Repent and Be Baptized

When the Jewish audience on the Day of Pentecost comes to understand that they are responsible for the death or their Messiah and that God has vindicated him by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand, they are cut to the heart and plead with Peter to tell them what they should do.

Peter's response was the best news they had ever heard. Not only could they be forgiven, but God was prepared to give them the gift of the Holy Spirit if they would repent and be baptized.

Sometimes the 21st Century church fails to give proper emphasis to the call for repentance and baptism. How should we rightly understand Peter's instructions and promises in this passage?