Acts 2:38- Peter replied, "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
To repent of something to most people simply means to "feel sorry" for a particular act, but in the Greek the word "Repent" is made up of two words-
a- “to turn” around
b- “mind”
It actually means to turn your mind around. It more closely means to change your view. This is always then followed by an action of changing your behavior. I believe that there are a lot of worldly repented sinners around who feel sorry every Sunday morning regarding their actions of Saturday night. The problem is that feeling sorry does not mean that they have “scripturally repented unto salvation” Peter has just preached a powerful message proclaiming that Jesus is the true Messiah. He then tells them to repent and change their view about the one whom they have crucified…. Acts 2:37 tells us that "they were cut or pierced to the heart". They came under a Godly conviction.
Heb 4:12- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Following the conviction of their heart, Peter instructs them in verse 38 to: Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
The word “and” in the middle is a descriptive word. It is describing a process. Change your mind and your view about Christ (repent) and then publicly testify of your new faith or view by being baptized in water. Notice also the word “for” the forgiveness of sins…. FOR means, either as a means to, for the purpose of, being forgiven, or as a direct result of being forgiven. It does not indicate that the act of water baptism can somehow provide you with forgiveness of sins. A.T. Robertson is quoted as saying: "I understand Peter to be urging baptism on each of them who had already turned and repented and for baptism to be done on the basis of that forgiveness, which they had already received". A perfect example of this would be found by going back to the 1800's. If you were to find yourself in a post office back then, you would have seen a sign that read "wanted for robbery"- Jessie James. The sign did not mean that they wanted Jessie James in order for him to commit a robbery, the sign meant that they wanted Jessie James for the robbery which had already been committed. This is true as well for this verse. The instructions were for them to be baptized “for the forgiveness of your sins” Not that you can have forgiveness by being baptized, but because you have been forgiven already, you are to be baptized. Baptism is simply an outward sign or symbol of a declaration of the work of the Holy Spirit that has been done within your heart already.
We are then promised that through conviction and repentance, by proclaiming what Jesus has done in our hearts by the act of water baptism that we will also then receive the wonderful gift of the person of the Holy Spirit. What an incredible promise made to all who will receive.
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