:44–48), as the Jews would have seen them.
Jesus' offer of salvation was always meant to be offered to the Jews first, but, equally, it was always meant to be offered to the Gentiles as well (Romans 1:16).
Acts 2:37–41 shows the first mass influx of people into the church. Men in Jerusalem for Pentecost from across the Roman Empire and beyond are startled to find 120 Galileans speaking their native languages (Acts 2:1–13). Peter uses passages from Joel and Psalms to support his points on several ideas: that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Jews had Him killed, God raised Him from the dead, and His resurrection provides hope of forgiveness for His followers (Acts 2:14–36). The crowd is stunned and reacts in the only logical way possible, asking, ''What shall we do?'' (Acts 2:37). Peter explains their need for salvation, and thousands respond.
Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.
