A Study of Acts 2

Who made these comments about salvation?

He preached at Pentecost, and three thousand people were saved (Acts 2:14-41).

Peter preached at Pentecost, and three thousand people were added to the church.

The church, now some two thousand years old, exists today because these men launched the expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. And their heroism will be rewarded and commemorated throughout eternity in the new Jerusalem, where their names will be permanently etched into the foundation of that city.

This last quote refers to the apostles and followed a quotation from Ephesians 2:20. One objection could be raised housand years old until somewhere between 2029 and 2033. But otherwise, the claims are valid, are they not? Most gospel preachers could have made them, right?

Peter did preach on the Day of Pentecost, and three thousand souls were saved. All of them were added to the church. That church still exists today. However, these truths were not made by any preacher you know personally, although they could have been. They come from the book, Twelve Ordinary Men, written by John MacArthur (pages 59, 69, and 169), which was published in 2002.

MacArthur is an excellent thinker and writer\except when he promotes Calvinism or talks about salvation. It is amazing that he possesses the insights that he has but somehow cannot grasp the fundamental concept of salvation. Who is he? According to Wikipedia, he has been “the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since February 9, 1969.” He is also a “Reformed Protestant.”

Since he cited Acts 2 and speaks about “the church,” does he share our views concerning salvation and the non-denominational nature of the church? Sadly, the answer is in the negative. Here is a direct quote by MacArthur: “Water baptism does not save….” He goes on to indicate that Holy Spirit baptism does. Now how would anyone draw that conclusion\unless they were just flat out prejudiced against water baptism to begin with?

By MacArthur’s own admission, Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, and three thousand people were saved. Let’s examine Acts 2 and see if we can figure out when and how that happened. He cited 2:14-41; so, what can we learn from these verses. It is the case that Peter began to preach in Acts 2:14. The other eleven apostles stood up with him.

Acts 2:14-35

Peter began by explaining what those gathered together had just witnessed. The Holy Spirit had come upon the apostles, and they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). All were amazed to hear these men speak in all the various languages. The author of Acts lists the languages of 14 specific countries, as well as referring generally to others. The multitude could not comprehend the meaning and purpose of such an event. Some of them began to mock them, accusing them of being full of new wine (v. 13). That’s the moment when Peter began to preach.

He denied they were drunk and then claimed that what they had been observing was what Joel had prophesied; he quotes Joel 2:28-32. The last thing cited is the promise that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Joel did not specify how to call on the name of the Lord; Peter would tell them before he finished, but first he needed to explain to them who the Lord is.

Thus, he begins to speak to them of Jesus of Nazareth and how God endorsed Him through miracles, wonders, and signs which He did through Him—of which they were eyewitnesses themselves (v. 22). But lawless men saw to it that He was crucified and put to death, which was no surprise to God, Who knew it would occur (v. 23). But death could not hold Jesus! He was resurrected—a fact that was prophesied long before it happened by no less than King David (vv. 25-28).

But maybe David referred to himself. No, because he was still dead, and his tomb was still occupied (v. 29). Instead, he spoke that the Christ would be raised up to sit on His throne (v. 30). Jesus’s body was not left in the grave to experience corruption and decay; neither was His soul left in the Hadean realm. David foresaw that Christ would be resurrected from the dead (v. 31). And He was! The apostles were all witnesses of that resurrection (v. 32)!

Furthermore, Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God, which meant that it was time for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on the apostles, which is what they had seen and heard (v. 33). David did not ascend into the heavens; Jesus did, and He would remain there, sitting at the right hand of God, until His enemies would be made His footstool (vv. 34-35). Just so the crowd does not miss the point, Peter reiterates it:

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (v. 36).

Amen!

Acts 2:37-38

We have but five verses left in the text that MacArthur cited; thus far no question has been asked about salvation, and no answer has been given. But that is about to change. Apparently, Peter’s citation of resurrection prophecy, coupled with the eyewitness testimony of the apostles of Jesus’ resurrection was both compelling and convincing because those assembled together on that day asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37). Peter gave them two things to do. He didn’t answer, “Well, I can see you have faith, and that’s all you need; you can go on your way rejoicing.” Neither did he say, “Just stand still, and the Holy Spirit will cleanse you now.” He told them what to do:

1. Repent.
2. Let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

Those who did so were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, but that was not something to do; that was a promise they would receive. Repentance involves changing the way a person thinks, acts, dresses, and speaks. Those who want to be saved must leave behind the ways of the world and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. But what kind of baptism is meant here? Is MacArthur right that Peter means Holy Spirit baptism? Consider the following truths.

1. Whichever kind of baptism it is, it was something the people on Pentecost had to take it upon themselves to do. That fits water baptism, but not Holy Spirit baptism. Were they to demand that the Holy Spirit come and cleanse them of their sins?
2. What would they likely think that Peter meant? John had baptized people in water. Jesus had baptized people in water. Why would they think anything else?
3. If the Holy Spirit baptized them on that day, then what would be the gift of the Spirit? This view would have Peter proclaiming, “Let every one of you be baptized in the Holy Spirit and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” It would be interesting to see how this theology plays out.
4. If it is Holy Spirit baptism that saves, then why did the Ethiopian eunuch ask Philip, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)? And why didn’t Philip tersely respond, as MacArthur did, “Water baptism does not save….”?
5. If the Holy Spirit coming upon someone saved them, then why did Peter say of Cornelius and the others present, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” (Acts 10:47)? They were not saved by the Holy Spirit coming upon them, they were saved by obeying the words Peter preached to them (Acts 11:13-14).
6. The Holy Spirit was a promise; He fell upon the apostles and the household of Cornelius without their even expecting Him or invoking His name. The Holy Spirit came at His own discretion. Baptism in water is something that people chose to do. It was their response—as on Pentecost, as with the eunuch (Acts 8:36-39), as with Cornelius (Acts 12:47-48).
7. Furthermore, all who are baptized into Christ are buried with Him (Rom. 6:4). Was that a burial in water or the Holy Spirit?
8. Why did Ananias tell Paul: “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16) if the Holy Spirit was going to come upon him? Paul did not need to shift positions for the Holy Spirit to save him—but he did if he was going to be baptized in water. He and Ananias had to walk to an appropriate place. Acts 9:18 highlights this fact, also: “…and he arose and was baptized.”
9. Contrary to MacArthur, Peter wrote that “baptism doth also now save us” (1 Peter 3:21, KJV). Could he mean Holy Spirit baptism? If he did, he would not have needed to explain immediately afterward that the cleansing is not that of a physical washing away of “the filth of the flesh.” That would only be a misunderstanding if water is used. No one would write such words for Holy Spirit baptism.

Acts 2:39-41

Peter next tells the multitude that the promise of salvation is for all who desire to have it; he then exhorts them: “Save yourselves from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:39-40). So, how did they respond? “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v. 41). They responded to the command; they obeyed the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4). A promise is fulfilled—not obeyed. They were baptized in water and then added to the church, as Acts 2:47 also states.

How can someone as intelligent as MacArthur miss all of this and assert that the baptism that saves is Holy Spirit baptism? It is difficult to figure out unless he is being governed by some bias or prejudice. Where did he get the idea that “water baptism does not save”? He did not get that from the pages of the New Testament. Every gospel writer mentions John baptizing people—in water. Later, Jesus did, also. Both baptized for the remission of sins. Mark records: “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). Does that sound similar to Acts 2:38?

This is a vital doctrine concerning salvation. No one will profit by having a blind spot or a prejudice against baptism. If the very ones who crucified Jesus were able to repent and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins, after which they were added to the church, then anyone today reading and studying the Scriptures ought to be willing to do likewise.