“Jesus of Nazareth… [was] crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death.” Peter neatly summarises a critical aspect of the gospel, to which the correct response is to “repent and be baptized… in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”.
Those that followed Peter’s advice devoted themselves to their new way of life, to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. I think this is a useful reminder of the passion we all had as we prepared for baptism, as we came to understand the depth of the hope that God has offered.
The “day of the Lord” is coming in which we will be saved. It is up to us now to “hold fast” to that hope, to allow it to influence our character and affect our daily life. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”