Acts 2:40 Meaning and Explanation
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter urgently testifies and calls the crowd to save themselves from a crooked and rebellious generation by accepting the gospel.
The Context of Acts 2:40
Peter's sermon has been long (beginning in verse 14), and Acts summarizes it here: many other words not recorded, all testifying to Jesus and exhorting the listeners. His final call is urgent: 'Save yourselves from this untoward generation'—a call to separate from the rebellion and distortion of the world around them.
What Does Acts 2:40 Mean?
'Untoward' in the original (skolios) means crooked, twisted, not straight. Peter is not being mean but truthful: the generation that resists Christ, that killed him or allowed him to be killed, that continues in idolatry and injustice, is fundamentally twisted. To 'save yourselves' is to step out of that trajectory, to refuse to go where it is going. This is not isolation from the world but allegiance to Christ rather than the world's rebellion. It is urgent because the stakes are real: the 'generation' is moving toward judgment, and those who stay with it share its fate.
Peter calls people to active salvation, not passive. 'Save yourselves' means the listeners must act—they must repent, be baptized, and receive the Spirit. Yet it is also divine: they can only be saved because God is calling, because Christ is risen, because the Spirit is poured out. This is the paradox of Christian response: God does the saving, but we must answer the call. The urgency of Peter's exhortation matches the reality of the moment—the risen Christ has appeared, the Spirit has come, and the time to respond is now.
Acts 2:40 in the Original Language
skolios (Greek), 'untoward' or 'crooked'—morally twisted and perverse, in rebellion against God
How to Apply Acts 2:40 Today
We live among a world system that often runs contrary to Christ's kingdom. Our calling is to step out of conformity to that crooked generation and stand with Jesus. The call to save ourselves is urgent because the path we choose determines where we end up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 2:40
What does Acts 2:40 mean?
Peter urgently testifies and calls the crowd to save themselves from a crooked and rebellious generation by accepting the gospel.
What is the context of Acts 2:40?
Peter's sermon has been long (beginning in verse 14), and Acts summarizes it here: many other words not recorded, all testifying to Jesus and exhorting the listeners. His final call is urgent: 'Save yourselves from this untoward generation'—a call to separate from the rebellion and distortion of the world around them.
How can I apply Acts 2:40 today?
We live among a world system that often runs contrary to Christ's kingdom. Our calling is to step out of conformity to that crooked generation and stand with Jesus. The call to save ourselves is urgent because the path we choose determines where we end up.