Articles
Received the Word in Acts
Received the Word in Acts
At the end of his sermon, the first one preached after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Peter stated: 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36)
Then, in verse 41 it states: 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)
What was it word did they receive? 1st, that Jesus was raised and that he is now both Lord and Christ, and 2nd, that they should “"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38).
Then, in Acts 8 when Philipp had gone down to Samaria and preached, “they gave attention to what was said by Philip. We are not told WHAT exactly he said except it was “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ”, their reaction was simple: “when they believed… they were baptized. (Acts 8:12).
After Peter saw that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Cornelius and his household, He stated: 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"
48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. (Acts 10:47-48)
The news that came to the apostles and brethren throughout Judea was that “the Gentiles had received the word of God”. (Acts 11:1)
What these all have in common are at least two things: One, they were baptized in the name of Jesus in water, and two: they had received the word.
In the beginning, to receive the word of God was to hear the message about Jesus and His Kingdom, to believe it, repent of your sins, and be baptized into Christ. This, of course, is the essence of the Great Commission as given in Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; and Luke 24:44-48.
Have you received the word as depicted in Acts?
Hugh DeLong
