A Change of One’s Heart


One of the disciples at the Last Supper, Peter, later proclaimed a message after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven at the day of Pentecost (40 days after Christ ascended into heaven) in Acts 2. On this particular day, God poured out His Spirit on the crowd and each one spoke in a different tongue (language). Peter explained to those in the crowd who were bewildered that God raised Jesus from the dead and poured out, as promised, His Holy Spirit. The crowd was receptive to Peter and asked what they should do. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38; italics mine). The word repent here comes from the Greek word metanoeo which means to have a moral change in one’s life resulting in an affinity or desire for the things of God.[1] They basically had a change of heart and Peter’s suggestion of baptism, was a public demonstration of this change by being dipped in a pool of water. This cleansing with water signified the washing that takes place in one’s soul after God forgives that person for their sin. The main point here is that in order for a person to receive forgiveness from God, they must have a change of heart (and remorse) for their sin nature and a willingness to subscribe to God’s Word. Peter made similar proclamations in Acts 3:19; 5:31, and 10:43. This whole event with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the speaking in a different language was to point those in the crowd toward repentance and forgiveness for their sin.


[1] Spiros Zodhiates and Warren Baker, eds., Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: Key Insights into God’s Word (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1996), 1651.