Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
Acts 3:19-21 RSV
On Pentecost (Acts 2:38), Peter had preached:
(1) REPENT you
(2) and be BAPTIZED
(3) FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS
(4) and YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Acts 2:37-39 RSV
Exactly the same four factors are in view here:
(1) Repent
(2) Turn Again
(3) That Sins May Be Blotted Out
(4) and That Refreshing From The Lord’s Presence Would Follow.
It is universally admitted that (1), (2), and (4) of the above factors in both sequences are synonymous; and, if we had known nothing at all concerning any of these things, the incidence of “be baptized” and “turn again” in exactly corresponding places in these sequences would prove that they mean the same thing.
The thought behind “Turn Again” was nothing short of BAPTISM.
The Jews no doubt had witnessed the baptism of persons every day (Acts 2:47); and thus when Peter called upon them to “repent and turn again,” they knew exactly what he inferred.
The blotting out of sins is equivalent to REMISSION OF SINS.
Being BAPTIZED is tantamount to Turning Again.
It is, however, to the great Restoration preacher, Benjamin Franklin, that we turn for one of the most impressive analyses regarding “turn again.”
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:11 RSV
It actually means “be converted,” as the translators of the KJV rendered it in three different passages thus:
- The heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted (turn again), and I should heal them (Acts 28:27).
- At the same time came the disciples unto him, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. … Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted (turn), and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1,3).
- Repent ye therefore, and be converted (turn again), that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16 RSV
Significantly, the command, however it is read, whether “turn again” or “be converted,” was used by the inspired writers to indicate something that men must do; and the status of those to whom these several words were addressed shows what was meant.
- In (1), the people commanded to be converted were unbelievers.
- In (2) they were already believers.
- In (3) the people were already believers and had been commanded to repent; and therefore, “converted” in this instance refers to some further action following repentance and faith.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22 RSV
Thus it is clear that “turn again” may refer to any of the necessary actions by which one becomes a Christian.
In (1) it means that he should believe, repent, and be baptized.
In (2) it meant that the apostles should repent.
In (3) it has the meaning that people who had already believed and repented were yet required to be baptized. Thus the actual meaning of “turn again,” as used by the inspired writers, is “complete whatever is lacking” to bring one into Christ.
In this verse, the thing lacking after faith and repentance was most certainly their being baptized into Christ.
But the question arises, Why did Peter use this rather indirect way of stating what they must do, especially in view of what he had so flatly said on Pentecost?
The answer must lie in the fact of his inspiration.
God always gives the skeptic, the willful, and the unbeliever a way out.
Our Lord said shortly before raising the daughter of Jairus, “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth!” (Mark 5:39), thus leaving men room to make their own moral decision.
So it is here. If one is determined to reject baptism as clearly binding upon all men, this verse gives him a straw to catch at, the excuse to refuse what is morally impossible for him already.
To the effect that Peter switched his position to new ground in this passage, “stressing faith,” is refuted by the simple truth that faith is not even mentioned here.
Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
Isaiah 1:27 RSV
Just as it was on Pentecost, the people already believed; and Peter was concerned here with further instructing men regarding how they might “save themselves” by complying with the God-given terms of redemption.
For those who desire a fuller discussion of the questions regarding this verse, reference is made to J. W. McGarvey’s New Commentary on Acts.
The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; thy arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; thy lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
Thy way was through the sea, thy path through the great waters; YET THY FOOTPRINTS WERE UNSEEN.
Thou didst lead thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalms 77:16-20 RSV
