Acts 2:38 Comparison: Evangelical vs. Oneness / Baptismal-Regeneration View

[Blade]

Acts 2:38. Who was he talking to? "Peter was calling his Jewish audience, who had just realized they had rejected and crucified the Messiah, to change their hearts and direction toward faith in Jesus." Yes context does matter and some can very easily take this Acts 2:38 turn it in to something Peter (Sweet holy Spirit) never said. A man of God gone home now would say "don't take my word for it.. you seek you pray you study you find this truth for your self". That "truth" would be like "Yeshua/Jesus" is the son of God died for the worlds sin" things like that not some personal doctrine he believed.

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

 

[TruthDefender]

Non sequitur. I'm merely providing the definitions of certain baptisms.

There is only one baptism.

“one Lord, one faith, one baptism;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

[LightBearer316]

Acts 2:38 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.

Same Apostle below

Acts 3:19 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.

Repent/Repent and be baptized/converted for the remission of sins/that your sins may be blotted out, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost/times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Begotten/born again...through the resurrection of Jesus (I Pet.1:3)

Same Apostle below

baptism now saves you...through the resurrection of Jesus (I Pet.3:21)

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:3)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:5)

One does not enter into the kingdom/body of Christ before they repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Jn. 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13). It is only after one obeys the gospel that they are then added to the body.

All this shows is that you haven’t even taken the time to read the forum. Most if not all, of what you mentioned has already been discussed in detail throughout this thread.

Proverbs 13:4 (KJV) — “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

Grace and Peace

 

[LightBearer316]

There is only one baptism.

“one Lord, one faith, one baptism;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

That’s exactly right — there is only one baptism that truly saves, and that’s the spiritual baptism into Christ by the Holy Spirit, not the various symbolic washings or ceremonial types seen before.

Water baptism is the outward sign; Spirit baptism is the inward reality. Paul clarifies this same truth in 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV):

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...”​

And again in Romans 6:3–4 (KJV):

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death...”​

So yes — one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5 KJV) — but that “one baptism” points to our union with Christ through the Spirit, not merely the water itself.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[LightBearer316]

Acts 2:38. Who was he talking to? "Peter was calling his Jewish audience, who had just realized they had rejected and crucified the Messiah, to change their hearts and direction toward faith in Jesus." Yes context does matter and some can very easily take this Acts 2:38 turn it in to something Peter (Sweet holy Spirit) never said. A man of God gone home now would say "don't take my word for it.. you seek you pray you study you find this truth for your self". That "truth" would be like "Yeshua/Jesus" is the son of God died for the worlds sin" things like that not some personal doctrine he believed.

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Exactly — Peter was speaking specifically to a Jewish audience in Jerusalem who had just realized they crucified their own Messiah. His call to repentance and baptism in Acts 2:38 KJV was a call to turn from rejecting Christ to believing in Him.

The key is understanding who he was addressing and why. When people lift Acts 2:38 KJV out of its historical and covenantal context, they turn it into something Peter — or the Holy Spirit — never said.

A wise man of God who’s now gone home used to say, “Don’t take my word for it. You seek, you pray, you study, and find this truth for yourself.”
That truth isn’t about building personal doctrine — it’s about discovering the living Christ:

“Yeshua (Jesus) is the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world.”​

​

And as Paul reminded the Corinthians:

“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it…”​

— 1 Corinthians 3:2 (KJV)​

​

In other words, spiritual growth comes when we move beyond surface interpretations and rightly divide the Word in its full context.

Grace and Peace

 

[mailmandan]

That’s exactly right — there is only one baptism that truly saves, and that’s the spiritual baptism into Christ by the Holy Spirit, not the various symbolic washings or ceremonial types seen before.

Water baptism is the outward sign; Spirit baptism is the inward reality. Paul clarifies this same truth in 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV):

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...”​

And again in Romans 6:3–4 (KJV):

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death...”​

So yes — one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5 KJV) — but that “one baptism” points to our union with Christ through the Spirit, not merely the water itself.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

Amen! Ephesians 4:5 - ..one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

 

[lrs68]

Actually before Paul the Disciple/Apostle Peter was directed by God to be the Ambassador to the Jew and Gentiles. Peter even received the vision of the foods and personally preached the same message he did in Acts 10 to the Gentile family of Cornelius as he did in Acts 2. So the specifics to Acts 2:38 are for both Jew and Gentile.

So I contacted my Cousin who is a Presbyter for the UPC and I have other family that preach for the ALJC and they claim Salvation comes at the moment a person believes in and has faith in God and repents.

Baptism to their explanation is a burial and resurrection process.

So I am not sure about much of the information being used to represent the UPC/ALJC Oneness Pentecostal but it is being extremely misrepresented.

 

[LightBearer316]

Actually before Paul the Disciple/Apostle Peter was directed by God to be the Ambassador to the Jew and Gentiles. Peter even received the vision of the foods and personally preached the same message he did in Acts 10 to the Gentile family of Cornelius as he did in Acts 2. So the specifics to Acts 2:38 are for both Jew and Gentile.

So I contacted my Cousin who is a Presbyter for the UPC and I have other family that preach for the ALJC and they claim Salvation comes at the moment a person believes in and has faith in God and repents.

Baptism to their explanation is a burial and resurrection process.

So I am not sure about much of the information being used to represent the UPC/ALJC Oneness Pentecostal but it is being extremely misrepresented.

I appreciate your effort to verify the doctrine firsthand — that’s exactly the right approach. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, you’re “searching the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

You’re right that Peter’s vision in Acts 10 KJV opened the door for Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) to receive the gospel, and that he preached the same Christ he proclaimed in Acts 2 KJV.
But notice the key distinction:
In Acts 10:43-47 KJV, Peter says,

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (KJV)​

And immediately after believing, the Holy Spirit fell on them — before water baptism.
That sequence shows salvation comes by faith first, through the Spirit — not through the act of baptism itself. Baptism followed as obedience and testimony.

When Peter said in Acts 2:38 KJV, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” he was addressing Jews who had just rejected their Messiah — calling them to turn (repent) and publicly identify with the very Christ they denied. The phrase “for the remission of sins” is tied to repentance and faith in His name, not the water.

Your relatives are right that baptism symbolizes burial and resurrection — Paul confirms this in Romans 6:3-4 (KJV):

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”​

That’s a picture of what faith has already accomplished — identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.

So yes, salvation comes at the moment one truly believes and repents toward God, trusting in the finished work of Christ. Baptism follows as an outward sign of that inward change.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[TheLearner]

The one being baptized submits to being baptized and walks into the water on their own, free will. Believers are not passive in getting water baptized. It takes cooperation from the one getting baptized and the one doing the baptizing. It's doing something, and it's still a work.

At my Baptism I walked on the water, yep I had a plank just under the water. lol

 

[TheLearner]

I saw I was not going to keep up, so I played read thru ouch shoulders

 

[Ouch]

You’re confusing disagreement with Christ’s Word for disagreement with your interpretation of it.
No one here denies Acts 2:38 — the issue is what it means, not whether it’s inspired.
Jesus is indeed the Word (John 1:1), and His Word also says:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” — John 3:36 KJV​

“By grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV​

Acts 2:38 harmonizes with those truths when read in context: repentance and baptism are responses of faith, not replacements for it.
Obedience follows grace — it never earns it.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

So do you see the problem?

I can tell you don't.

Acts 2:38 is very clear what it says.

I didn't interpreter anything you know what it says and don't like it.

Since you don't agree with JESUS and HIS word, you're the one doing the interpreting.

So again what's the difference between you and the catholic's since they also interpertet HIS word the way they want?

You point out someone else's problem and can't see you own.


Matthew 7:3-5
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.


FYI,

2 Peter 1,
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

[LightBearer316]

So I am not sure about much of the information being used to represent the UPC/ALJC Oneness Pentecostal but it is being extremely misrepresented.

So do you see the problem?

I can tell you don't.

Acts 2:38 is very clear what it says.

I didn't interpreter anything you know what it says and don't like it.
Since you don't agree with JESUS and HIS word, you're the one doing the interpreting.
So again what's the difference between you and the catholic's since they also interpertet HIS word the way they want?
You point out someone else's problem and can't see you own.
Matthew 7:3-5
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
FYI,
2 Peter 1,
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Brother, I completely agree that Scripture interprets itself, not man. That’s exactly why we must let the whole counsel of God define what any single verse means.

You quoted 2 Peter 1:20–21 KJV, and I wholeheartedly affirm that — no prophecy or Scripture comes from private interpretation. But that passage speaks of how Scripture originated (by the Holy Spirit), not how believers are forbidden to study, compare, and rightly divide it.
That’s why Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) — “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”​

When we “rightly divide,” we don’t reject any verse — we harmonize all of them.
That’s what I’m doing with Acts 2:38 KJV. It must agree with the rest of the Word — including:

John 3:36 (KJV) — “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”​

Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV) — “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.”​

Peter himself later confirmed this same truth when he preached to Cornelius:

Acts 10:43 (KJV) — “Through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”​

The Holy Spirit then fell on them before baptism (Acts 10:44–47 KJV). That’s not rejecting Acts 2:38 KJV — that’s interpreting it in light of Acts 10 and the rest of Scripture.

As for your comparison to the Catholics — the difference is simple: they elevate church tradition above the Word. I’m doing the opposite — I’m letting Scripture interpret Scripture, even if that means letting Peter explain Peter.

And regarding Matthew 7:3–5 KJV, that’s a good reminder for all of us. I take it seriously. We all need humility when handling the Word.
But humility doesn’t mean silence when truth is twisted — it means speaking truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) — “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”​

So no, I don’t reject Jesus’ words — I affirm every one of them. I just refuse to isolate one verse from the rest of His revelation.
The Word doesn’t contradict itself — and when rightly divided, it points us always to faith in Christ first, then obedience that flows from it.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[Ouch]

Brother, I completely agree that Scripture interprets itself, not man. That’s exactly why we must let the whole counsel of God define what any single verse means.

You quoted 2 Peter 1:20–21 KJV, and I wholeheartedly affirm that — no prophecy or Scripture comes from private interpretation. But that passage speaks of how Scripture originated (by the Holy Spirit), not how believers are forbidden to study, compare, and rightly divide it.
That’s why Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) — “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”​

When we “rightly divide,” we don’t reject any verse — we harmonize all of them.
That’s what I’m doing with Acts 2:38 KJV. It must agree with the rest of the Word — including:

John 3:36 (KJV) — “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”​

Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV) — “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.”​

Peter himself later confirmed this same truth when he preached to Cornelius:

Acts 10:43 (KJV) — “Through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”​

The Holy Spirit then fell on them before baptism (Acts 10:44–47 KJV). That’s not rejecting Acts 2:38 KJV — that’s interpreting it in light of Acts 10 and the rest of Scripture.

As for your comparison to the Catholics — the difference is simple: they elevate church tradition above the Word. I’m doing the opposite — I’m letting Scripture interpret Scripture, even if that means letting Peter explain Peter.

And regarding Matthew 7:3–5 KJV, that’s a good reminder for all of us. I take it seriously. We all need humility when handling the Word.
But humility doesn’t mean silence when truth is twisted — it means speaking truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) — “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”​

So no, I don’t reject Jesus’ words — I affirm every one of them. I just refuse to isolate one verse from the rest of His revelation.
The Word doesn’t contradict itself — and when rightly divided, it points us always to faith in Christ first, then obedience that flows from it.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

So you don't see the problem? Cam't fix the problem if you don't know what it is.

Maybe if you read Acts 2:38 a few times you be able to understand what it says.

I will add, you cna't be saved if you have never got rid of your sins.

But it's not just you and the catholics who refuse to accept HIS word ALL OF HIS WORD not just the verse you like, even the ones after to book of Acts that you take out of context.

Since HIS word says we are to be baptized in JESUS name check out how many churchs obey it.

Most denomations baptized in JESUS titles, the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost.

Your not alone, not rigth but not alone.

 

[LightBearer316]

As a believer, should I go on to good works? Absolutely! But not out of necessity or because I have to, but because I get to in light of what Christ has done for me. But it doesn't come automatically throughout one's life. The believer needs to be discipled in the word of God to find out the kind of life that pleases the Lord. Constant prayer, hearing the preaching of the word, singing praise unto the Lord is all part of it. But for some, they might not have these resources available.

Beautifully said, brother. That captures the heart of it — good works flow from grace, not from compulsion or obligation.

As Paul wrote:

Ephesians 2:8–10 (KJV) — “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.​

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”​

We don’t work to be saved — we work because we are saved.
And you’re right: growth doesn’t just happen automatically. Discipleship, prayer, fellowship, and the Word are how the Spirit matures us.

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) — “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”​

Even when resources are limited, God’s Spirit is never limited. The believer who hungers for the Word and seeks Christ sincerely will be taught by the Spirit Himself.

John 14:26 (KJV) — “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”​

Basically, obedience and transformation are the fruit of salvation, not the root of it.
Grace makes us free — and that freedom leads us to serve joyfully, not fearfully.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[TruthDefender]

Actually before Paul the Disciple/Apostle Peter was directed by God to be the Ambassador to the Jew and Gentiles. Peter even received the vision of the foods and personally preached the same message he did in Acts 10 to the Gentile family of Cornelius as he did in Acts 2. So the specifics to Acts 2:38 are for both Jew and Gentile.

So I contacted my Cousin who is a Presbyter for the UPC and I have other family that preach for the ALJC and they claim Salvation comes at the moment a person believes in and has faith in God and repents.

Baptism to their explanation is a burial and resurrection process.

So I am not sure about much of the information being used to represent the UPC/ALJC Oneness Pentecostal but it is being extremely misrepresented.

Actually, the Baptism is a burial and resurrection process.

-"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection," Romans 6:3-5 NKJV

 

[LightBearer316]

So you don't see the problem? Cam't fix the problem if you don't know what it is.

Maybe if you read Acts 2:38 a few times you be able to understand what it says.

I will add, you cna't be saved if you have never got rid of your sins.

But it's not just you and the catholics who refuse to accept HIS word ALL OF HIS WORD not just the verse you like, even the ones after to book of Acts that you take out of context.

Since HIS word says we are to be baptized in JESUS name check out how many churchs obey it.

Most denomations baptized in JESUS titles, the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost.

Your not alone, not rigth but not alone.

Brother, I’ve read Acts 2:38 KJV many times — and I believe every word of it. The issue isn’t disbelief; it’s context and consistency with the rest of Scripture.

Peter’s call to “repent and be baptized… for the remission of sins” was directed to the same Jewish crowd that had just rejected their Messiah. They needed to turn (repent) and publicly identify with the very Christ they crucified. That baptism was an act of faith — not a work that produced forgiveness, but one that expressed it.

How do we know? Because Peter later preached the same gospel to Gentiles in Acts 10:43-47 KJV:

“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.”​

They received the Holy Spirit before baptism. That means remission of sins comes through belief in Christ, just as Jesus Himself declared:

John 3:36 KJV — “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”​

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV — “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.”​

So, when we rightly divide the Word, Acts 2:38 KJV doesn’t contradict these verses — it harmonizes with them. Repentance and baptism are the fruit of faith, not the cause of salvation.

And yes, we absolutely must “get rid of our sins” — but only Christ’s blood can do that, not the water itself.

1 John 1:7 KJV — “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”​

As for baptism “in Jesus’ name,” I follow the whole pattern of Scripture:

• Peter says it in Acts 2:38 KJV and Acts 10:48 KJV,
• yet Jesus Himself commanded it in Matthew 28:19 KJV,
  and the two agree — because the “name” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one: the Lord Jesus Christ.

No contradiction, only perfect unity when the verses are read together.

Brother, my desire isn’t to win an argument but to honor the Word faithfully and let every verse stand in its rightful place.

Acts 20:27 KJV — “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”​

​

Brother, I’m not questioning the truth of Acts 2:38 KJV. I’m asking how we reconcile it with Acts 10:43-47 KJV, Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV, and John 3:36 KJV — all of which come from the same Spirit. Let’s reason together from the Word, not from assumption.

Brother, I’ve shared these passages not to argue, but so we can both take an honest look at everything Scripture says on this.
Sometimes it helps to step back and really go through each of these verses again — Acts 2, Acts 10, John 3, Ephesians 2 — slowly and prayerfully, asking the Spirit to show how they all fit together.

2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV) — “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”​

I’d encourage you to take a pause and study these passages side by side.
When we do that with humility, God always reveals more than we first saw.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[lrs68]

I appreciate your effort to verify the doctrine firsthand — that’s exactly the right approach. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, you’re “searching the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

You’re right that Peter’s vision in Acts 10 KJV opened the door for Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) to receive the gospel, and that he preached the same Christ he proclaimed in Acts 2 KJV.
But notice the key distinction:
In Acts 10:43-47 KJV, Peter says,

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (KJV)​

And immediately after believing, the Holy Spirit fell on them — before water baptism.
That sequence shows salvation comes by faith first, through the Spirit — not through the act of baptism itself. Baptism followed as obedience and testimony.

When Peter said in Acts 2:38 KJV, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” he was addressing Jews who had just rejected their Messiah — calling them to turn (repent) and publicly identify with the very Christ they denied. The phrase “for the remission of sins” is tied to repentance and faith in His name, not the water.

Your relatives are right that baptism symbolizes burial and resurrection — Paul confirms this in Romans 6:3-4 (KJV):

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”​

That’s a picture of what faith has already accomplished — identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.

So yes, salvation comes at the moment one truly believes and repents toward God, trusting in the finished work of Christ. Baptism follows as an outward sign of that inward change.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

That is a Baptist folklore.

Most of the people Peter spoke to were visitor's not even in connection to the death of Jesus. They heard Tongues spoken in THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. So not even Jewish.

 

[Aaron56]

There is only one baptism.

“one Lord, one faith, one baptism;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As is always the case, you’re missing the context.

Here it is in the verse just prior to 4:5: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

This would be the immersion into the Body of Christ which is performed by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “...for by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”

The other baptisms are fire, water, and with the Spirit.

 

[LightBearer316]

LightBearer316 said:
I appreciate your effort to verify the doctrine firsthand — that’s exactly the right approach. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, you’re “searching the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

You’re right that Peter’s vision in Acts 10 KJV opened the door for Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) to receive the gospel, and that he preached the same Christ he proclaimed in Acts 2 KJV.
But notice the key distinction:
In Acts 10:43-47 KJV, Peter says,

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (KJV)
And immediately after believing, the Holy Spirit fell on them — before water baptism.
That sequence shows salvation comes by faith first, through the Spirit — not through the act of baptism itself. Baptism followed as obedience and testimony.

When Peter said in Acts 2:38 KJV, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” he was addressing Jews who had just rejected their Messiah — calling them to turn (repent) and publicly identify with the very Christ they denied. The phrase “for the remission of sins” is tied to repentance and faith in His name, not the water.

Your relatives are right that baptism symbolizes burial and resurrection — Paul confirms this in Romans 6:3-4 (KJV):

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
That’s a picture of what faith has already accomplished — identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.

So yes, salvation comes at the moment one truly believes and repents toward God, trusting in the finished work of Christ. Baptism follows as an outward sign of that inward change.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

That is a Baptist folklore.

Most of the people Peter spoke to were visitor's not even in connection to the death of Jesus. They heard Tongues spoken in THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. So not even Jewish.

That response shows you are trying to undermine my contextual argument by reframing Acts 2 as if Peter’s audience weren’t primarily Jews from Israel, but scattered Gentiles or mixed groups—so you can dismiss my “Jewish audience” point and defend your baptismal view. Brother, with respect, that’s not Baptist folklore — that’s straight from the text.

Luke clearly identifies Peter’s audience in Acts 2:5 (KJV):

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”​

They were Jews from many nations who had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost. That’s why each heard the apostles speak “in their own language” — because they were Jews of the dispersion (Diaspora) returning for the feast.

Acts 2:10–11 (KJV) lists them: “Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians…”​

So yes, they were multilingual — but still Jewish by faith and heritage.That’s precisely why Peter said in verse 36:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”​

Peter wasn’t accusing every Gentile visitor of crucifying Christ — he was calling the nation of Israel to repentance for rejecting their Messiah.

That’s also why his message in Acts 10 (to Cornelius, a Gentile) is so powerful — it shows the same gospel extending beyond Israel to all nations through faith in Christ.

Scripture interprets Scripture:

Romans 1:16 (KJV) — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”​

So no, it’s not folklore — it’s just reading the passage carefully in its context.

Grace and peace — always in His Word.

 

[TruthDefender]

That is a Baptist folklore.

Most of the people Peter spoke to were visitor's not even in connection to the death of Jesus. They heard Tongues spoken in THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. So not even Jewish.

God scattered the Jews of the OT all over the world. During religious days, many traveled to Jerusalem from great distances. I would say it depends on the context of the chapter.