Acts | 1:1-11 | 1:12-26 | 2:1-13 | 2:14-36 | 2:37-47 | 3:1-10 | 3:11-26 | 4:1-12 | 4:13-22 | 4:23-37 | 5:1-11 | 5:12-26 | More Coming Soon |


These small group Bible studies of Acts 2:37-47 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Acts 2:37-47 Bible Study – Fellowship In the Early Church

Outline

I. Three thousand people believe (37-41)
II. The fellowship of believers (42-47)

I. Three thousand people believe (37-41)

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean that they were “cut to the heart?”
• What specifically convicted them from Peter’s message?
• How did they deal with the conviction they felt?
• What did Peter tell them they should do?
• Did Peter’s answer, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins,” support the idea that baptism is required for salvation?
• What does it mean to repent?
• What is the purpose of baptism?
• Is baptism necessary for salvation? What verses or passages support your answer?
• How could they receive the Holy Spirit?
• Who was salvation available to?
• In what way were they “far off?”
• What can you see about Peter’s heart for the people in verse 40?
• What caused so many people to believe (people who hadn’t believed during Jesus’ life)?
• How can their response encourage you to preach the gospel?

Cross-References

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Luke 13:3 – No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Matthew 3:8 – Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Acts 22:16 – And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. When they heard this, they were cut to the heart – The Holy Spirit convicted the listeners. They seem to have especially been convicted because they bore responsibility for Jesus’ death.

Convicting our hearts is one of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:8-11 – And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

We see the Holy Spirit convicting them in this passage.

Reflect – What does it feel like to be convicted by the Holy Spirit? Have you ever felt that before?

You feel guilty. Though our consciences can also make us feel guilty, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit goes deeper and cuts sharper. It is not a good feeling. David felt this when he sinned with Bathsheba. This is what he said.

Psalms 32:3-4 – For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Why was God’s hand heavy on him? Why did God make him feel like that?

It was to lead him to repentance.

Psalms 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

The Holy Spirit convicts us to show us that we have done wrong. Everything is not OK. We have to change direction.

We see the same truth here in Acts. The people asked Peter, “What shall we do?” Peter then told them to repent and they did.

Most people do not enjoy feeling guilty. A common response is to justify oneself or suppress the guilt. Hardening one’s heart against sin and guilt causes people to become desensitized. The heart becomes calloused and hard.

But we should realize God installed our consciences to warn us about the dangers of sin. The conscience is like a pain receptor. It tells us something is wrong. In addition, He sends the Holy Spirit to cut through our natural defenses.

Application – Are you growing more sensitive to the Holy Spirit? When you feel guilty, repent! If there is anything in your life now causing you guilt, bring it before the Lord and deal with it.

2. Repent – Throughout Scripture, we see that those preaching the gospel called their hearers to repent. A form of the word repent is used in the Bible over one hundred times. Jesus repeatedly called the people to “repent for the kingdom of God was at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

It is enough to be aware of one’s sin. It is not even enough to intellectually agree with the facts of the gospel. Repentance shows a deeper response is necessary.

Reflect – What does it mean to repent?

This is what repentance looks like.

Joel 2:12-13 – Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Repentance means turning from our sins and to the Lord.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for “repent” is “Teshuvah” – תשובה.

It means to “return” or “turn back to God.”

One clear example is Peter himself. While Judas was sorry for what he had done, he didn’t turn to Jesus. Peter turned back.

Examples of non-repentance

• Simon the magician – When confronted with his sin, Simon told Peter, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:24) Repentance is something personal. It is not something anyone can do for you. He did not cast himself upon the Lord and ask Him for mercy.
• Saul – Saul says the right words. 1 Samuel 15:24 – Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” But they are empty. He is confessing, saying “sorry,” without any real repentance. He didn’t seek God but wanted to act the same as before. Before the confession, he made excuses and minimized his sin. Repentance is not just saying a quick apology and hoping to move on.
• Cain – Cain was unhappy with the consequences of his sin. Genesis 4:13 – “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
Repentance is not just sorrow over the consequences of sin.

Examples of true repentance

David – David sought the Lord and asked for mercy from Him (Psalm 51). He realized his sin was against God (and was therefore relational, not just doing the wrong thing). Repentance is throwing yourself upon God’s mercy.
• Zacchaeus – When confronted with his sin, he made restitution.
• Prodigal son – He acknowledged his sin and returned to the father, leaving behind the ways of the world. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and before you.” He was willing to accept whatever consequences the father decided on.

The ingredients of true repentance include the following.

• Recognition of wrong
• Godly sorrow (Psalm 51:17)
• Genuine confession (Ezra 9)
• Turning from sin to the Lord (Joel 2:12-13). This is an inward act.
o On this, Oswald Chambers said, “The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience that puts me right with God? Never! I am put right with God because prior to all else, Christ died.”
• True repentance results in life change (Matthew 3:8).

For a full study on repentance, check out our article on Judas and Peter.

Application – Repentance is not only necessary for salvation. We need to regularly practice repentance as a lifestyle.

3. Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins –

Acts 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “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.”

I have often been asked whether this verse means that baptism is necessary for salvation.

One of the first rules of Biblical interpretation is that we should always interpret individual verses within the whole of Scripture. The Bible teaches that faith alone brings justification (Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16, Romans 4:4-5). Faith is not just an intellectual assent. Even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). It is trusting in God for salvation. Part of that is repentance, the act of acknowledging our need for forgiveness and turning to God and away from our sin to receive that forgiveness.

Good works and religious rituals do not save (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus also told the thief on the cross that today they would be together in paradise (Luke 23:43). That would be true even though the man never had the chance to be baptized.

So what does this verse mean?

The question centers around the meaning of the word “for.” In English, this has multiple meanings. It can mean “in order to get.” One example would be “Take ten dollars for the pizza.” You need the ten dollars to get the pizza. But it does not always mean that. In another example, “Take a Tylenol for your headache.” That does not mean that you should do this in order to get a headache, but that you should do it “because you have” a headache.

The Greek word “eis” translated “for” can mean “in order to get” or “because of” or “in view of” or “as a result of.”

One example of “eis” meaning the result of an action is seen in Matthew 12:41.

Matthew 12:41 – For they repented at [eis] the preaching of Jonah.

This means that they repented because of Jonah’s preaching, not “in order to get” Jonah’s preaching. In many other Bible verses, this Greek word means “because of” or something similar (Matthew 3:11, Romans 6:3, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 19:3, 1 Corinthians 1:15, 12:13).

In many other cases in Acts, Peter or other apostles preach about receiving forgiveness because of faith and forgiveness without mentioning baptism (Acts 3:17-26, Acts 4:8-12).

Thus, looking at all of Scripture, the most reasonable interpretation of Acts 2:38 is that people should first repent. Then they should be baptized because their sins have been forgiven. Baptism is an outer symbol of what God has already done in their heart.

Much of the above is from this great article at Got Questions, which covers this question in much more detail. https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-Acts-2-38.html

Application – If you have placed your faith in Jesus but have never been baptized, you should get baptized. Also, do not place your confidence for salvation in any good work, whether baptism or going to church or prayer.

4. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Those who repent and place their faith in Jesus will receive the Holy Spirit.

5. The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off –

The Holy Spirit is promised to every believer. This applies to