Acts 2:39 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For the promise is unto you, &c.— Considering that the gift of the Holy Ghost had been mentioned just before, it seems most natural to interpret this as a reference to the passage in Joel above recited, where God promises the effusion of the Spirit on their sons and their daughters: but if the promise be interpreted as referring to a remoter clause, the forgiveness of their sins, this whole verse must be taken in a greater latitude, as having respect to the encouragement which all future converts and their children had, to expect the benefits of the gospel. This passage makes much in favour of infant baptism, as many writers on the subject have largely shewn. Since St. Peter as yet knew nothing of the intended calling of the Gentiles, he could only mean by the words, to all afar off, that the gospel should be preached to all the dispersed of Israel, in distant nations; but the Spirit of God mighthave a further view. "The words (says Dr. Heylin) refer to time as well as place; the promises also to us and to our children: words which imply a benefit, include the accepting of it: in this sense the word call is used in this verse, and in 1 Corinthians 1:24 that is, they who obey the call."