Repent, and be baptized

Acts 2:38 - Two imperatives (“repent,” “be baptized”) and a promise (“ye shall receive”). Those who teach baptismal regeneration – that is, that obedience in the baptismal waters gains eternal salvation – use this text as a primary support for their view. If an interpretation of Acts 2:38 does not match the teachings of the New Testament (or even the rest of the book of Acts), then something is wrong with that interpretation. In the next recorded sermons following Pentecost, Peter connects repentance with blotting out of sins (3:19-20), proclaims salvation in Christ alone (4:11-12), and associates repentance and the forgiveness of sins with the acts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus (5:30-31).

Repentance in Acts 

• Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted
• Acts 5:31 to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness
• Acts 13:24 John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance
• Acts 17:30 God...now commandeth all men every where to repent
• Acts 19:4 John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance
• Acts 20:21 Testifying...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
• Acts 26:20 they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance

Some interpreters labor to unite “for the remission of sins” with both “repent” and “be baptized.” Others labor to separate “for the remission of sins” from “be baptized” to modify only “repent.” However, the grammatical structure of Acts 2:38 shows that “for the remission of sins” only modifies “be baptized” and not “repent.” Peter commands his hearers, “Repent, and be baptized.” In both Greek and English, the verb μετανοησατε/ “repent” is in the second person plural; the verb βαπτισθητω/ “be baptized” is in the third person singular. The words that follow “be baptized” – “every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” – match the singular tense of “be baptized.” The final verb, “shall receive,” returns to the second person plural.

The question “in what sense does baptism remit sins is the real core of the controversy on Acts 2:38.”  Is baptism for the remission of sins? Yes, baptism is for (eis) the remission of sins, according to Acts 2:38. In what sense does baptism remit sins, or, in what way is it “for” the remission of sins? Those who find eternal salvation here assume “for” means “in order to obtain” the remission of sins. However, “in order to” does not exhaust the range of meaning of either the Greek preposition eis (εις) or the English preposition “for.” Baptism answers to the remission of sins because it is a sign of it. The words in Acts 2:38 are “eis aphesin ton hamartion/for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 includes the same phrase: “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (eis aphesin ton hamartion).” The similarities are compelling.  It is not the blood of the grape in the cup that gives remission of sins, but the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that the cup represents. We metaphorically receive the body and blood of Jesus in the elements of the Lord’s Supper. We metaphorically receive the death and resurrection of Jesus in the element of water baptism. Paul uses “likeness” (ομοιωματι, a figure, image, likeness, representation; cf. Hebrews 9:24) in Romans 6:5. He says we are baptized “into death” and then raised to “walk in newness of life.” Baptism does not literally put us in the death and resurrection, but “in the likeness.” Peter uses “like figure” (αντιτυπον, a thing resembling another, counterpart, antitype) in I Peter 3:21. Baptism saves similarly to the way the water saved Noah and his family. Water saved Noah by the ark, and baptism saves us by the resurrection. The conscience calls and baptism answers (επερωτημα).

Jesus actually, literally, and really put away sin by his sacrifice on the cross. Sins are remitted literally, in the death of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22); experimentally, in the exercise of faith (Acts 10:43); and ceremonially, in baptism (Acts 2:38).