Acts 2:39
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Acts 2:39
Verse 39 expands the scope of the promise to include “you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” This emphasizes universality: the gospel isn’t limited to a single generation or ethnolinguistic group. The inclusion of “afar off” signals the outreach to Gentiles and distant peoples—an anticipation of the Gentile mission that unfolds in Acts. The phrase “as many as the Lord our God shall call” grounds salvation in God’s initiative, not human determination, underscoring divine sovereignty in calling people to faith. The verse is a bridge between the immediate Pentecost event and the forthcoming expansion of the church.
Theologically, this verse foregrounds the gospel’s universal reach and divine initiative in salvation. It highlights election and mission: God calls, and humans respond by faith. It also sets the trajectory for Acts and the rest of the New Testament, where the church becomes a mission to all nations. This verse reassures believers that faith isn’t confined to a particular demographic but is for all who are drawn by God.
Today, it challenges churches to adopt inclusive worship and outreach strategies that reflect God’s call across cultures. It invites families to pass faith to children, but also to engage those far off through mission, evangelism, and cross-cultural relationships. On an individual level, it calls believers to openness to God’s calling wherever he leads, whether in local neighborhoods or global contexts.
Cross-References: Isaiah 49:6; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:28; 1 Timothy 2:4