Acts 2:36-38 - What Shall We Do?

Acts 2:36-38:“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
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."

Have you ever followed a group of people into action, and later wonder what it was that possessed you? Being in a crowd can lead to your doing things that you would never do otherwise. It's called, "peer pressure" or "mob thinking" -- and it can be intoxicating!

During riots, for instance, looting is done by many people who would never dream of stealing in normal circumstances. But, "Everyone else is doing it," can be an empowering concept.

But, when the dust clears . . . when it is time to account for your actions? -- That is another story.

That is the case here, when we read of the people gathered around Peter and the other apostles on the Day of Pentecost. Everyone heard the commotion, and had come to see it for themselves -- another crowd gathered. This time, though, they weren't being stirred to action, but were being brought to an accounting.

The sudden realization came with the finality of a jury foreman's proclamation of "guilty!"

To the honest listener, it was like being splashed with cold water -- being rudely awakened -- being stabbed in the heart! "We did what? We killed the one we were waiting for?"

The only thing the crowd could do was ask, "What shall we do?"

Peter's answer to them may seem odd to "contemporary Christians" of today, who tend to want to make following Christ more a matter of convenience, than obedience. Their answer is to pray -- utter a sort of "sinner's prayer."

Prayer is definitely called for in the heart of a repentant believer, but Peter had asked the crowd to do more than that -- to also be baptized.

That is something you don't hear much about today -- but -- if it was what Peter said was required then, why would it not be required by repentant believers today? -- A simple search through Scripture makes it hard to miss the importance of baptism to the believer.

1 Peter 3:20-22: "...to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."