"Save Yourselves From This Crooked Generation!"

"Let Israel then know for sure that GOD has made LORD and CHRIST this JESUS whom you crucified.

When they heard this, they were deeply troubled.  And they asked Peter and the other apostles, 'What shall we do, brothers?'

Peter answered, 'Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST, so that your sins may be forgiven.  Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise of GOD was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our GOD may call.'

With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, 'Save yourselves from this crooked generation.'  So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day." - Acts 2:36-41  

 

(What shall we do?  Repent.  In those days, to repent and to be converted meant to share the life of the infant Church which showed to the nation the way of salvation taught by JESUS.  The Church did not appear as a new religion opposed to Judaism, but a center of more authentic life.

Repent.  Peter uses these words of JESUS at the beginning of his speech [Matthew 4:17] - the Church is beginning to fall into the steps of JESUS - now it is no longer a question of receiving the baptism of John the Baptist, which was only a ritual of purification, highlighting the desire to repent.  We must receive baptism "in the Name of JESUS".

Save yourselves from this crooked generation.  This means that the entire generation was missing the unique opportunity they were given.  For GOD asked them to take the most decisive step in Sacred History; even Roman oppression could be overcome by a people able to put the Gospel into practice.  At the same time JESUS made them discover the love of GOD the FATHER for which the whole Bible had prepared them.

Some three thousand were added to their number.  They already knew of JESUS but were not committed to HIM.  They were converted by the common action of the Holy Spirit and the apostles.  A church in which signs of the Spirit acting could not be seen could not say that JESUS lives in her midst.)  

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