Does Acts 2:38 Teach That Baptism Itself Forgives Sins?

Few verses stir more debate about baptism than Acts 2:38. After Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, his audience — struck with guilt for crucifying Jesus — asked what they must do.

“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.’” (Acts 2:38)

At first glance, the words “be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins” seem to teach that baptism itself confers forgiveness. But does the text really mean that?

The Key Issue: The Preposition Eis

The controversy centers on the phrase “for the forgiveness of your sins.”

The Greek word translated “for” is eis, which has a wide range of meaning.
It can mean “in order to obtain” (purpose), but it can also mean “because of” or “on the basis of” (causal).

So which sense is intended here? The answer determines whether baptism is the cause of forgiveness or the expression of forgiveness already received.

Repentance Cannot Be Ignored

Before we get to the preposition, notice how Peter begins: “Repent and be baptized…”

The command to repent comes first.
Throughout Acts, repentance (a heart turning to God in faith) is consistently presented as the condition for forgiveness (Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20).
Baptism follows as the outward response.

If baptism alone conferred forgiveness, repentance would be unnecessary. But Peter places repentance at the foundation, with baptism as the sign that follows.

Two Interpretations of Eis

1. The Purpose View

Translation: “Repent and be baptized… in order to obtain forgiveness of your sins.”
This makes baptism a necessary condition for forgiveness.

But this interpretation runs into major problems:

It conflicts with the priority of repentance.
It clashes with multiple passages in Acts where forgiveness is granted without baptism (Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38–39; Acts 16:31).
It ignores the parallel with circumcision (Colossians 2:11–12). Just as circumcision was a covenant sign but not the means of salvation, baptism is a sign that follows faith.

2. The Causal View

Translation: “Repent and be baptized… because of the forgiveness of your sins.”
Here, forgiveness comes through repentance/faith in Christ, and baptism follows as the outward expression.

This reading fits the context better. Luke himself uses eis this way elsewhere: “The men of Nineveh repented because of (eis) the preaching of Jonah” (Luke 11:32). They didn’t repent in order to hear Jonah; they repented because of what he had preached.

Why the Purpose View Fails

Immediate Context: Repentance is primary. Baptism is never presented in Acts as effective without it.
Other Salvation Passages: Forgiveness and salvation are repeatedly tied to faith/repentance apart from baptism (Acts 10:43; 13:38–39; 15:11; 16:31; 20:21; 26:18).
Cornelius’ Example (Acts 10–11): Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit before baptism. Their forgiveness preceded the ritual.
Flexibility of Eis: Greek usage supports the causal sense — baptism follows forgiveness rather than produces it.
Paul’s Theology: Paul consistently teaches justification by faith, not by ritual (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16). In 1 Corinthians 1:14–17, he even downplays baptism’s role compared to preaching the gospel — something impossible if baptism were essential for forgiveness.
Circumcision Analogy: In the Old Testament, circumcision was a sign of belonging but never guaranteed salvation. Many circumcised Israelites fell into idolatry and exile because their hearts were not loyal to Yahweh. Likewise, baptism without repentance is empty.

✨ The Heart of the Matter

Peter’s command can be paraphrased this way:

“Turn from your sin and embrace Jesus as Messiah (repent), and then show that faith publicly by being baptized in His name — because your sins have been forgiven through Him.”

Forgiveness is tied to repentance and faith in Jesus.
Baptism is the outward demonstration of that inward reality.
The two belong together, but forgiveness is never reduced to the ritual itself.

Final Thought

Acts 2:38 is not teaching baptismal regeneration. Instead, it holds repentance and baptism together as two parts of one response: the inward act of turning to Christ, and the outward act of declaring loyalty to Him through baptism.

Forgiveness comes through Christ and is received by repentance and faith. Baptism is the God-ordained sign that follows — a public confession that one’s sins have been washed away by calling on the name of Jesus.

References

The Holy Bible: Acts 2:37–38; Acts 3:19; Acts 10:43–47; Luke 11:32; Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16.
Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996).
Michael S. Heiser, Naked Bible Podcast, Episode 10: Baptism and Problem Passages: Acts 2:38.