Beyond Baptism

by Steve Dennie
Acts 3:17-26

Peter has just got done reading people the riot act. "You killed the Holy One. You asked that Barabbas--a murderer, for heaven's sakes!--be released! You killed the One who created all life!"

But then, in verse 17, he lets them off the hook. "Hey, I realize you didn't know what you were doing. Neither did your leaders. You didn't mean it. You're good people at heart. If you had known the scoop, I'm sure you would have behaved differently."

I don't usually think of Peter as being diplomatic. But here, a whiff of tact leaked out. Interesting to see.

In verse 19, Peter tells people: "Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be forgiven." Contrast that with Acts 2:38, where he tells people, "Repent and be baptized, for the forgiveness of your sins."

He left out baptism. Why was that? Was he all worn out with baptizing 3000 people a few days before? Maybe his body was still all wrinkly from being in water for hours on end, and he just couldn't stomach the thought of descending back into the water to dunk a bunch of people again.

If they repented, that was between them and God. But if they also wanted to be baptized, then Peter got dragged into doing the baptism. So he was saying, "Just repent. That'll be good enough for now."

I'm obviously speculating. I don't know why Peter omitted the baptism part. I'm sure he hadn't decided it was unnecessary.

On the other hand, he added the command, "Turn to God." Start looking to God for direction, and follow him.

This is discipleship. I'm sure Peter wasn't casting aside the idea of baptism, but he knew that baptism wasn't the culmination. He was looking beyond baptism to the ongoing life-change he wanted to see in people. "Turn to God, and never take your eyes off of him." I suspect that's what he wanted to see happen.