36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this,athey were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, a“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the1 remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and ato your children, and bto all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
A Vital Church Grows
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this1 perverse generation.”
41 Then those who1 gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added tothem.
42aAnd they continued steadfastly in the apostles’1 doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and amany wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and ahad all things in common,
Clearly, baptism is a commanded ordinance for those who would be saved. Though it is strictly a physical ritual, our participation in it shows the sincerity of our repentance, our belief of His Word, our desire to obey God, and our acceptance of what Jesus Christ did on our behalf. It is such an important beginning to our Christian lives that Jesus says that "unless one is born of water [baptism] and the Spirit [by a laying on of hands (Hebrews 6:2; Acts 8:17)], he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
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