(མཛད་པ། 2:37-41)

 

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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 will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:37-41)

 

Why did so many people take baptism?

Peter’s words accused them, because they had shouted for God’s appointed Messiah to be crucified. They wanted to be washed clean of that crime.

Peter said, ‘You must repent (spyod pa ngan pa spangs+ nas sems sgyur) and be baptised. The Lord God is calling you to himself.’

The washing of baptism is a picture of God’s clearing of all our sin. If we are baptized in Yeshu Mashiga’s name it shows that we believe and accept his dying for our forgiveness. We make him our Lord. Then also God will help us to live a new life (thar bar ‘sgyur) by giving us his Holy Spirit.

“Save yourselves”, said Peter, by being baptized.

(མཛད་པ། 2:42-47)

 

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

The new believers in Jerusalem assembled to share in the four activities of the first-formed church.

 

 

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 

The result was such fear and respect for God that their lives were being changed. And God was causing more and more people daily to believe and be finding liberation.

(མཛད་པ། 3:1-10)

 

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:1-10)

 

The lame man must have heard news about Yeshu of Nazareth.

Peter calls on the man to believe. He says, ‘Believe in the authority of Messiah Jesus  (ye-shu-ma-shi-ga-khi-ri’i-si-tho). He is the one strong to heal and to save.’ (In the Jewish language the name Yeshua means Saviour)

And the man does believe. (Next time, see his faith – verse 16)