Acts 2:37–39
Peter says the promise is for them, their children and those far away
Study it word by word37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?”
38And Peter said to them, “Change your minds, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all those far away, as many as the Lord our God may call.”
In its context
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36So let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
…
40And with many other words he testified and kept urging them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.”
41So those who received his word were immersed, and on that day about three thousand persons were added.
Its words in the original
- ἈκούσαντεςAkousantes· hear, listen
Hear, listen; also heed.
- κατενύγησανkatenygēsan· be deeply pierced
Be pierced, "cut to the heart": feel deep pain.
- καρδίανkardian· heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- εἶπόνeipon· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ΠέτρονPetron· Peter
Peter, "rock": the name Jesus gave to Simon.
- λοιποὺςloipous· the rest, remaining
The rest, the others; as an adverb, "from now on", "finally".
- ἀποστόλουςapostolous· apostle, one sent
Apostle: "one sent", a messenger with a mission. This was the name given to the Twelve whom Jesus chose.
- ποιήσωμενpoiēsōmen· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ἄνδρεςandres· man, husband
Man, adult male; with a possessive, "husband".
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- ΜετανοήσατεMetanoēsate· change one's mind
Change one's mind: turn around one's way of thinking, and with it one's way of living, to return to God. It is usually translated "repent".
- βαπτισθήτωbaptisthētō· immerse
Immerse: plunge into water, wash by dipping. The word "baptize" comes from it.
- ἕκαστοςhekastos· each
Each, each one.
- ὀνόματιonomati· name
Name. In the Bible, a name stands for the person himself.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ΧριστοῦChristou· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- ἄφεσινaphesin· forgiveness, release
Forgiveness; also release, freedom.
- ἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōn· sin
Sin: missing the mark, failing God and what he commands.
- λήμψεσθεlēmpsesthe· take, receive
Take, receive.
- δωρεὰνdōrean· gift
Gift; what is given freely, without being paid for or earned.
- ἁγίουhagiou· holy
Holy: set apart for God, pure, belonging to him.
- πνεύματοςpneumatos· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- ἐπαγγελίαepangelia· promise
Promise.
- τέκνοιςteknois· child
Child, son, daughter.
- μακρὰνmakran· long, far
Far off; long.
- προσκαλέσηταιproskalesētai· summon
Call to oneself, summon.
- κύριοςkyrios· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- θεὸςtheos· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".