Peter's Fourfold Direction: Repentance, Baptism, and Personal Confession

When Peter commanded the Jerusalem multitude, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 2:38), he prescribed a cure with four essential components.

First, metanoia (repentance)—literally "to perceive afterwards"—demanded an entire reversal of opinion respecting Jesus Christ. These inquirers must shift from regarding Him as an impostor to reverencing Him as both Lord and Christ. This was no mere external penance of legal rites, but a genuine transformation of inner life and purpose.

Second, baptism followed repentance as its outward sign and symbol—not a regenerating ordinance, but a public confession of Christ before witnesses.

Third, the phrase "each of you" established baptism as a personal act, not a corporate sprinkling. Xavier's converts in India and northern peoples baptized in multitudes violated this principle; each soul must individually acknowledge the Redeemer.

Fourth, baptism administered "in the name of Jesus Christ" rested upon Him as foundation—an acknowledgment that He alone is the sinner's hope, Justifier, Lord, and Final Judge.

Impenitency proves the damning sin. As a loving father prescribes medicine to save his child's life, so the Almighty offers repentance as spiritual cure. To refuse this antidote to poison already consumed is desperation itself.