Let me first say that I am sincere in saying that it is a mystery to me why so many think they do not have to be obedient to the words spoken by Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts. Jesus, Himself, said "...I will give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven:" (Matthew 16:19) Jesus said Peter was given the keys not a single key.
We know that Peter believed Jesus was the messiah from reading Matthew 16:16: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Therefore many would say he was saved at that time. However, some time after making this statement Jesus told Peter to strengthen others when thou art converted. Luke 22:31-32
Peter told the gathered crowd what they must do after he and the disciples, along with others who were present in the upper room, received the Holy Ghost:
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off (in the future), even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:38-42
This set of instructions did not stop there:
We see the same message was relayed to the Samaritans in Acts Chapter 8 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." Acts 8:12, 14-17
Again, the message did not stop here either. We see the Gentiles receiving the same instructions:
Cornelius a Gentile received a message from an angel of God telling him to send for the Apostle Peter:
"...now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." Acts 10:5-6
The following is what happened when Peter arrived:
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." Acts 10:43-48
When the Jewish counsel found out that Peter had gone to a Gentile they demanded an account of why he went to Cornelius:
"And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Acts 11:13-14
The message continued with Paul expanding the knowledge of disciples in Ephesus who only knew of John the Baptist's form of water baptism:
"Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." Acts 19:1-6
Lastly, Jesus said that all will be judged by His Word:
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48
So I for one want to make every effort to pursue, and share in love, what is recorded there.
We know that Peter believed Jesus was the messiah from reading Matthew 16:16: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Therefore many would say he was saved at that time. However, some time after making this statement Jesus told Peter to strengthen others when thou art converted. Luke 22:31-32
Peter told the gathered crowd what they must do after he and the disciples, along with others who were present in the upper room, received the Holy Ghost:
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off (in the future), even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:38-42
This set of instructions did not stop there:
We see the same message was relayed to the Samaritans in Acts Chapter 8 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." Acts 8:12, 14-17
Again, the message did not stop here either. We see the Gentiles receiving the same instructions:
Cornelius a Gentile received a message from an angel of God telling him to send for the Apostle Peter:
"...now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." Acts 10:5-6
The following is what happened when Peter arrived:
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." Acts 10:43-48
When the Jewish counsel found out that Peter had gone to a Gentile they demanded an account of why he went to Cornelius:
"And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Acts 11:13-14
The message continued with Paul expanding the knowledge of disciples in Ephesus who only knew of John the Baptist's form of water baptism:
"Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." Acts 19:1-6
Lastly, Jesus said that all will be judged by His Word:
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48
So I for one want to make every effort to pursue, and share in love, what is recorded there.
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If just one person receives the increase from God it will all be worth it. Continue to be blessed!
