Call Upon the Name of the Lord — Acts 2:37–41
Sep 25, 2026 7
What do you do when you realise you have rejected the one God has made Lord and Christ? That was the question facing Peter’s hearers. His answer was an invitation to call upon the name of the Lord.
Acts 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 baptised 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 baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)
Turn to Jesus
Peter had told the crowd in Jerusalem that the Jesus they crucified was alive and reigning. Now they were cut to the heart (verse 37). They understood who Jesus was and what they had done.
They could not stay neutral. What should they do?
Peter told them to repent. That means turning around. It means changing your mind about Jesus and turning from sin and the things you trust in to trust him as Lord.
They were also to be baptised in Jesus’ name, publicly identifying with the one they had rejected.
We were not standing in that Jerusalem crowd. Yet we too need forgiveness for our sin and rebellion against God. The same invitation is open to us: turn to Jesus and trust him.
Forgiveness and the Holy Spirit
Peter held out two wonderful gifts: forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit.
The same Jesus who forgives is the one who gives his Spirit. The Spirit is not a later upgrade for elite Christians. Everyone who belongs to Jesus receives his Spirit.
And look at the reach of the promise in verse 39. It was for those listening, for their children and for all who were far off, everyone God would call to himself. As Acts unfolds, we see the good news reaching beyond Jerusalem towards the ends of the earth.
God is calling people to himself. He is seeking, finding and rescuing.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
About three thousand people received Peter’s message and were baptised that day. Forgiven. Filled with the Holy Spirit. Added to the church.
The Good News is…
You can call upon the name of the Lord today. Jesus died in your place, for your sin, and rose again. The risen, reigning King offers you forgiveness and the gift of his Spirit. Don’t wait for a better time. Don’t wait to clean yourself up. Come as you are, turn to Jesus and trust him. Everyone who calls upon his name will be saved.
Reflection
Have you turned to Jesus and trusted him for forgiveness? If you haven’t, what is stopping you from calling upon his name today?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited