INTRODUCTION
Post 25B reports the results of my examination of the grammar of Acts 2:38. More specifically, this post explains my views on The Syntactical Break Interpretation of Acts 2:38.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I know enough NT Greek to know that I do not know NT Greek. I’ve tried to confirm my grammatical analysis with expert sources. Please keep this disclaimer is in mind.
In summary, the grammar of Acts 2:38 favors an interpretation in which the command “repent” directly leads to the forgiveness of the repentant person’s sins and the repentant person’s receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The baptismal phrase is parenthetical. Hence, in my opinion, the below translation of Acts 2:38 accurately reflects what Luke intended to convey to his original audience:
38 Peter said to them, “Each of you repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this interpretation is consistent with what Luke wrote in Luke 24:44-48 and Acts 5:31.
Acts 2:38 does not support baptismal regeneration. In reality, Acts 2:38 supports baptism after conversion, i.e., “believer’s baptism,” so that it supports an atgument against the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.
INTERPRETATION OF ACTS 2:38 – THE SYNTACTICAL BREAK
Brief Overview of The Syntactical Break Interpretation
In his article entitled “The Gospel and Water Baptism: a Study of Act 2:38” (Tanton, L. T. (1990). The Gospel and Water Baptism: A Study of Acts 2:38. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society Volume 3, 3(1)), Lanny Thomas Tanton characterizes one interpretation of Acts 2:38 as “The Syntactical Break Interpretation.” On pages 38-39, Tanton describes this interpretation:
The syntactical break interpretation holds to the normal meaning of eis (“for”) as indicating purpose, but understands the phrase “for the remission of sins” to be connected with the command for repentance and not directly related to the command to be baptized, which is seen as a parenthetical comment. Thus, this interpretation would translate Acts 2:38 as follows: “Repent (and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins.”
In a later article (IX. AFTERWORD: TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER), Tanton wrote that he prefers The Syntactical Break Interpretation to the casual eis interpretation, but on theological grounds. He cites Luke’s theology in Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31 and 10:43 to support the principle that repentance leads to forgiveness.
Toussaint (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 359). Victor Books) agrees with The Syntactical Break Interpretation:
(3) A third view takes the clause and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ as parenthetical. Several factors support this interpretation: (a) The verb makes a distinction between singular and plural verbs and nouns. The verb “repent” is plural and so is the pronoun “your” in the clause so that your sins may be forgiven (lit., “unto the remission of your sins,” eis aphesin tōn hamartiōn hymōn). Therefore the verb “repent” must go with the purpose of forgiveness of sins. On the other hand the imperative “be baptized” is singular, setting it off from the rest of the sentence. (b) This concept fits with Peter’s proclamation in Acts 10:43 in which the same expression “sins may be forgiven” (aphesin hamartiōn) occurs. There it is granted on the basis of faith alone. (c) In Luke 24:47 and Acts 5:31 the same writer, Luke, indicates that repentance results in remission of sins.
Discussion of My Variation of The Syntactical Break Interpretation
Acts 2:38 (NASB95) reads:
38 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.
My interpretation of Acts 2:38 (STB – Belsheim) reads:
38 Peter said to them, “Each of you repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In my interpretation, an individual’s repentance is operatively connected to the forgiveness of the individual’s sins and that individual’s receipt of the Holy Spirit. Let me explain.
The verb “repent” (metanoeō) is in the second person plural. Luke’s usage of the second person plural verb indicates Peter’s direct emphatic speech to individuals in his Jewish audience. Peter wanted to make sure his audience knew that Christian repentance was on an individual basis and not in a corporate sense. Jewish thinking was that repentance was corporate.
Luke’s use of baptisthēto (“be baptized”), which is a third person singular verb, signals a lesser intensity than his use of the second person plural verb. The switch in grammar from second person plural to third person singular reflects a change in thought. The pronoun hymōn (the “of you” of the expression “each of you”) is in the second person plural so that it displays closer correspondence with “repent” than with “be baptized.” It seems reasonable to connect “each of you” with “repent” to read “each of you repent.”
The baptismal expression, i.e., “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” follows the repentance expression. However, the baptismal expression is parenthetical relative to the balance of verse 38.
The pronoun hymōn in the forgiveness expression “the forgiveness of your (hymōn) sins” is in the second person plural. The forgiveness expression thus possesses a closer connection with the verb “repent” than the verb “be baptized.” The correct interpretation of Acts 2:38 is that a person’s repentance, and not water baptism, results in the forgiveness of that person’s sins.
It is interesting to note that the verb lēmpsesthe (“you will receive”) is in the second person plural. This agreement in person and number reflects a close connection between “repent” and “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. This makes sense because forgiveness and receipt of the Holy Spirit are automatic consequences of repentance.
In my interpretation, the individual who follows Peter’s command to “repent” will (1) have their sins forgiven. and (2) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, there is no punctuation between the forgiveness expression and expression about the receipt of the Holy Spirit.
Along the lines of what Tanton and Toussaint wrote, Luke’s theology makes the direct connection between repentance and the forgiveness of sins per passages like Luke 24:44-48 and Ats 5:31.
In reference to the first passage, Luke 24:44–48 (NASB95) reads [emphasis added]:
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things.
There is no mention of water baptism in the description of the fundamental gospel message, i.e., “repentance for forgiveness of sins.”
In reference to the second passage, Acts 5:31 (NASB95) reads:
31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Again, Luke does not mention water baptism in connection with repentance which results in the forgiveness of sins.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the grammar of Acts 2:38 favors an interpretation in which the command “repent” directly leads to the forgiveness of the repentant person’s sins and the repentant person’s receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The baptismal phrase is parenthetical. Hence, in my opinion, the below translation of Acts 2:38 accurately reflects what Luke intended to convey to his original audience:
(Belsheim) 38 Peter said to them, “Each of you repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this interpretation is consistent with what Luke wrote in Luke 24:44-48 and Acts 5:31.
Acts 2:38 does not support baptismal regeneration. In reality, Acts 2:38 supports baptism after conversion, i.e., “believer’s baptism,” so that it supports an atgument against the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.
VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU BELIEVE IN BAPTISMAL REGENERATION
Finally, let me quote gotquestions.org (link: https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-Mark-16-16.html ):
If you believe in baptismal regeneration, you would do well to prayerfully consider whom or what you are really putting your trust in. Is your faith in a physical act (being baptized) or in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Whom or what are you trusting for salvation? Is it the shadow (baptism) or the substance (Jesus Christ)? Our faith must rest in Christ alone. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Please read and take to heart what I write in the section entitled “IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN.”
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam sinned, and his sin was passed down to all of humankind whereby we became separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us has been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save us.
If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever! (Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
Upon your salvation, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, which means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and each Person is fully God, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (e.g., water baptism by immersion).
ONE CAUTIONARY POINT. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that once you become a Christian, your life will become easy. Most likely, it will become more difficult. God’s blessing of salvation and life’s difficulties are not mutually exclusive. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18 (NLT). Always keep in mind that you have an eternal home in heaven waiting for you per John 14:2–4 (NLT):
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
.
NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS
I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and/or to secure direct permission for specific works. The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “NASB95” are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.