What Shall We Do?

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:37-47


God's Word does the work. Exposure to God's Word, delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit, will render one receptive to the truth of one's desperate need for a savior, and of God's perfect provision. At Pentecost that Word was delivered orally, miraculously, by newly empowered believers speaking languages they had not learned. The New Testament Canon was yet to be written and translated, but God had other means of getting the people's attention and convicting their souls.

Isaiah 55:11-So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Hebrews 4:12-For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The hearers of Peter's sermon were pierced, indeed. "OK, men, we've heard your message and we realize Jesus is the Messiah and we are responsible for His death. What can we do?"

Answer: Repent. That means change your attitude about Jesus Christ and God's plan. You did not believe before; believe now. That is repentance and repentance brings forgiveness of your sins. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, making you a member of the Body of Christ--His Church. In Him forever. Openly declare your belief by being baptized in the name of Jesus. This applies to you and your children and everyone everywhere who listens to God's call through His Word. There is no reason to remain trapped in legalism. Salvation has been provided.

Three thousand of those souls were added to the Church that day. They received baptism. They stayed with the apostles, to learn from them, fellowship with them, pray with them and share together their possessions and foodstuffs. Most of these people were pilgrims, remember, to celebrate the great feasts in Jerusalem. Now that they had entered a new life, their priority was to learn as much as they could about this life and the Author of it before going back to whatever occupations they came from. This was a time of great excitement, as they continued to meet and worship and learn and evangelize. More were saved each day, as this wave of Holy Spirit awakening continued. It would be hard to tear oneself away from such momentous happenings. One might rather sell his stuff and stay around for a while, soaking up the glory. And when they did go back to their own cities, they went back as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, having a magnificent testimony to share with the folks back home. This is how the gospel spread in the newborn Church. Like fire.