The scriptures you referenced, with the exception of Acts 16:31-33 (ref to belief and water baptism), line up with the command given by Peter on the Day of Pentecost; repent, be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The scriptures I referenced (including Acts 16:31-33) are all in harmony with your (pet verse Acts 2:38) that you continue to misinterpret. In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.
*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received
the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 -
the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was
BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).
In Acts 10:43 we read
..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received
the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 -
when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 -
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved)
BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as
repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.
*So the only logical conclusion
when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*
Acts 3:19
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
No mention of baptism and faith is implied or assumed because
believing in Christ/faith in Christ for salvation is the
new direction of this
change of mind in
repentance. Two sides to the same coin.
Acts 5:31-32
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that OBEY him.
Notice "repentance" (and not water baptism) is in connection with forgiveness of sins and (faith is implied or assumed). Choosing to
REPENT and
BELIEVE THE GOSPEL is the
ACT OF OBEDIENCE that causes us to receive the Holy Spirit. In Romans 10:16, we read - But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has
believed our report?” In Ephesians 1:13, we read - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the
gospel of your salvation—having also
believed, you were
sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise. *What happened to baptism? *Hermeneutics. Repentance is already implied or assumed.
Acts 10:43-44
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (water baptism) 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Water baptism is not mentioned in Acts 10:43-44 and it's not actually mentioned until verse 47,
"AFTER" these Gentiles had already
BELIEVED, RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WERE SAVED.
Acts 11:17-18
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
(MY COMMENT - He did not withstand God. He water baptized them-Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?)
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
You need to bold
who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ which was established
BEFORE water baptism. He water baptized them
"AFTER" they
BELIEVED, RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WERE SAVED.
Acts 15:7-11 (No OT Circumcision Necessary)
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Hear the word of the gospel and
BELIEVE. They received
the gift of the Holy Spirit WHEN THEY BELIEVED before water baptism. Hearts were
purified by faith, not by water baptism. Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, as Paul stated in Ephesians 2:8,9 that we are
saved by grace through faith, not works. In Romans 5:1-2, we read that
we have been justified by faith and we have
access by faith into grace, not by water baptism.
Acts 16:31-33 (Only belief and water baptism reference)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (At midnight-not much of a public display)
They said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, not believe
and get baptized and you will be saved. The public display here does not matter and no mention of speaking in tongues. What matters is they were saved
WHEN THEY BELIEVED (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17; 16:31- perfect harmony) before water baptism.
Acts 26:18-20
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they MAY receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Notice that
forgiveness of sins here is connected with those who are
sanctified by faith in Me and
not water baptism. Those who repent turn to God and place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Acts 20:21 - testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of
repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Do works meet for repentance" does not mean we are saved by works. Those who repent "change their mind" and place their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The Bible also tells us that true repentance will
result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and
prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the
fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance (change of mind).