BROTHERS, WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Passage: Acts 2:37-47

Key verse: 38

NIV

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”(A)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,(B) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.(C) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(D) 39 The promise is for you and your children(E) and for all who are far off(F)—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(G) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number(H) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching(I) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread(J) and to prayer.(K) 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.(L) 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.(M) 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.(N) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.(O) They broke bread(P) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.(Q) And the Lord added to their number(R) daily those who were being saved.

Read full chapter

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

37 Now when (A)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, (B)what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, (C)“Repent and (D)be baptized every one of you (E)in the name of Jesus Christ (F)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive (G)the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (H)the promise is for you and (I)for your children and for all (J)who are far off, everyone (K)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, (L)“Save yourselves from this (M)crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and (N)there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And (O)they devoted themselves to the apostles' (P)teaching and the (Q)fellowship, to (R)the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and (S)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and (T)had all things in common. 45 And (U)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, (V)attending the temple (W)together and (X)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food (Y)with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and (Z)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (AA)added to their number (AB)day by day those who (AC)were being saved.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Acts 2:43 Or fear

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Repent and be baptized (37-41)

Everyone who has disobeyed God's laws or rebelled against him has shared in the crucifixion of Jesus. What shall we do? We must see the ugliness of our sins and the pain we have caused God and be cut to the heart. Then, we must repent and personally accept Jesus' death for the forgiveness of sins; we must be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is the only way to be saved from this corrupt generation. Baptism with water is an outward sign of God's work within. It is a declaration to the world that I am a Christian, a part of the Body of Christ. When Peter preached, 3,

people accepted his message.

2. Growing in the Christian life (42-47)

Christians must keep on growing. The early Christians show us how. They studied the Bible; they met together every day to praise God, to pray and to encourage one another. They gave sacrificially and shared what they had. They ate together with joyful hearts. They were a good influence in society.

Prayer: Lord, cut our hearts with your word until we repent and believe and are filled with your Spirit.

One Word: Repent and believe the gospel